IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION:
The J.F. CARD was a wooden schooner, a common type of vessel on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. Schooners were typically used for transporting bulk goods such as lumber, coal, and grain across the lakes. With two masts and a robust wooden construction, the J.F. CARD was designed to endure the often harsh conditions of the Great Lakes.
HISTORY:
The J.F. CARD was launched in 1864 from the shipyards of Vermilion, Ohio, during a period when wooden schooners were the workhorses of Great Lakes shipping. Over its 36-year career, the J.F. CARD transported various cargoes, primarily lumber, across the lakes. It was owned by H. Wineman of Detroit and was under the command of Captain Brown when it met its tragic end.
FINAL DISPOSITION:
On November 15, 1900, the J.F. CARD encountered a fierce storm while navigating Lake Huron. The vessel was driven onto the rocky shores of Point Douglas, north of Inverhuron, Ontario. The impact of the storm was so severe that the ship broke apart on the rocks. Fortunately, all crew members were rescued by local residents who bravely rowed out to save them from the shore.
The ship, valued at $3,500, was a total loss, with no insurance coverage to compensate for the damage. The cargo of lumber it was carrying was also lost to the lake. The wreckage of the J.F. CARD was scattered along the shoreline, marking the end of its long service on the Great Lakes.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES:
There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the wreck of the J.F. CARD.
LOCATED BY & DATE:
The wreck was not formally discovered or documented after the initial incident, as the ship was largely destroyed and scattered along the shoreline.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
KEYWORDS:
J.F. CARD, schooner, Lake Huron, shipwreck, Point Douglas, Inverhuron, Great Lakes maritime history.
CONCLUSION:
The loss of the J.F. CARD in the storm of November 1900 is a poignant reminder of the perils faced by sailors on the Great Lakes. Despite the catastrophic damage to the vessel, the crew’s survival, thanks to the heroic efforts of local rescuers, stands as a testament to the enduring human spirit in the face of nature’s fury. The story of the J.F. CARD is a significant chapter in the maritime history of Lake Huron, reflecting both the dangers and the bravery associated with life on the Great Lakes.
