Accident – death – Obituary News :

The Enterprise Steamer: A Close Call on Lake Simcoe

Part 1 of this column can be found here.

On November 22, 1906, the steamer J.H. Jones embarked on what was meant to be its last run of the season. Little did anyone know, it would also become its last run ever. Departing from Owen Sound and heading towards Lion’s Head, the J.H. Jones carried both passengers and a cargo consisting of coal oil, brick-making machinery, a sleigh, and various other goods. However, their journey was cut short when they reached Cape Croker.

The lighthouse keeper at Cape Croker witnessed the J.H. Jones struggling against the high waves of the stormy Georgian Bay. In a momentary distraction, he looked away before glancing back, only to find that the J.H. Jones had vanished without a trace.

For six weeks, the fate of the J.H. Jones remained a mystery. It wasn’t until January 6, 1907, that a breakthrough came. The body of a man washed up onto the shore of Christian Island, and nearby, a life preserver from the ill-fated steamer was discovered. This man was identified as Richard Addison, a 33-year-old passenger aboard the J.H. Jones. Addison, a resident of Manitoulin Island, was returning from a trip to Oxford County. Sadly, he was the only person from the boat to be found or identified.

According to the Northern Advance, Addison’s description was shared in hopes of finding more information about his identity. He was described as wearing a dark tweed check suit, a white collar and shirt, laced boots with rubbers on, standing at 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing around 150 pounds, with light-colored hair and no mustache. In his pockets, they found a gold watch with an Egin movement that had stopped at 7:45, $1.25 in silver, 5c in coppers, three collar buttons, a jack knife, a handkerchief in a side pocket, and a pocket dictionary.

While not surprising, Addison’s death registration confirmed that he had drowned. The frigid waters of the lake would have been merciless, and the document noted that his affliction was brief. In a poignant touch, the attending doctor was listed as “the Good Physician.”

The stories of the other passengers aboard the J.H. Jones are both captivating and tragic, highlighting the perilous conditions of travel by water during those times. Alexander Lyons, another passenger, had recently returned from the Yukon and narrowly escaped death when he was shipwrecked in a Pacific storm.

While Lake Huron has earned the unfortunate title of the shipwreck capital of the world, Lake Simcoe also holds its own share of sunken vessels. However, none of these incidents resulted in a significant number of fatalities.

The Enterprise, an 89-foot steamer that operated from 1868 until 1903, regularly transported passengers across Lake Simcoe. In August 1903, the captain of the Enterprise discovered serious mechanical issues shortly after departing from Big Bay Point with a boat full of passengers.

Despite the challenges, the captain decided to press on towards Barrie, hoping they would reach their destination safely. As the Enterprise approached Barrie, it became apparent that the steamer was taking on water faster than its pumps could handle. Only one of the two twin-screw propellers was functioning, and the crew fought desperately to keep the water away from the fire hole.

If the water reached the fire hole, the steam production would cease, rendering the pumps useless and stopping the boat’s forward movement. Realizing that they might not make it to their usual terminus at the government dock, the crew brought the Enterprise closer to shore. They decided to beach the steamer at Fisherman’s Point, located east of Barrie.

However, against all odds, they decided to carry on and managed to reach the wharf at the foot of Mulcaster Street. There, the relieved crew and passengers disembarked just minutes before the water reached the fire hole. Without the pumps, the water rapidly filled the hole, and the Enterprise sank.

Although the Enterprise was later refloated and taken to Jackson’s Point, where it was stripped of usable parts before being scuttled, its hull was rediscovered by divers in 1998.

In a remarkable turn of events, a crew of divers and researchers, accompanied by a great-grandson of Captain J.V. Crawford, embarked on a search for the remnants of the J.H. Jones in 2018. Armed with statements made by the Cape Croker lighthouse keeper in 1906, they set out on a summer day and found the remains of the boat in just one hour and 45 minutes.

Each week, the Barrie Historical Archive provides BarrieToday readers with a glimpse into the city’s rich past. This unique column features captivating photos and stories from bygone years, sure to appeal to the historian in each of us.

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