In
the late 1920s and early thirties, the North Channel along the shores of
Manitoulin Island was the play ground for many of the rich and famous. Many
boated and spent time at their secluded cottages and island homes on the
Manitoulin.
One of the lesser known millionaires of the thirties was
Daniel Dodge, son of John Dodge cofounder of the American Dodge Motor Company.
Danny, as he was known to his family and friends, owned a luxury lodge over
looking the North Shore of Manitoulin Island.
While spending time at
his secluded resort in 1938, he fell in love with a local resident of the
Island by the name of Lorraine McDonald.
After a period of courtship they decided to get married
and announced their plans to the families. The families were opposed to
such the union based on class structure. To marry outside your class
could be disastrous... as was the case for Danny Dodge.
Eventually the
wedding went ahead and the young couple spent their honeymoon at Danny's
estate.
While exploring his estate one day, Danny discovered a box of
dynamite in the carriage house. It was probably left over from the
construction of the large lodge. Being some what reckless, Danny lit one
of the sticks and threw it out the carriage house door.
The
resulting explosion brought Lorraine and the caretaker of the property and his
wife out to the carriage house to investigate.
Danny was lighting a
second stick of dynamite just as the trio arrived at the carriage house door.
Danny now unable to throw the dynamite through the carriage house door with out
injuring the three onlookers. Finding this way blocked he attempted to
toss the stick out one of the open windows. The stick hit the window frame and
bounced back into the carriage house setting off a huge explosion.
All
were injured but none more serious than Danny. Flying glass and wood had
inflicted many wounds on the trio at the carriage house door, but Danny lay
unconscious on the floor, bleeding to death.
In an effort to save
Danny's life and find help for themselves, Lorraine, the caretaker and his wife
carried Danny down to the boat dock and aboard his speed boat. They would
attempt to cross the North channel to the hospital in the small town of Little
Current.
With the Caretakers wife seated beside her and the two men in
the back seat, Lorraine headed the boat out into 4 ft waves on what was one of
the stormiest days of that summer.
At some point along the rough and
difficult journey around the Island, Danny regained consciousness and stood up
only to be washed over board in the rough water of Honora Bay. Lorraine's
attempt to rescue Danny from the cold Lake Huron waters was in vain as he
slipped beneath the waves and was not seen again.
Did Danny really
fall from the boat, was he pushed or maybe thrown overboard? These were some of
the questions and speculation brought on by the lawyers and family members of
the Dodge family. It was thought that Danny's death 13 days into his marriage
was an attempt, by Lorraine, to gain his wealth through murder.
Lorraine went to trial over Danny's estate where no foul
play could be proved. The judgment found in favour of Lorraine, awarding
her the luxurious lodge and a large inheritance.
Some still
believe foul play had a hand in Danny's death and today it still remains a
mystery.
Bruce's note: Anna and I recently
visited Manitoulin Island. What a glorious place. We were told
about the Danny Dodge death by a number of residents and we are very pleased
that Dave Hurcomb submitted the story.
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