Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== VESSEL NAME: Ark OTHER NAME(s): E. K. Collins OFFICIAL NO: - REASON: Foundered DATE OF LOSS: October 22, 1866 LOCATION: Lake Huron RIG TYPE: Barge HULL TYPE: Wooden BUILDER: J. Bushnell, Newport, MI - 1854 OWNER(S): Ward & Co., Detroit, MI MASTER: Capt. Philip Buzzard TONNAGE: LENGTH: 151 ft BEAM: 32 ft DEPTH: 7.66 ft CASUALTIES: 8 (all) SURVIVORS: 0 Built in 1854 as a sidewheel steamer named E. K. Collins. Burned on October 8, 1854, while on Detroit River at Maldon, Ontario. She had been bound from Sault Ste. Marie to Cleve- land, OH. Twenty five lives were lost. Ten passengers and thirteen of her crew. Rebuilt in 1857, as a barge, at Detroit by D. McCullen. Changed to steam-barge in 1858, and back to a barge in July, 1866. During the last week of October, 1866, the lumber laden ARK was one of four barges downbound from Saginaw in tow of the tug HERCULES. Encountering a fall gale the barges were lost from their tow. It's unclear if they broke loose or were cut loose. While three of the barges (ELLIOTT, DETROIT and ONTARIO) were able to ride out the storm, the barge ARK was lost. A rumor was started that she had washed ashore and her crew had walked to Goderich but this was found to be only a rumor. Wreckage, including some of Capt. Buzzard's personal effects, washed ashore 100 miles above Goderich. Her engine was later recovered and placed in the the steamer MARINE CITY. Capt. Buzzard was 54 years old and born in Pennsylvania. At one point he had given up the lake life and taken up farming. It seems that farming didn't agree with him, or perhaps he longed for the feel of the roll of the deck beneath his feet again. When the ARK was lost he left a widow, Susannah, and at least 3 children: John and George W., both captains on the Great Lakes, and one daughter, Catharine. ======================================================================== Sources: History of St. Clair County, 1883 1860 Federal Census - Oakland County, MI Buffalo Daily Courier - 27 November, 1866