The Mary Ward

Excerpt from the book
Alone in the Night

-Courtesy of the National Archives of Canada For the heroic rescue of Mary Ward passengers, George and Charles Collins were each awarded fifteen dollars by the Canadian government

During his illustrious career, George Collins was tested on many desperate occasions. One calm Sunday night in November 1872, a farmer saw the Mary Ward stranded on Milligan’s Reef, her whistle blowing frantically, her lights glowing. As she was not taking on water, no one was aware of any immediate danger. A passenger described the situation for the Collingwood Enterprise-Bulletin:

There was no confusion and all seemed to take the matter lightly since they were near land and it was so calm. I can remember standing out on the stern after she had struck,looking up at the stars and feeling on my face the gentle warm south-west breeze . . . I could hear them singing in the cabin . . . Frank Moberly and Mr. Corbett, part owner of the steamer, embarked in a small boat leaving the Mary Ward around 10 p.m. for the shore of Craigleith, then to walk into Collingwood and obtain assistance.

-Courtesy of the McMaster family George Collins saved a staggering 52 lives in his 31 years of service on the Nottawasaga and Cove Island lighthouses.

That calm did not last long. Another passenger later told the newspaper:

Shortly after midnight the wind suddenly shifted, and heavy, black, swiftly moving clouds arose over the mountain and the stars soon disappeared. There was an ominous moaning in the rigging, the import of which I knew too well. There was an uncanny stillness . . . After a little time I did suggest to the watchman that he call the Captain. This he did and the Captain realized the danger at once and began blowing the Mary Ward’s whistle again frantically and calling all hands on deck.

Too late. The storm hit, pushing huge breakers over the stern. On deck, passengers braced themselves against the railings. Drenched and numb they wondered which blow would tear the ship to pieces. Eight panicked passengers launched a lifeboat, but only yards from the steamer the yawl flipped and was sucked under.

The tug Mary Ann, which had been dispatched by Moberly and Corbett, tried to reach the ship but was turned back by the ferocious seas. In desperation, another six passengers launched the last lifeboat. Among them was Charles Campbell who had his eyes glued to a light glowing from his house where his pregnant wife awaited his return. The lifeboat was flung into the waves that seethed over the smooth limestone shelves and within moments all six were drowned.

Late that afternoon, when the storm abated, George Collins and his twenty-one-year-old son Charles launched a lifeboat and headed for Collingwood. By the time they reached harbour only one oar remained. Three brave fishermen volunteered to join the Collins’ rescue attempt. The group of five rowed out to the Mary Ward and saved the remaining passengers (either twenty-four or nine depending on the account) just before the battered steamer split apart and slid down onto the ledges that still bear her name.

Captain Johnston of the Mary Ward later claimed the ship struck Milligan’s Reef because he had confused the light from a Craigleith tavern with Collingwood harbour--but how could he with the Nottawasaga lighthouse off his port bow? Serious allegations were levelled against him: alcohol was involved; an unproven logging device he had designed was being used; the compass was malfunctioning . . . . But at the funeral for the fourteen people of the Mary Ward, the question in most minds was why the Captain had allowed passengers and crew to settle down for the night when the barometer reading was so low?

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