| Date Built: 1874 | Builders: James Davidson, Bay City, MI |
| Construction: Wooden Steamer | Owners: James Davidson, Bay City, MI |
| Dimensions: 231 x 37 x 19 1456 gross tons |
Cargo: Coal |
Condition: Widely scattered on both sides of Thunder Bay Island the Davidson will take a lot of dives to see. |
Location: Near Thunder Bay Island light off of shoal | Depth: 28-50' |
Date of Loss: October 4, 1883 |
GPS: Rudder N45 01.872 W83 11.498 Sidewall N45 01.932 W83 11.569 Bottoms N45 01.871 W83 11.764 Windlass/Arch N45 02.073 W83 11.267 |
Type of Loss: Grounded on Thunder Bay Island reef | Loss of Life: none |
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Co-ordinates are informational only, they maybe inaccurate and should
NOT BE USED FOR NAVIGATIONAL PURPOSES! |
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Wreck of the Propellor Davidson It appears to be just an difficult for a large vessel to run over Thunder Bay Island, as it is for a small one, and the propeller Davison found it to be so. That boat not only undertook to sail over the island, but she tried also to tow the barge Middlesex over the same place. The Jas. Davison is a large double decker, of 1,456 tons and was on her way up the lake, having in tow the barge Middlesex. Tbe Davidson had on board 1,500 tons of stove coal, and about 200 tons of soft coal. On Thursday night she got to Thunder Bay Island sooner than was caIculated on, and run hard aground near the lighthouse, on the south side of the island The Middlesex followed suit. The life saving crew, at Thunder Bay Island soon discovered the wreck and were promptly on hand to render any assistance in their power, and Captain Person dispatched messengcrs to town that night to telegraph for a tug. The next day, Friday, the tug Swain visited the stranded vessels and succeded in getting the Middlesex afloat, which boat apparently received no damage and went on her way. About one or two hundred tons of coal were dumped off the Davidson, but it proved of no use, and a dispatch was sent to Detroit for a diver and pumps, as the Davison was leaking. During Friday night the Davison lay on the rocks exposed to a heavy sea, and received severe damage. On Sunday the tug Winslow, arrived with pumps, diver and other wrecking apparatus, and on Sunday afternoon an examination was made of the Stranded propeller. A large hole was found in her bows and she was badly twisted out of shape. The Davison was-built at Bay City in June, 1874 & rated A2 last year. And was refastened and fitted with arches in 1877. There is an insurance of $45,000 on the vessel. The propeller is owned by Capt. McQueen, her commander and R. H. Jenks of St. Clair, and others, among whom we understand is Mr. Taylor, chief of the telegraph office in this city.
The Davidson was exposed to another heavy sea Monday night, and there (End of page1 missing)
About seventy feet of her forward end rests solidly on the rocks in about eight or ten feet of water, while the rest of the craft is in water the depth of which varies from eighteen to twenty feet. When a sea struck her, caused the after part of the vessel move, while the forward end remained stationery. This motion twisted her out of shape
