The Bessie Barwick was a wooden barkentine built in 1866 by Louis Schickluna in St. Catharines, Ontario. It had a length of 138.9 feet, a beam of 26.2 feet, and a depth of 10.8 feet. The barkentine had a tonnage of 329 according to the old measurement system, with a gross tonnage of 296.09 and a net tonnage of 273.63.
The original owner of the Bessie Barwick was J.D. Graham and others from St. Catharines, Ontario. It had three masts and a single deck. The vessel was primarily engaged in the grain trade, carrying cargoes such as wheat.
Throughout its history, the Bessie Barwick underwent repairs and ownership changes. It was registered in St. Catharines on May 26, 1866. In 1870, the vessel was repaired at Abbey’s dry dock in Port Robinson, Ontario. Additional repairs were conducted in 1873.
By 1878, the Bessie Barwick was owned by John C. Graham of St. Catharines, Ontario. In November 1880, the vessel encountered a severe storm that resulted in the loss of its foremast, jib boom, and bowsprit. The main and mizzen masts were also broken off. The barkentine was eventually picked up by the tug McArthur on Lake Erie and towed to Rondeau.
In August 1887, the Bessie Barwick was being towed by the steamer Myles in the Duluth and Kingston grain trade. However, on October 28, 1887, while bound from Port Arthur to Kingston in tow of the steamer Celtic, the Bessie Barwick encountered a storm. The Celtic let the barkentine loose to fend for itself after its shaft broke in Nipigon Bay. The vessel was seen on the 28th but subsequently disappeared for over 10 days. It was later discovered that the westerly gale had pushed the Bessie Barwick into the shallows of Pilot Harbor, Michipicoten Island, Lake Superior, where it foundered and pounded to pieces.
Fortunately, there were no reported casualties among the crew. They were sheltered by local fishermen and later made their way to Sault Ste. Marie in a small open boat. The Bessie Barwick was owned by R.O. MacKay of Hamilton at the time of its loss, and the master of the vessel was Captain Owen Gallagher.
