The saga of the loss of the SS Waubuno is a well-documented chapter in the history of Parry Sound. A little known sequel, however, involves a subsequent voyage that was necessary to stock the larder of Parry Sound with the loss of the Waubuno. Beset by a blinding winter storm in the exact area where the Waubuno went down, would the Northern Queen avert an an almost copycat disaster, just 10 days later?
The loss of the ill-fated Waubuno in late November of 1879, was a devastating and terrible tragedy for the family and friends of the 14 crew members and 10 passengers lost. The event was a noteworthy national news story of the day; and indeed an international story as interest would undoubtedly be high in American cities and towns around the Great Lakes.
In a macabre manner – the aftermath of the tragedy resulted in several utterly fascinating and bizarre stories that would add many a Machiavellian twist to the legend of the Waubuno. One of those stories is the December 1879 voyage of the Northern Queen.
Notwithstanding the immensity of personal tragedy for the families involved, life in Parry Sound still had to go on. The Waubuno had taken down with her much of the food, goods and materials needed to see Parry Sound through a long winter of isolation. Despite the lateness of the season – a replacement shipment was essential. That voyage commenced sometime around the December 10, 1879. If the Waubuno’s trip had been late – this one was pushing the limits!
The Northern Queen, one of two steamships now remaining with the crippled Georgian Bay Transportation Company was selected for the voyage. Notwithstanding the dangers of such a trip – she did have one thing going for her. At the helm was the legendary Captain ‘Black Pete’ Campbell (so named for his prodigious black beard). Campbell had in fact once been the skipper of the doomed Waubuno under the previous ownership of William Beatty. He had made this trip many times and if anyone knew the whereabouts of every known shoal and hazard – it was him. In the bravado of legendary men: Captain Campbell could smell a rock ten feet down. However, the ‘gales of November’ and the ice storms of December cared little about legendary men … they had taken many to the bottom.
With the loss of the Waubuno, the Northern Queen just happened to have a reporter from the Collingwood Messenger on board still covering the story. Other passengers included a Mr. McLean of Parry Sound – who had lost several thousand dollars worth of goods on the Waubuno; Mr. Roland – father of the lost purser on the Waubuno and a Mr. G.W. Brown.
We pick up the story as penned by the Messenger reporter:
“… The steamer left Collingwood at 3:30 a.m. with a heavy load of general freight. … Shortly after passing the Christian Islands a furious storm commenced which continually increased in violence, and when nearing the channel (referring to the inside channel at Sans Souci where the Waubuno had been lost) nothing could be seen forty yards from the steamer. Unless in clear weather - it is extremely dangerous making the channel, owing to the rocks and shoals. However, for several hours Captain Campbell stood on the hurricane deck, in the blinding and bitterly cold storm, and by the greatest of care and ability made the channel in safety. To give our readers an idea of the dangers of this route in stormy weather we may state there are numerous places were a deviation of a few yards from the regular course would prove sure destruction to the steamer. We passed through hundreds of small islands, and immense rocks rising out of the Bay, and at times the steamer passed through channels with those dark uninviting rocks only a few yards distance on each side of the boat. If the route is beautiful in summer, it is far from pleasing to the eye in December.”
So … another page was added to the legend of Captain Campbell and the good folk of Parry Sound were indeed appreciative of his valiant efforts. For the captain – he was just doing his job.
Hence, it was by the narrowest of margins that a copy-cat disaster was averted – two ships of the same company being lost at the same location in Georgian Bay a couple of weeks apart. The unkind fate of Captain Burkitt and the Waubuno are forever bound together in the annals of Georgian Bay history. The same fate glared in the face of Captain Campbell and the Northern Queen … but it was not meant to be. It is sobering to think of how easily the stories could have been different.
December 1879 voyage of the Northern Queen
Northern Queen
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