The Schooner CLYDE: A Story of Storm and Survival

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

• Vessel Name: CLYDE

• Vessel Type: Wooden Schooner

• Year Built: 1861

• Builder: Tait, Belleville, Ontario

• Dimensions:

• Length: 82 feet (25 meters)

• Beam (Width): 20 feet (6 meters)

• Depth: 8 feet (2.4 meters)

• Tonnage: 107 tons

• Cargo: Barley

• Wreck Location: Big Sodus, New York, Lake Ontario

• Final Disposition: Total Loss due to storm damage in September 1871

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The CLYDE was a Schooner, a type of sailing vessel widely used on the Great Lakes during the mid-19th century. Schooners were versatile and ideal for transporting bulk cargoes such as grain, timber, and other commodities. The CLYDE’s modest dimensions and efficient design made it well-suited for short-haul routes and cross-lake trade.

HISTORY

Construction and Early Career

The CLYDE was constructed in Belleville, Ontario, in 1861 by Tait, a respected shipbuilder of the time. With a Gross Tonnage of 107 tons, the vessel was a relatively small but capable workhorse in the bustling maritime trade of the Great Lakes. For a decade, the CLYDE served as a cargo carrier, making regular voyages between ports in Ontario and New York, playing a crucial role in the region’s commerce.

Final Voyage

In September 1871, the CLYDE embarked on a routine journey from Oshawa, Ontario, to Oswego, New York, laden with a cargo of barley. However, the trip turned perilous as the vessel encountered a sudden and severe storm on Lake Ontario. Battling heavy winds and waves, the Schooner ran aground at Big Sodus, New York.

The storm’s relentless fury over the following days rendered salvage impossible. Despite the crew’s valiant efforts to save the vessel, the CLYDE was repeatedly pounded by waves, sustaining irreparable damage. Eventually, the Schooner broke apart and was declared a Total Loss. The barley cargo, too, was completely lost.

Aftermath

While the financial losses for the ship’s owners and stakeholders were significant, the crew’s survival was a fortunate outcome of the tragedy. The mariners managed to abandon the ship before the worst of the storm, ensuring that no lives were lost.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The CLYDE was utterly destroyed by the storm and wrecked near Big Sodus, New York. No salvageable parts of the ship or its cargo remained. The vessel’s destruction marked the end of its service life after a decade of operation on the Great Lakes.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES

There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) specific to the wreck of the CLYDE. The wreckage, if any remains, is likely buried or eroded due to the passage of time and the action of the lake’s waters.

RESOURCES & LINKS

1. Marine Disasters on the Western Lakes during 1871 by Capt. J.W. Hall

2. Marine Casualties on the Great Lakes 1863–1873, Report of the U.S. Coast Guard

3. Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, Friday, September 15, 1871

4. Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, Monday, September 18, 1871

CONCLUSION

The Schooner CLYDE exemplifies the challenges of navigating the Great Lakes during the 19th century. Despite its robust construction and a decade of reliable service, the vessel was no match for the storm that claimed it in 1871. The loss of the CLYDE highlights both the perilous nature of maritime trade on the Great Lakes and the resilience of those who worked these waters. Its story remains a poignant reminder of the ever-present risks faced by sailors and vessels of that era.

KEYWORDS

#CLYDESchooner #LakeOntarioShipwreck #GreatLakesMaritimeHistory #BigSodusWreck #MaritimeDisasters