by 
In November 1928, a powerful gale swept across Lake Huron, dooming the passenger steamer Thousand Islander. Once a vibrant excursion vessel, the ship’s final voyage ended in tragedy and confusion, marking the forgotten disaster of the sinking of Thousand Islander, leaving it lost beneath the frigid waters near Thunder Bay. This little-remembered disaster highlights the perils of Great Lakes navigation during the early 20th century.
The Thousand Islander’s Journey
The Thousand Islander, built in 1912, was designed for summer cruises and short-distance tours. It had a wooden and steel construction, making it ill-suited for the heavy November storms common on the Great Lakes. Recently sold to the Georgian Bay Transportation and Tourist Company, the vessel was being towed to Midland, Ontario, where it was to begin a new chapter as a Georgian Bay tour ship, following the tragic events of the Sinking of Thousand Islander.
On November 20, 1928, the Canadian freighter Collingwood left Sarnia with the Thousand Islander in tow. However, the weather quickly turned perilous. High winds and towering waves pushed the vessels off course into Thunder Bay, a location far from their intended destination.
The Disaster Unfolds
The crew of the Collingwood, led by Captain H.J. Clark, made every effort to secure the tow, but the storm proved overwhelming. The towline snapped by late evening on November 21, leaving the Thousand Islander adrift. Water began flooding the steamer as its wooden structure buckled under the storm’s force.
Realizing the dire situation, Captain Clark ordered the rescue of the Thousand Islander’s 10-man crew. Using ladders and lifeboats, the men were successfully transferred to the Collingwood, but the abandoned steamer was left to the mercy of the storm.
Witnesses reported the Thousand Islander taking on water rapidly before vanishing beneath the waves. The wreck’s exact location is believed to be near Middle Island in Thunder Bay.
A Survivor’s Account
A young wheelsman aboard the Thousand Islander, Frederick Gray vividly recalled the harrowing events decades later. “We knew the ship was doomed,” he said in an interview. “All we could think about was getting off.” Gray described how the crew braved the storm to board the Collingwood safely. Despite their rescue, losing the ship and its cargo was a sobering reminder of nature’s power over even the most experienced sailors.
Legacy of the Sinking of Thousand Islander in 1928
The sinking of the Thousand Islander marked the end of a short-lived vessel that had spent years serving the Detroit-Toledo-Chatham route. Valued at $150,000, the ship’s loss was both a financial and emotional blow to its owners and crew. To this day, the wreck remains part of the lakebed’s tangled graveyard of ships, a testament to the Great Lakes’ unforgiving conditions.
Though overshadowed by larger maritime tragedies, the story of the Thousand Islander offers a glimpse into the dangers faced by early 20th-century mariners. Its memory lingers as part of Lake Huron’s storied history—a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who ventured onto its unpredictable waters.
The Thousand Islander: Still Undiscovered
Despite the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary’s extensive collection of mapped shipwrecks, the Thousand Islander remains elusive. Experts speculate that the wreck lies within the sanctuary’s protected waters, potentially buried beneath decades of sediment or obscured by the lake’s challenging underwater topography.
The sanctuary’s mission to document and preserve Great Lakes shipwrecks has sparked ongoing interest in uncovering this historic vessel. With advancements in sonar and underwater exploration technology, the discovery of the Thousand Islander could provide valuable insights into the circumstances of its sinking and its historical significance.
For now, the steamer’s story remains both a mystery and a compelling chapter in Lake Huron’s maritime lore. The Thousand Islander serves as a reminder of the Great Lakes’ unpredictable power and the enduring impact of its shipwrecks on the region’s cultural and historical landscape.
Sources
Article from Nov 21, 1928 The Times Herald (Port Huron, Michigan)
Article from Nov 22, 1928 The Times Herald (Port Huron, Michigan)
Article from Mar 8, 1993 The Times Herald (Port Huron, Michigan)
Discover more from Thumbwind
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
