Note: Highlighted text indicated internal notes not intended to appear on the finalised panels.

Connecting the Gulf Islands and Nanaimo

In response to anticipation of the Victoria and Sidney Railway adding mail and freight delivery to
its list of services in 1900, V&S Manager Thomas W. Patterson commissioned the construction
of a small steamboat to provide assistance. That vessel, completed in April of that year, was
named the S.S. Iroquois.
She measured 82 feet long with a carrying capacity of 100 tonnes, and over the next decade
would successfully complete over 2,000 voyages throughout the Gulf Islands. However, her top-
heavy design - specifically requested by Mr. Patterson to allow easy traversal over shallow
water, led to disaster on April 10, 1911.
a. Photo: Sidney School picnic aboard the S.S. Iroquois, 1902 (P985.25.1)
b. Photo: S.S. Iroquois near ȾESNO¸EṈ¸ (Beaver Point), photo taken in moonlight at
10:00pm. (P981.25.2)
c. Photo: S.S. Iroquois docked at W̱ENÁ¸NEĆ (Fulford Harbour), Salt Spring Island, 1910.
(P981.25.25)
d. Photo: P981.25.26 S.S. Iroquois docked at W̱ENÁ¸NEĆ (Fulford Harbour), Salt Spring
Island, 1910. (P981.25.26)
e. Photo: S.S. Iroquois docked at W̱ENÁ¸NEĆ (Fulford Harbour), Salt Spring Island, 1910.
(P2011.003.020)
f. Photo: S.S. Iroquois in the Pender Canal, constructed by the Federal Government to
allow a boat channel through SDȺY¸ES (Pender Island) - need to locate - will send
later (P011.009)

Supporting Text:
Amid stormy seas and 95 km/h winds, the steamer left its Sidney dock at 9AM with 31
passengers and an unsecured cargo including 10 tonnes of fertiliser, 20 cases of pickaxe
handles, and over a tonne of iron ore. The rough conditions caused the cargo to shift violently
and within minutes of her departure the Iroquois listed, took on water, and capsized in full view
of the shore.

It is estimated that 21 people died that day - four women, fifteen men, a child, and one unknown
passenger. Victims included the two Fenwick Sisters, Edith and Isabel, who co-founded
Victoria’s Saint Margaret’s School in 1908.
a. Photo: Edith Fenwick
b. Photo: Isabel Fenwick
c. Photo: Fenwick Grave Marker

As a result of this tragedy, revised loading regulations and more accurate passenger counts
were mandated for all North American coastal vessels.
Mini Paragraphs:
1. The Discovery of the Wreck
The remains of the S.S. Iroquois lay undisturbed for 66 years until November 11 1977,
when exploratory divers notified the Underwater Archaeological Society of B.C. that they
had found the wreck site. The anchor and propeller were both salvaged and are on
display in Iroquois Park. The wreck is now a protected heritage site.
a. For photos, use either map of wreck from collection or underwater photos from
Sidney & Gulf Island Review - contacted the Salt Spring Island Archives

2. Heroics on the Water

Despite the treacherous conditions, three Quw'utsun (Cowichan) men - Bob Klutwhalem,
William Tzouhalem, and Donat Charlie - set out in a dugout canoe and rescued three
passengers. For their bravery, they were awarded the Government of Canada Medal for
Gallant and Humane Services Rendered in Life Saving from Shipwrecked Vessels.

In addition, one of the ships’ deckhands, Joseph Smith, selflessly risked his life to save
passenger Margaret Barton by giving her his lifejacket. Of the four women aboard the
Iroquois, only Margaret survived.
d. Photo: Bob Klutwhalem, William Tzouhalem, and Donat Charlie, members of the
Quw'utsun (Cowichan) First Nation who assisted with rescue attempts.
e. Photo: Margaret Barton, the S. S. Iroquois’ sole female survivor and future
headmistress of Saint Margaret’s School.

3. A Captain's Consequence
Albert A. Sears moved to the west coast from New Brunswick in the 1890s, and took up
work with the Canadian-Pacific Navigation Company. By 1903, Sears was a well-
respected and experienced ship’s Master, and purchased the S.S. Iroquois alongside his
business partner and ship’s Purser, Arbuthnot D. Munro.

Following the 1911 sinking, in which Munro perished, Capitain Sears was accused of
Manslaughter for not properly securing the cargo leading to the floundering of the ship.
While the Manslaughter charges were dropped, Sears was found guilty of negligence &
failure to perform his duty to save his passengers, and was stripped of his Shipmaster’s
Certificate. He died in 1919 in Victoria.
a. Photo: Portrait of Captain Albert A. Sears in uniform. (P011.008.001)

At the bottom of this panel, please include the following photo credit:
- Photos of Edith Fenwick (2001-001-011), Isbael Fenwick (2001-001-012), Fenwick Gravemarker (2001-001-
005), and Margaret Barton (2004-009-001) courtesy of St. Margaret’s School Archives.
- Photo of Bob Klutwhalem, William Tzouhalem, and Donat Charlie taken from the Cowichan Leader
newspaper on November 21, 1912 - courtesy of Cowichan Valley Museum & Archives.