Spartan (Steamboat), aground, 19 Jun 1883

The wrecking Tug WINSLOW has gone to Lake Superior to rescue the stmr. SPARTAN which is hard aground on Caribou Island.
      Marine Record
      June 30, 1883
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SPARTAN Steamer of 678 Reg.Tons. and 15 years old, Registered at the port of Montreal, bound from Prince Arthurs Landing to Owen Sound, stranded June 19th. 1883 on the S.W. Point of Caribou Island, owing to fog and strong current. A partial loss of $21,615 Dept. of Marine & Fisheries
      Statement of Wreck & Casualty 1883

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      On the night of June 19, 1883, the stmr. SPARTAN foundered on Caribou Island, in Lake Superior, in a dense fog. It was alleged that she was without lookout or other customary precautions against accident. The policy by which the vessel was insured excepted all losses occasioned by carelessness or unseaworthiness. It was asserted that the vessel had been running with a defective compass for some time previous to the accident. The owners of the vessel brought five suits in the Wayne Circut Court against the insurance companies, 4 of the cases being subsequently removed to the U.S. Circut Court. The Richelieu & Ontario Navigation Co., owners of the SPARTAN, yesterday recovered a verdict for $9,527.08 on the remaining suit in the Wayne Circut Court against the Thames & Mersey insurance Co. This suit was for $7,500, the remainder of the verdict covering the interest. The defense of the company was based on the ground that the loss was occasioned by peril not insured against. It was also asserted that the insurance company accepted the abandonment of the vessel. The question of jurisdiction was at one time raised and the case was taken to the Supreme Court, which tribunal decided that the matter could be tried by the Wayne Circut. The case will be appealed.
      Detroit Tribune
      February 26, 1888

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