William Maxwell

Date Built: 1883, Chicago Construction: propeller steam tug, wood, fishing
Owners: Builders: J.P. SMITH
Dimensions: 67x17x6, 35g 18n Cargo:

Condition:

Location: Thunder Bay Island Reef

Depth:

Date of Loss: 1908, Sep 15

 Lat/Lon:

Type of Loss: Stranded in storm

Loran:

Loss of Life: none

GPS:

Co-ordinates are informational only, they maybe inaccurate and should
NOT BE USED FOR NAVIGATIONAL PURPOSES!

THUNDER BAY ISLAND LIFE SAVERS REPORT

At 1:30 A.M. the fishing tug William Maxwell on her way from the fishing grounds stranded on the south east end of this island, the weather was thick and blowing hard from the east. The watchman burned a coston signal but she struck the rocks just as he saw the signal. He blew alarm whistles at once and kept them a going until this crew arrived alongside, which was about one half hour from the time he stranded. We took the crew off at once and landed them at the station. The tug was pounding on the rocks very hard and at day light when we went out to her she had turned over on her side and all of her upper works were washed away. When the tugs came at 6:30 A.M. to assist her there was nothing left to assist. The crew were taken off none to soon, as the sea made very fast making a bad breaker and she was on one of the most exposed on Lake Huron, on a ledge of rock with five fathoms of water right up to her. September, 23rd, 1908 John D. Person

Sources: Sobczak