The ideal summer of 1951 was continuing. Unfortunately, the whitefish season had just ended and was not. Despite our fishermen’s best efforts, they could not find the now elusive whitefish. So now it was the second week of August. We were all packed up. Our little Island had been home to most personnel since June 1st. Now we were leaving Georges Island for the long trip home to Gimli. The M.S. Buck had a top speed fully loaded of 8 knots. So, it would take the better part of a day and a night to reach our destination. As the M.S. Buck was a wooden boat she had a shelf life. This was to be her last trip. The crew were a little nostalgic about this being her last trip. Wooden boats were being replaced by new steel-hulled faster craft. As I was a fifteen year old they naturally kidded me to keep my life belt handy. The trip south was beautiful. The lake was like glass the whole way.

The M.S. Buck started her career in the 1920’s as the S.S. Luella. She was owned by the Howard’s of Howardville. They had a winter logging operation in the vicinity of Little Grindstone Point, which is about 5 miles north of Hecla Island on the west shore of Lake Winnipeg. The logs were cut and placed on the ice. In the spring the S.S. Luella would boom the logs, and haul them south around Hecla Island. She would proceed up the Icelandic River to Riverton, where the Howard’s had a lath mill. Around 1927 the mill burned down. The S.S. Luella was now fitted with a gasoline engine. Now the S.S. Luella became the M.S. Luella. She went to work hauling fish and general freight up and down Lake Winnipeg.

In 1933 she was rebuilt with steel ribs. These were installed by local Blacksmith John Chudd. This gave her a much broader beam. Her cargo capacity was also increased. This allowed her to carry approximately 1000 boxes of fish. A bigger engine completed her make over. In 1935 Booth Fisheries then acquired her for their operations on the Lake. She was an efficient work horse. I remember well setting my Timex pocket watch as she entered Georges harbour. She was always on time. Her Captain Reuben Marsh brought us our twice weekly supplies of gasoline, boxes, groceries and mail. In return she took our catch south to be processed. Now she was to be replaced by the steel hulled M.S. Red Diamond.

The M.S. Buck was stripped of her motor and housing. A small wheel house was built a midships. This allowed a crew of 2 deckhands to steer her while being towed. Her job now was to carry coal to the north end of the lake. One stormy night while being towed by the S.S. Purvis she sank off Birch Point. A deck hand was drowned with her. She now joined the passing parade of lake boats. A sad end to such a hard-working proud ship.

Ken Kristjanson
April 2013