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.

Wooden Schooner-Barge, ~140 ft; Lost October 21, 1873 at Pigeon Bay, Ontario

Official & Build Information

• Name: Globe
• Type: Wooden schooner-barge
• Length: ~140 ft (est.)
• Cargo at Loss: Lumber
• Tow Vessel: Steamer Bradbury
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  This information is documented in the Alchem Inc. Lake Erie Shipwreck Map B Index, which notes that Globe “broke loose from the tow of the steamer Bradbury in a storm, ran aground and broke to pieces … at Pigeon Bay near Point Pelee,” along with the barge David Morris on October 21, 1873 (alcheminc.com).
• Loss Note from Great Lakes Shipwreck Files: A 140 × 25 × 16 ft wooden barge, no loss of life reported (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).

Final Incident Summary (October 21, 1873)

• A strong storm caused both Globe and her tow David Morris to break free and strand in Pigeon Bay, situated just east of Point Pelee, Ontario on Lake Erie.
• Both vessels grounded and were wrecked—Globe carried lumber at the time, and no casualties were recorded (alcheminc.com).

Incident Profile Table

Feature	Details
Vessel	Globe — wooden schooner-barge (~140 ft)
Tow Partner	David Morris — 141 ft timber barge operated by same tow
Date of Loss	October 21, 1873
Location	Pigeon Bay, Ontario (near Point Pelee)
Cargo	Lumber
Cause of Loss	Storm-strained towline; vessel ran aground and broke
Casualties	None reported

Archaeological & Regional Context

• Both Globe and David Morris represent typical transitional-era schooner-barges hauling timber under tow, vulnerable to sudden storms.
• Wreck conditions near Pigeon Bay suggest heavy framing damage and scattered lumber debris, consistent with an over-stress grounding rather than explosive sinking.
  (notes J. M. Nicholas and barge wrecks including David Morris and Globe in this locale) (manitouislandsarchives.org, Links to the Past, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, alcheminc.com).
• The wreck of David Morris is sometimes more documented in maritime archaeology, but Globe shares similar dimensions and fate—often paired in loss records.

Identification Considerations

• The 140 ft length and lumber cargo align with registry dimensions noted for Globe (match with ~141 ft entry under David Morris listing in Alchem) (alcheminc.com).
• The location at Pigeon Bay fits the documented wrecking site in both contemporaneous and retrospective sources.
• The fact that Globe and David Morris were towed together and both wrecked gives added confirmation to the event circumstances.

Recommended Archival Pursuit

• Newspaper Reports (Oct 1873): Search Detroit Free Press, Toledo Blade, and Point Pelee area press for eyewitness or salvage notices relating to Globe or David Morris.
• Tow Records & Bradbury Vessel Logs: Tow vessel records may document the incident, the storm conditions, and exact stranding positions.
• Registry Files: Confirm Globe’s construction, owner details (Parks & King, Saginaw Co.), and any tonnage or hull drawings.
• Underwater Survey Records: If the wreck of David Morris has been explored, comparing wreck morphology may assist in cross-identification of similar hull remains for Globe.

Final Statement

The Globe’s fate—breaking free during towing in a storm and grounding in Pigeon Bay on October 21, 1873—is well documented by both shipwreck indexes and maritime historians. Globe is a textbook example of a storm-driven tow loss typical of Lake Erie timber transport in the late 19th century, with no loss of life reported. Archival and potential archaeological exploration could further illuminate the structure and final disposition of her remains.

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