Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: George Thurston
- Type: Bark, wood, 3-mast
- Year Built: 1857
- Builder: Geo. Thurston, Kingston, Ontario
- Dimensions: Length: 135 ft (41.15 m); Beam: 26 ft (7.92 m); Depth of hold: 12 ft (3.66 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 307 tons (277.4 m³)
- Location: Near Byng Inlet
- Official Number: C77639
- Original Owners: Unknown (likely private owners or a shipping company operating in the region)
- Number of Masts: 3
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The George Thurston was a wooden bark—a three-mast vessel primarily used for cargo transport. Barks were commonly used on the Great Lakes during the 19th century for shipping bulk freight like grain, coal, and timber. The vessel was built by Geo. Thurston in Kingston, Ontario, and had a respectable gross tonnage of 307 tons. The 3-mast configuration allowed the vessel to take advantage of both wind power and towing to navigate the Great Lakes.
Description
The George Thurston was a three-mast bark that played a significant role in the maritime trade of the Great Lakes. With its wooden construction and substantial cargo capacity, it was well-suited for transporting goods such as wheat. The vessel’s design reflected the common practices of the time, utilizing sails for navigation and cargo transport.
History
The George Thurston was returning from a trip to Algoma Mills and was laden with wheat. On October 23, 1882, it encountered a severe storm on Lake Huron near Georgian Bay. The vessel stranded on a reef southwest of Byng Inlet. Despite efforts to prevent the inevitable, the storm pounded the vessel to pieces on the rocky reef. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, as the crew survived the ordeal, but the ship was a total loss.
Significant Incidents
- The George Thurston had been ashore near Point Edward on Lake Huron back in 1876, but it had been able to recover from that incident.
Final Disposition
The George Thurston was reported to be pounded to pieces on the reef near Byng Inlet after the storm. There is no evidence to suggest that the wreck was ever salvaged, but it was likely broken up or lost beyond recovery. The wreck remains a part of the marine history of Georgian Bay and Lake Huron.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Byng Inlet is a narrow and often hazardous stretch of water, particularly during the fall months, when violent storms can cause sudden and treacherous conditions. Georgian Bay is known for its rocky shorelines and shallow reefs, making navigation difficult in adverse weather conditions.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”george-thurstondavid-thurston-c-77639″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The George Thurston was a three-mast bark that was wrecked by a storm near Byng Inlet, Georgian Bay, on October 23, 1882. The vessel, which had a cargo of wheat at the time, was pounded to pieces on a reef, but no lives were lost. While the vessel had experienced previous mishaps, including a stranding near Point Edward in 1876, it could not survive the storm that ultimately destroyed it. The loss of the George Thurston is a testament to the dangers faced by Great Lakes vessels in the 19th century during the stormy fall months.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
Identification & Site Information
- Name: George Thurston
- Other Names: David Thurston (in some sources)
- Official Number: C77639
- Type at Loss: Bark, wood, 3-mast
- Builder: Geo. Thurston, Kingston, Ontario
- Date Built: 1857
- Specifications: Length: 135 feet (41.15 m) Beam: 26 feet (7.92 m) Depth: 12 feet (3.66 m)
- Gross Tonnage: 307 tons (277.4 m³)
- Net Tonnage: 307 tons (277.4 m³)
- Date of Loss: October 23, 1882
- Place of Loss: Near Byng Inlet, Georgian Bay
- Lake: Huron
- Type of Loss: Storm
- Cargo: Wheat
- Owner at Loss: Unknown (likely private owners or a shipping company operating in the region)
Vessel Type & Design
The George Thurston was a wooden bark—a three-mast vessel primarily used for cargo transport. Barks were commonly used on the Great Lakes during the 19th century for shipping bulk freight like grain, coal, and timber. The vessel was built by Geo. Thurston in Kingston, Ontario, and had a respectable gross tonnage of 307 tons. The 3-mast configuration allowed the vessel to take advantage of both wind power and towing to navigate the Great Lakes.
Final Voyage & Loss
The George Thurston was returning from a trip to Algoma Mills and was laden with wheat. On October 23, 1882, it encountered a severe storm on Lake Huron near Georgian Bay. The vessel stranded on a reef southwest of Byng Inlet. Despite efforts to prevent the inevitable, the storm pounded the vessel to pieces on the rocky reef. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, as the crew survived the ordeal, but the ship was a total loss.
Interestingly, the George Thurston had been ashore near Point Edward on Lake Huron back in 1876, but it had been able to recover from that incident. After the storm and wreck near Byng Inlet, it was clear that the vessel had run its course.
Final Disposition & Recovery
The George Thurston was reported to be pounded to pieces on the reef near Byng Inlet after the storm. There is no evidence to suggest that the wreck was ever salvaged, but it was likely broken up or lost beyond recovery. The wreck remains a part of the marine history of Georgian Bay and Lake Huron.
Notmars & Advisories
Byng Inlet is a narrow and often hazardous stretch of water, particularly during the fall months, when violent stormscan cause sudden and treacherous conditions. Georgian Bay is known for its rocky shorelines and shallow reefs, making navigation difficult in adverse weather conditions.
Resources & Links
Conclusion
The George Thurston was a three-mast bark that was wrecked by a storm near Byng Inlet, Georgian Bay, on October 23, 1882. The vessel, which had a cargo of wheat at the time, was pounded to pieces on a reef, but no lives were lost. While the vessel had experienced previous mishaps, including a stranding near Point Edward in 1876, it could not survive the storm that ultimately destroyed it. The loss of the George Thurston is a testament to the dangers faced by Great Lakes vessels in the 19th century during the stormy fall months.
Keywords & Categories
Keywords: Georgian Bay shipwrecks, Great Lakes storm losses, 19th-century bark wrecks, wheat cargo loss
Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Huron, 19th-century shipwrecks, Bark-type vessels of the Great Lakes
Glossary Terms: Bark, Storm Loss, Byng Inlet, Wheat Cargo
george-thurstondavid-thurston-c-77639 1882-10-23 07:55:00