On January 20, 1864, the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser reported the heart-wrenching news of the total loss of the paddle-wheel steamer SUNBEAM on Lake Superior during a violent gale. Except for one wheelsman who miraculously survived, all on board, totaling 34 lives, were lost.
The SUNBEAM, a vessel of 398 tons, had been built in Manitowoc in 1861 and had since been serving the Great Lakes region. However, on August 28, 1863, tragedy struck near Eagle Harbor, Michigan. As recounted by the Chicago Post, the ill-fated journey began when the SUNBEAM left Ontonagon on the evening of August 27th.
The steamer encountered a fierce gale from four o’clock until eight, with the wheelsman struggling to keep control. Attempting to navigate towards Isle Royal, the vessel’s machinery proved powerless in the heavy seas. The SUNBEAM was seen by observers on the copper bluffs at Copper Falls Mine, fighting to maintain its position with sails set.
Tragically, the vessel was hit by a tremendous wave, causing it to be swamped and capsized. Passengers and crew attempted to escape in a small boat, but the ship was struck once again, leading to the upper deck being torn off and the SUNBEAM sinking beneath the waves.
The wheelsman, however, managed to save his life by lashing himself to a fragment of the upper deck. Floating on the lake for thirty hours, he finally washed ashore and crawled nearly six miles until he was rescued by an exploring party. Remarkably, he had kept himself sustained by drinking port wine from a jug he had found on the debris. The wheelsman’s account revealed that he had witnessed others floating lifeless in the water, wearing life-preservers.
The crew comprised 21 individuals, including Indian deck hands, and there were around six passengers on board. Among the passengers was Augustus Colburn of Ontonagon, whose fate was also sealed with the sinking of the SUNBEAM.
The vessel had been built just a couple of years earlier and was valued at $40,000. Its owner, A.E. Goodrich of Chicago, had insured it for $20,000. The tragic loss of the SUNBEAM was a somber reminder of the dangers faced by those who navigated the Great Lakes, and it left a profound impact on the communities and families that lost their loved ones in this maritime disaster.
