BAVARIA C72595

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IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

Name: Bavaria (Official Number: C72595)
Type: Wooden Three-Masted Schooner-Barge
Built: 1873, H. Rooney, Garden Island, Ontario
Hull Dimensions:
- Length: 145 feet
- Beam: 26 feet
- Depth: 13 feet
- Gross Tonnage: 376 tons
- Net Tonnage: 361 tons
Final Location: One mile south of Cape Smith, Manitoulin Island, Lake Huron
Status: Wrecked and pounded into pieces in 1898

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION: The Bavaria was a wooden three-masted schooner-barge primarily used for transporting squared lumber across the Great Lakes. Built in 1873, this sturdy vessel was integral to the maritime trade of the region, serving as a timber drogher for many years.

HISTORY: The Bavaria was constructed in 1873 by H. Rooney on Garden Island, Ontario, for Dexter Delano Calvin, a prominent figure in the local maritime industry. The vessel was designed to transport large quantities of squared lumber, playing a vital role in the booming timber trade.

On October 19, 1898, while en route from Byng Inlet to Walkerville, Ontario, the Bavaria encountered a severe storm just south of Cape Smith, Manitoulin Island, on Lake Huron. The fierce winds and relentless waves drove the schooner-barge ashore, where it was battered into pieces, leaving no hope for recovery. Remarkably, the crew, led by Captain M. Mahoney, survived the ordeal, thanks to the heroic efforts of local Indigenous people who ensured their safety.

However, the Bavaria’s history is marked by another, more mysterious incident. On May 29, 1889, the vessel was caught in a severe gale while being towed by the steamer D.D. Calvin near Long Point, Lake Ontario. The Bavaria broke free and began to founder, forcing the crew of eight to abandon ship. Tragically, the crew never made it to shore, and their fate remains unknown. The schooner-barge itself washed ashore, relatively undamaged, further deepening the mystery surrounding the crew’s disappearance.

FINAL DISPOSITION: The Bavaria was lost on October 19, 1898, after being driven ashore by a storm near Cape Smith, Manitoulin Island, Lake Huron. The vessel was pounded into pieces and became a total loss. Despite the vessel’s destruction, the crew managed to survive, thanks to the timely intervention of local Indigenous people.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES: There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the wreck site of the Bavaria.

LOCATED BY & DATE: The wreckage of the Bavaria has not been actively searched for or located since it was driven ashore and destroyed in 1898.

RESOURCES & LINKS:

KEYWORDS: Bavaria, Lake Huron shipwreck, schooner-barge, Great Lakes maritime history, Dexter Delano Calvin, Cape Smith, Manitoulin Island

CONCLUSION: The Bavaria’s tale is one of resilience and mystery, reflecting the unpredictable nature of life on the Great Lakes. The vessel’s tragic end in 1898 and the unresolved mystery of its crew’s disappearance in 1889 add layers of intrigue to this maritime story. As the Bavaria rests beneath the waters of Lake Huron, its legacy endures as a testament to the dangers faced by those who navigated these treacherous waters.