On October 21, 1922, the Frank A. Augsbury, a lake freighter built for the George Hall Coal Company is launched from the facilities of Fraser, Brace Ltd in Trois Rivieres, Quebec. She was 251 feet in length, 43 feet across with a draft of 18 feet. Powered by a 1,400 hp triple expansion steam engine, Augsbury traveled at 10 knots, with a crew of 37.
Over the years of her career, she would be renamed Granby in 1927, Parita 2 in 1948, Valbruna in 1951, Lawrencecliffe Hall in 1952, Federal Explorer in 1955, and finally Ithaka in 1960.
I had seen a few pictures of the wreck while researching my trip to Churchill. Seeing it in person, however, made me wonder how people walked out there. The tide was in and the distance between the ship and the high tide mark seemed long. I didn’t realize how shallow the slope of the beach was.
I revisited after the tide was out, and saw a clear stone field all the way to the ship. I debated walking out, but decided I’d send the drone instead.
Highlights of this ship’s career included service as a war transport during World War II. In 1945, under the name Granby, she collided with MV Atlantic City, earning her a hole in the rear above the waterline. She was towed and eventually repaired before being sold again.
After serving both a South American company as Parita 2, and an Italian company as Valbruna, she was eventually sold to her original owners and renamed Lawrencecliffe Hall as she returned to Canada.
The time of day, and the extensive amount of smoke in the air from the various surrounding forest fires lent a surreal look to the sky, lighting, and remaining water. I was captivated by the details on her deck and along her sides. The enormous missing parts showed clearly how the underside had been torn away.
One cannot imagine the chaos that must have been experienced by captain and crew on her last day of service.
Under the name Ithaka, she left Churchill on her way to Rankin Inlet with supplies. Along the way, she was caught up in a strong storm with 80 mph winds in which she lost her rudder. She tried to drop anchor, but the chain snapped and she was adrift. Eventually, on September 14, 1960, she was blown into Bird Cove, about 14 km from Churchill where she ran violently aground.
All 37 crew survived, and much of the cargo was salvaged. For reasons I’ve yet to determine, the ship’s insurers, Lloyds of London, found the circumstances suspicious and never paid out on the claim.
