Identification & Site Information

• Name: GAZELLE
• Official Number: 10164 (U.S.) / C51692 (Canada, after 1868 sale)
• Year Built: 1847
• Builder: H. Doviel, Sodus, New York
• Original Owner: B. Eveleigh, Sacketts Harbor, New York
• Homeports: Oswego, Sacketts Harbor (USA), later Montreal (Canada)
• Vessel Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
• Hull Materials: Wood
• Number of Decks: 1
• Power: Sail-powered
• Measurements: Length: 83.7 ft (25.5 m) Beam: 21.1 ft (6.4 m) Depth: 8.2 ft (2.5 m)
• Tonnage (Old Style, 1847): 93 tons
• Rebuilt Tonnage (1863): 132 tons
• Registered Tonnage (Canadian, 1878): 94 tons
• Notable Owners Over Time:
• 1853: Enrolled at Oswego, New York.
• 1860: Owned by A. Bush, Oswego, New York.
• 1866: Owned by Van Patten et al, Sacketts Harbor, New York.
• 1868: Sold to Canadian owners, registered in the Cape Vincent District.
• 1871: Owned by J. Dix, Montreal, Quebec.
• 1876: Owned by Savage, Montreal, Quebec.
• 1878: Registered to P.M. Hyatt, Holewell, Ontario.
• 1879: Owned by McDonald et al, Montreal, Quebec.

Vessel Type

The GAZELLE was a mid-sized, two-masted schooner, built primarily for cargo transport across the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. Its small size and shallow Draft made it ideal for coastal trade, carrying lumber, grain, and general goods between ports in New York, Ontario, and Quebec. It was Rebuilt in 1863, increasing its tonnage to 132 tons, allowing it to carry more cargo.

History

The GAZELLE had a long and eventful service life of nearly 40 years, operating in both U.S. and Canadian waters.

Key Events in the Vessel’s History:

• 1847: Built in Sodus, New York, for Great Lakes cargo trade.
• 1853: Officially enrolled in Oswego, New York.
• 1860: Owned by A. Bush, based in Oswego, New York.
• 1860: Wrecked at Eagle Harbor (exact circumstances unknown).
• November 1862: Aground near Sacketts Harbor, New York.
• December 1862: Aground again near Oswego, New York.
• 1863: Rebuilt, increasing tonnage to 132 tons.
• 1868: Sold to Canadian owners, ending its U.S. registration.
• 1871-1879: Owned by various Montreal-based shipping companies, continuing cargo trade on the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario.
• October 1885: Sank near Kingston, Ontario.

Final Disposition

The GAZELLE sank near Kingston, Ontario, in October 1885.

The Disaster

• The cause of sinking is unknown, but it was likely due to a storm or Hull failure after nearly 40 years of service.
• No records indicate loss of life, suggesting the crew escaped safely.
• Given that it was a wooden vessel, it may have broken apart over time in the shallow waters near Kingston.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return. There are no confirmed reports of the GAZELLE‘s wreck being discovered or surveyed near Kingston, Ontario.

Due to its wooden construction and age, any remains may be scattered or buried beneath lakebed sediments.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil return. No modern navigational hazards related to this wreck are reported near Kingston, Ontario, Lake Ontario.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Great Lakes Shipwreck File

Conclusion

The GAZELLE had a long and active career, sailing between New York, Ontario, and Quebec for nearly four decades.

Despite multiple groundings, a wreck in 1860, and a full Rebuild in 1863, it remained in service until its final sinking near Kingston in 1885.

Its sale to Canadian owners in 1868 reflects a common pattern of older U.S. ships being transferred to Canadian trade, where they often continued sailing until they were no longer seaworthy.