Identification & Site Information

• Name, Former Names: Russel Sage; later renamed Atlasco; also known as the “Wire Bale Wreck.”
• Registration Numbers: Canadian Official Number: C12720 US Number: 110472
• Date Built and Launched: Built in 1881, Buffalo, New York, USA.
• Measurements: Original Dimensions: 218 ft (66.4 m) in length, 32 ft (9.8 m) in width, 13.4 ft (4.1 m) in depth. Rebuilt Dimensions: Remained unchanged after Conversion to a Barge.
• Date Lost: August 7, 1921.
• Depth at Wreck Site: Approximately 65 ft (19.8 m).
• Location: Near Point Travers, Lake Ontario.
• GPS Coordinates: N 43°53.633’, W 76°59.650’.

Vessel Type

The Russel Sage began as a wooden package freight propeller. Post-1906 Conversion, it transitioned to a bulk propeller carrier. Following significant modifications in 1917, it was repurposed as a Barge, renamed Atlasco.

Description

Originally constructed for flexibility in freight transportation, the Russel Sage was later optimized for bulk materials, such as coal. After its Conversion into a Barge, it primarily serviced Canadian trade routes under ownership of the Sincennes-McNaughton Line and later the Atlas Transportation Company.

History

Launched on May 21, 1881, and first enrolled on June 10 of the same year, the vessel was a cornerstone for goods movement under multiple ownerships. During its early career, it serviced freight lines under the Wabash Pacific & Saint Louis Railway Company. After being Rebuilt in 1906, it carried bulk goods under George C. Bayless until its catastrophic fire and sinking in Oswego, New York, in 1912.

Its 1917 Conversion introduced it to the Barge trade, reflecting growing industrial needs. However, on August 7, 1921, while navigating a severe Lake Ontario storm, the vessel Foundered near Point Travers, ending its operational life.

Final Disposition

The Atlasco succumbed to storm conditions, sinking and leaving behind its wreckage at the specified coordinates.

Located By & Date Found

There is no concrete data specifying when the wreck was discovered or identified.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No recent Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) are applicable. However, caution is advised in this region due to the wreck’s presence near Point Travers.

Resources & Links

To explore more:

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Shipwreck File David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Great Lakes Ships Great Lakes Ships
• Wikipedia contributors. (2025, January 13). Buffalo, New York. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 21:17, January 24, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Buffalo,_New_York&oldid=1269234773

Conclusion

The Russel Sage, later known as Atlasco, provides a window into the industrial and shipping heritage of Lake Ontario. Its transformation from a propeller to a Barge, and its untimely end in a storm, echo the dynamic and often perilous nature of Great Lakes commerce.

Historic Photo Gallery