Crew members floated in Lake Huron on deck pieces for 36 hours after 1872 shipwreck

HARRISVILLE, MI – Crewmembers lashed themselves to a piece of deck and floated in Lake Huron for 36 hours after this schooner sank during a storm 152 years ago, officials said.

Of the seven crewmen, only two survived the storm that plunged the double-masted schooner Corsair into the depths of the Great Lake, according to records kept by the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary .

On Sept. 29, 1872, the Corsair encountered an intense storm off the coast of Harrisville, just south of Alpena, records say . The iron ore-laden vessel sank.

Days later, the second mate gave his account to the Oswego Daily Palladium, records say.

"The sea increased until it ran mountains high, and at every wave boarded the vessel," Second Mate Grady said.

The captain decided to make for shelter in Tawas Bay, he said. The vessel was within 10 miles of Sturgeon Point when they heaved to, stopping forward progress. Around 4:15 a.m., the ship lurched two or three times and then "dove headfirst, disappearing entirely and carrying all of us with her."

As the Corsair went down, the decks raised and parted from the ship, Grady said. He and another survivor lashed themselves to a portion of the deck with their scarves and floated for 36 hours before they saw another ship and used their scarves to signal the crew.

"God favored us, for the propeller saw our signals and came to our rescue," Grady said.

The Corsair rests in 182 feet of water at GPS coordinates N44° 46.922' W83° 07.426', records say.