Shipwreck Report: Atlas (1817)

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

•Vessel Name: Atlas

•Type: Wooden Sailing Vessel (specific type not detailed)

•Year Built: 1817

•Builder: Not specified

•Built at: Richland, New York

•Material: Wood

•Dimensions: Not specified

•Final Location: Southern shores of Lake Ontario, near Salmon River

•Date of Wreck: December 13, 1821

•Depth: Unknown

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The Atlas was a small wooden vessel, likely used for regional commerce and transportation along the southern shores of Lake Ontario. Its size and design would have made it suitable for navigating the lake’s relatively calm waters under normal conditions, but its wooden construction and limited size left it vulnerable to the harsh winter storms that frequently struck the region.

HISTORY

The Atlas was constructed in 1817 at Richland, New York, to serve the bustling trade and transportation routes along the southern shores of Lake Ontario. This region, during the early 19th century, was experiencing rapid growth, with vessels like the Atlas playing a key role in connecting towns and facilitating commerce.

On December 13, 1821, the Atlas faced a fierce winter storm while operating near the Salmon River. Despite the crew’s best efforts to navigate through the extreme weather conditions, the vessel succumbed to the storm. The small size of the ship and its wooden construction made it ill-equipped to withstand the violent winds and waves that battered it. Tragically, the storm claimed the lives of five individuals, marking the event as a significant loss for the community.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The Atlas was lost during the storm and is presumed to have been destroyed near the Salmon River, where it succumbed to the force of the weather. No salvage or recovery efforts were recorded, and the exact location of the wreck remains unknown. Given the vessel’s wooden construction and the passage of time, it is unlikely that significant remnants of the ship exist today.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES

•There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the wreck of the Atlas.

•Mariners navigating the southern shores of Lake Ontario near the Salmon River should remain cautious, as the region is historically prone to severe winter weather.

RESOURCES & LINKS

•Maritime History of the Great Lakes

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•David Swayze Shipwreck File

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CONCLUSION

The story of the Atlas highlights the challenges faced by early 19th-century sailors navigating the Great Lakes. Built in 1817, the vessel served as an essential link in the developing trade networks of the southern shores of Lake Ontario. Its tragic loss during a winter stormin 1821, with the deaths of five individuals, underscores the harsh realities of maritime life during that era. Though little physical evidence of the Atlas remains today, its story is an enduring reminder of the resilience and peril of Great Lakes sailors.

KEYWORDS

Atlas, 1817, Salmon River, Lake Ontario, Richland New York, Great Lakes maritime history, 19th-century shipwreck, wooden vessel, winter storm, early trade vessels.