Last updated: February 22, 2021
Article
SS Cumberland: Wreck Event
NPS
Wreck Event
Cumberland was delayed for three days while enroute to Prince Arthur's Landing in July of 1877. The vessel had been grounded on a bar in Nipigon Harbor (Thunder Bay Sentinal, July 26, 1877), arriving in Port Arthur (now known as Thunder Bay) on Tuesday, July 24th. The ship probably cleared port the same day, as was its practice.
Not long after leaving Port Arthur, Cumberland started taking on water, and its passengers were transferred to an upbound American boat she met. Later, on the 25th, Cumberland struck Rock of Ages reef (Thunder Bay Sentinal, July 26, 1877). The day was mild when Cumberland struck. The weather was dry and clear, with a light southwest to south-southwest breeze blowing (Menagerie Isle Light Station, Log July 23, 24, 1877).
Cumberland struck the reef going at a speed sufficient to push its bow solidly aground. It was reported that all the forward half of the vessel was on the reef. Several tugs and steamers unsuccessfully attempted to pull it off. (It was also reported that had Cumberland run 100 feet to either side, it would have missed the reef (Duluth Minnesotian, Aug. 4, 1877). The steamers Quebec and Francis Smith worked on the stranded ship. These steamers parted all their lines in the unsuccessful attempt to remove the sidewheeler. Cumberland was reported in bad shape, "lying 18 inches out amidships (Chicago Inter Ocean, July 30, 1877). Some of the freight was loaded onto Francis Smith, a ship owned by the same line (Chicago Inter Ocean, Aug. 1, 1877).
The newspapers ran frequent reports on the progress of the attempts to save Cumberland, and it was clear from the stories that the people of both Duluth and Prince Arthur's hoped she would be saved. The Duluth Tribune (Aug. 3, 1877), for instance, printed the comments: "We hope the fears entertained that she will go down before she reaches Collingwood will not be realized, for she is a trim, staunch and fast sailing craft, and would be greatly missed from our commerce."
Unfortunately the worst fears were realized. The wreck was abandoned August 12 (Chicago Inter Ocean, Aug. 13, 1877). By August 18, it was rapidly going to pieces, and had broken entirely in two (The Marquette Mining Journal, Aug. 18, 1877). The same newspaper reported it a total loss by August 25. The owners were already negotiating for the purchase of the Union Steamboat Company vessel Atlantic as a replacement. The loss of Cumberland was put at $50,000. It had been insured for $34,000 (Duluth Minnesotian Herald, Aug. 11, 1877).
Cumberland remained visible until the end of August. The steamer Francis Smith, down bound from Duluth, reported the wreck was in the same position as when it was abandoned (Toronto Globe, Aug. 31, 1877).
Cumberland was entirely submerged by early September. The Duluth Minnesotian (Sept. 8, 1877) reported that "She is now quietly laying on the bed of Lake Superior. Some wreckers went to look for her lately, but could not find her."