Gargantua – Lake Huron Steamer Shipwreck (1952)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: D.C. Whitney (*later Gargantua)
• Type: Wooden Bulk Freighter
• Year Built: 1882
• Builder: Simon Langell, St. Clair, Michigan
• Dimensions: Length: 229 ft (69.8 m); Beam: 40 ft (12.2 m); Depth of hold: 14.7 ft (4.5 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 1,090 GT
• Location: Wingfield Basin, Cabot Head, Ontario
• Official Number: 157075 (U.S.), C122435 (Canada, post-1909)
• Original Owners: D.C. Whitney of Detroit, Michigan; Whitney Transportation Company; J.C. Gilchrist; Joseph Ganley
• Number of Masts: Originally 1, converted to 2 in 1885

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Vessel Type: Wooden Bulk Freighter (later converted to a barge and floating drydock)

Description

The D.C. Whitney, later known as Gargantua, was a wooden bulk freighter built in 1882. Originally constructed with a single deck, it was converted to two decks in 1885, increasing its draft to 22 ft. The vessel was powered by a screw steam engine with a compound engine configuration, producing 600 HP.

History

Built for D.C. Whitney of Detroit, Michigan, the vessel underwent several ownership changes throughout its service history. In 1909, it was rebuilt and renamed Gargantua. The ship was involved in various incidents, including collisions and groundings, reflecting the challenges of navigation in the Great Lakes.

Significant Incidents

• 1883: Collided with a railroad bridge that failed to open.
• 1887, September: Stranded on Point Hope Reef with barge Ashland.
• 1890, November 14: A crewman was killed, another fatally injured, and two seriously hurt in a fall into the hold.
• 1891, October 12: Stranded on Raspberry Island, Lake Superior; later released.
• 1893, May 12: Stranded with barge Wayne at Round Island, Lake Huron; freed by tug Merrick.
• 1905, November 25: Stranded in a storm near Washington Island, Wisconsin (Lake Michigan).
• 1906, November 11: Burned at Racine, Wisconsin but was repaired.
• 1909, August 5: Beached at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

Final Disposition

In 1912, the vessel was beached at Beausoleil Island, Georgian Bay, and later converted into a barge in Kingston, Ontario. By 1920, it was removed from official documentation and converted into a floating drydock in Midland, Ontario. The vessel was ultimately abandoned at Wingfield Basin in 1950.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Some remains of the Gargantua may still exist at the site, but they have not been extensively documented. The hull has been left to deteriorate in Wingfield Basin, and no confirmed modern wreck discovery exists, although parts of the hull may still be present.

Resources & Links

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The D.C. Whitney was one of the many large wooden bulk freighters that dominated Great Lakes shipping in the late 19th century. After decades of service, accidents, and rebuilds, she was converted into the Gargantua and eventually abandoned at Wingfield Basin in 1950. While no confirmed wreck documentation exists today, her hull may still be present, making her one of the forgotten relics of Ontario’s maritime history.