Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Mary D
  • Vessel Type: Wooden two‑masted Schooner carrying lumber (Deck load)
  • Built: Date not recorded; active in early 1900s
  • Official Number: Not listed (likely undocumented or minor craft)
  • Date of Loss: 30 August 1901
  • Location: Off Pointe Aux Barques, Lake Huron, bound for Port Sanilac from Buffalo (facebook.com, michigansthumb.com)
  • Cargo: Lumber (Deck-load)
  • Casualties: None reported; crew rescued by nearby lifesaving service and passing schooners (facebook.com, facebook.com)

Vessel Type

A working Schooner carrying lumber on Deck—a typical freight rig of Great Lakes commerce at the turn of the 20th century. She relied on sails and had no engine.

Description

While full dimensions are unavailable, Mary D was sized for lumber transport, typically 70–120 ft in length with a modest beam. Deck‑loads of lumber were common for vessels supplying smaller ports like Port Sanilac.

History & Final Voyage

On 30 August 1901, while en route to Port Sanilac loaded with lumber, Mary D encountered a fierce northwest gale near Pointe Aux Barques. The storm overwhelmed her, causing significant leaks. The U.S. Life‐Saving Service arrived around 4 a.m. to rescue the crew, who were later safely evacuated. She was Abandoned at sea (michigansthumb.com).

Reports indicate the vessel was sighted drifting with torn sails:

“The Mary D … battling a northwest gale off Pointe Aux Barques.” (portsanilaclighthouse.com, facebook.com)

Her crew was subsequently transferred via schooners Mont Blanc and Sterling to Long Point and then to Detroit (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).

Final Disposition

Abandoned offshore, Mary D eventually Foundered in deep water—likely sinking near Pointe Aux Barques. No modern surveys or shipwreck identification efforts have located her remains.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return. No recorded site surveys, GPS identification, or reconnaissance dives have confirmed the wreck.

Notations & Advisories

  • The area around Pointe Aux Barques is hazardous due to reefs extending nearly 2 m underwater—an infamous grounding zone for sailing vessels (en.wikipedia.org).
  • No marked hazards specifically reference Mary D today, but the reef zone is well-charted.

Conclusion

Mary D was a working lumber Schooner driven onto trouble by a fierce northwest gale on 30 August 1901. The crew was rescued by life‑saving crews and nearby ships. Abandoned and unmarked, she remains a lost vessel likely resting in deep water off Pointe Aux Barques, with no modern rediscovery.

Recommended Archival Research

To enrich the narrative further, the following sources could be pursued:

  • Historical newspapers (Aug–Sept 1901): Saginaw News, Port Austin Leader, Detroit Free Press—for eyewitness reports and rescue details.
  • U.S. Life‑Saving Service Logs: Station logbooks from Pointe Aux Barques detailing rescue efforts (likely around 4 a.m.).
  • Maritime Registries and Underwriter Records: Possibly contain the vessel registration, ownership, and insurance details.
  • Local Maritime Histories or Museum Archives: Particularly those overseen by Michigan’s Thumb region historical societies.
  • Navigation Charts of the Era: For any post‑1901 updates referencing a wreck near the reef.