SHIPWRECK REPORT: H.R. Preston

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

• Name: H.R. Preston

• Type: Canal Boat (Quarter Deck)

• Location: Off the coast of Oswego, New York, Lake Ontario

• Date of Incident: July 23, 1878

• Depth of Wreck: Unknown (assumed to be near the location of sinking, about a mile offshore)

• Cargo: 240 to 250 tons of ashes

CONSTRUCTION & SPECIFICATIONS

• Builder: H.C. Le Roy

• Construction Date: October 1877

• Build Location: Oneida Lake, New York

• Features: Quarter Deck design with a bin covered by canvas

• Insurance:

• Lake Navigation: $1,000

• Canal Navigation: $2,000

HISTORY & INCIDENT DETAILS

On July 23, 1878, the H.R. Preston was part of a tow of four canal boats (Rising Star, Morning Star, Evening Star, and the Preston) being transported by the Tug Alanson Sumner from New York to Canada. The boats were on a mission to load ashes for transport.

Fifteen miles from Oswego, New York, the Preston broke loose from the tow due to rough seas. The Tug Sumner regained control of the Preston after an hour, securing it with its own lines. However, about a mile offshore at 4:30 p.m., the rough seas caused the canvas-covered bin to be knocked off, allowing water to pour into the boat. The vessel began to sink rapidly.

The Preston sank bow first, leaving its Stern raised about fifteen feet out of the water for several minutes before fully submerging. The crew of two, John Tully and John Watson, managed to stay afloat by tying boards together and using a pike pole for support.

RESCUE OPERATION

• The Tug Morey (Captain Pappa) and the Tug William Avery (Captain Albert Thompson), along with Captain Blackburn from the Life Saving Service, responded to the Sumner’s distress signals and rescued Tully and Watson.

• Despite the loss of the Preston, the crew members survived due to the coordinated efforts of these vessels.

CARGO DETAILS

• The Preston was carrying 240 to 250 tons of ashes, consigned to James A. Bill of Lyme, Connecticut. The cargo, purchased and shipped by Charles O’Hara, was insured for $600.

ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE FLEET

• The Evening Star suffered damage upon entering the harbor, losing its post and colliding with the docks. The boat’s sides were broken, and it started taking on water.

• All three Star boats (Rising Star, Morning Star, and Evening Star) were leaking, with about a foot of water in their cabins.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The H.R. Preston was lost in Lake Ontario. Its cargo and Hull remain submerged and have not been documented as recovered. The precise location of the wreck is not detailed but is assumed to be near where the vessel sank off Oswego, New York.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY

• Condition: Unknown. The wreck has not been officially located or documented in diving records.

• Accessibility: The site may be of interest for historical research or underwater exploration, though the wreck’s exact location and condition remain unverified.

RESOURCES & LINKS

• Primary Sources:

• Oswego Palladium-Times, July 23, 1878

• Insurance and shipping records of Charles O’Hara and James A. Bill

• Historical Archives: Local records in Oswego and maritime archives of the Life Saving Service.

NOTES ON THE INCIDENT

The loss of the H.R. Preston highlights the challenges of navigating the Great Lakes in the 19th century, particularly for vulnerable canal boats under tow. This incident serves as a reminder of the perils faced by mariners and the importance of rescue operations, as demonstrated by the efforts of the Sumner, Morey, and William Avery crews.