Sunken History—A Diver’s Journal
Schooner William Shupe, Part II
The Rescue of the Crew of the William Shupe
by Captain Deb Biniecki

Last month we left off with the crew of the stranded wreck William Shupe watching helplessly as their rescuers were overtaken and drown by the raging lake. They clung to the rigging as their little schooner threatened to break apart. At least a thousand observers on shore could do little else but watch the tragic events unfold. In 1894, there was no lifesaving station near Lakeport. The closest help was in Sand Beach, now Harbor Beach.

At 10 o’clock on Saturday morning, the Sand Beach station received word that lives were in danger and sprang into action, quickly loading their rescue boat and equipment on a waiting train. As the train pulled out the lifesaving crew waved at the large number of well wishers who had gathered to see them off. Silent prayers went up for the safety of the lifesavers as they disappeared in a puff of black smoke. When the train carrying the lifesavers arrived in Palms, the conductor stood on the platform with orders to take engine No. 113 with the ‘Wild Irishman’ Thomas Hour, a hold of the throttle to make the journey to Port Huron. The special train left on the second leg of the lifesaving mission and was by all accounts an exciting trip, covering eight miles over one section in 11 minutes. The local paper called this the ‘Fasted Train on Record’ at the time.

At one o’clock in the afternoon the Sand Beach lifesaving crew arrived at the Thomas Street station with their boat and appliances. Willing hands were there to lend assistance. The mortar and life lines were loaded on to wagons and taken up the shore near the wreck. Once again, Captain Cox of the tug Thompson offered to make his fifth trip to the wreck. The lifesaving crew boarded the tug and steamed out of the St. Clair River on its way toward the scene. The Thompson pulled up about a half a mile above the Shupe and cast the lifeboat and lifesavers loose to drift down toward the wreck.

Captain Plough and his men battled the current for an hour before finally reaching the Shupe. A man in the rigging threw the lifesaving crew a line, which was caught by the lifesavers. Life preservers were passed to the crew and operations were quickly underway to remove each crewmember. The first person to be taken onto the lifeboat was the cook Mary Johnson or ‘Iceland Mary,’ as she was well known in marine circles. The rest of the crew was quickly taken aboard the lifeboat. When the lifesavers and crewmembers were safely on shore they knelt and, with bowed heads, offered a prayer of thanks for their deliverance. Within 20 minutes of their rescue, the wreck of the William Shupe went to pieces.

Heroes Honored

The next day the following letter was sent to the men who were instrumental in saving the crew.

To Daniel Lynn, the Life Saving Crew of Sand Beach, Captain A.A. Cox, Chub Randall and Charles Conkey,

Gentlemen: The mayor and many prominent citizens of Port Huron, deeming it fitting to show their appreciation of the brave work done by yourselves and your heroic comrades, who gave up their lives in a grand and desperate effort to rescue the crew of the schooner Shupe, on Saturday, May 19, hereby respectfully request and urge you to be present at the Union Hotel in this city at 8 o’clock this evening.

The banquet is to be held tonight on account of the fact that the brave life savers of Sand Beach, whose gallant rescue to the imperiled crew at risk of their own lives, are unable to be with us longer than today.

Yours Respectfully,
H.B. Buckeridge

About 75 citizens gathered at the Union Hotel to pay tribute to the rescuers. Speeches were given, heroes honored, and requests were made to start a benefit fund for the widows and orphans left by the drowned rescuers. By early July, 700 dollars had been donated for the victims’ families, which amounted to over two years wages.

Another movement was initiated that night which would eventually result in the building of a new lifesaving station near Port Huron.

Join me next month as I continue the series exploring the history of the wreck of the William Shupe and its impact on the community, which prompted the development of the Lake View Life Saving Station.

If you would like to contact Capt. Deb with any ideas, feedback, or information regarding shipwreck stories, please contact her through Huron Explorations at 810-648-4638 or e-mail at captdeb@avci.net. SCUBA diving charters can also be arranged through the above contact information.