Owen Sound Sun, July 13, 1917

TOM THOMSON’S CANOE FOUND ON CANOE LAKE

Efforts Being Made to Find Him Since Sunday Last – Is a Noted Artist

A telegram from Canoe Lake, Algonquin Park, received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Thomson, 4th Ave. E., on Tuesday announced that a canoe belonging to their son, Thomas Thomson, the well known Toronto artist, had been found on the lake and no trace of Mr. Thomson could be found. He had arrived at Canoe Lake on Saturday and the canoe had been found the following day. Mr. Geo. Thomson, of New York, a brother of the missing man, arrived here on Tuesday and left for Canoe Lake on Wednesday morning, arriving there yesterday morning and a search is now being made for any trace of the young man. A later telegram stated that when the canoe was found the paddles were strapped to the thwarts which might indicate that the canoe had drifted from its moorings and left Mr. Thomson marooned on one of the islands. The search was proceded with all speed.

The missing man was born at Leith and attended the Collegiate Institute here and very early in life showed evidence of marked ability in drawing. He later studied art in Toronto and was with the Grip publishing company for a number of years. During the summer for many years past, he has made a practice of going alone into the wilds of Ontario with his sketching outfit and a tent and his paintings from nature have been the subject of decidedly favourable criticism. For some years Mr. Thomson has devoted his whole time to his art and in his studio in Rosedale, Toronto, is a collection of masterpieces that is not only a pleasure but an education to view.

Mr. Thomson is very well known here and everyone will hope that he will be found safe and well. The other alternative is not pleasant to consider but should it be found that he has been drowned, Canada will have lost one of her most accomplished landscape artists, and a thorough gentleman.