Emergency Swing Dam

The Accident at the Canadian Canal, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, 1909

There was a major accident on June 9, 1909 at the Sault Canal. Downbound from Lake Superior, the Canadian passenger vessel Assiniboia was waiting in the lock at the Sault to be lowered to the Lake Huron level of the St. Marys River. Behind the Assiniboia, the Pittsburg Steamship Company's steamer Crescent City was just entering the lock. Captain Frank Rice was asked to lock down with the Canadian Pacific passenger vessel Assiniboia.

The Canadian canal was fourteen years old in September 1909, having been officially opened on September 7, 1895. The lock was built between 1888 and 1895.

On June 9, 1909, the Perry G. Walker, owned by the Gilchrist Transportation Co. of Cleveland, Ohio, proceeded up the St. Marys River intent on locking through the American canal. Captain Moshier was impatient. He could see several vessels ahead of him also awaiting upbound passage. He began moving his vessel towards the Canadian canal, intent on a quick lockage. The vessel continued up the lower approach. The master, ignoring previous instructions to moor at the southeast pier to await passage, kept moving upwards.

Finally the order to reverse engines was sounded. The Captain made an effort to reverse the engine but there was a misunderstanding of the signals and the engineer did not reverse the engine. It was too late to stop the vessel which was moving at eight or nine kilometres per hour and was within 70 metres of the lock gates.

The Walker struck the south main gate, forcing it back and allowing the force of water to push the north main gate over. The rush of water threw the Walker back, her bow swinging to the south. The Assiniboia was carried down against the Walker, striking the starboard side.

The Crescent City dropped onto the upper wall carrying away the timber work. Leaving the lock, she surged ahead. Suddenly the Assiniboia dropped her anchor, swinging her stern over towards the north pier and the Walker. Immediately Captain Rice called for full speed astern. Slowly the Crescent City responded, swinging her stern to starboard at the last moment. She struck her starboard beam on the Assiniboia and avoided the Perry Walker.

Either the Assiniboia or the Crescent City in their downward drop struck the south main gate, breaking it diagonally in two. Surprisingly no one was hurt during this accident.

With the gates being swept away, it was necessary to bring the Emergency Swing Bridge Dam into operation. This was the first time the structure was required in an emergency situation. The emergency swing bridge dam stopped the flood of water, allowing repairs to be done on the canal and the lock.

There was extensive damage to the valves, the wooden gates, the stonework and the timber on the lock floor. All of the repair work was completed by June 21, 1909, and the canal was reopened.

The canal had been closed for repairs for a total of twelve days. Considering the damage done, the repairs were made in a short period of time thanks to the successful operation of the Emergency Swing Bridge Dam.

Above: View of the damage to the locks.

Above: View of the swing dam in operation.

Excerpts taken from:

Harrison, R. "The Break at the Canadian Canal, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, 1909". Inland Seas. Volume 34, No. 2, Summer, 1979. pgs 104-109.