Identification & Site Information

• Other Names: None
• Official Number: C
• Type at Loss: Scow-Schooner, Wood
• Build Info: 1851, built by Moore, Port Credit, Ontario
• Specs: 52x15x5 ft (15.85×4.57×1.52 m), 40 tons
• •Date of Loss: October 27, 1870
• Place of Loss: Wolfe or Timber Island, Lake Ontario
• Lake: Ontario 
• Type of Loss: Storm
• Loss of Life: None reported
• Carrying: “Sundries” (general cargo)

Vessel Type

The SWIFT was a wooden scow-Schooner, a type of sailing vessel often used for transporting various kinds of cargo. Typically, scow-schooners had a flat-bottomed Hull and were well-suited for shallow waters, though their handling in rough weather could be problematic.

Description & History

The SWIFT was built in 1851 by Moore at Port Credit, Ontario, which was a small, but notable shipbuilding community on Lake Ontario. The vessel’s 40-ton cargo capacity suggests it was likely involved in transporting bulk goods or sundries (general merchandise), a common type of freight for vessels operating in the Great Lakes region during the 19th century.

By 1870, the SWIFT had been operating for nearly 20 years, primarily within the Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence Seaway regions. It would have been part of the active fleet of sailing vessels moving goods between ports around the lake, often between Ontario ports and the United States.

However, on October 27, 1870, the SWIFT met its unfortunate end when it ran aground near Wolfe or Timber Island in Lake Ontario. According to reports, the vessel parted its anchor chains during a violent storm, leading to its loss. Once stranded, the scow-Schooner was unable to recover, and it was ultimately wrecked.

Final Dispositions

After running aground and being stranded, the SWIFT was eventually Abandoned. It was stripped of any useful materials by another vessel, the NEW BROOM, which arrived the following week. The SWIFT was considered a Total Loss, and there is no record of any attempt to recover the wreck or salvage it.

The abandonment and wrecking of the SWIFT serve as a reminder of the dangers faced by maritime vessels, especially smaller craft, when caught in storms on the Great Lakes, where unpredictable weather could easily overpower even well-built vessels.

Located By & Date Found

There is no indication that the wreck of the SWIFT has been located or explored in modern times, based on available records.

Notices & Advisories

Wreck Location: Wolfe or Timber Island in Lake Ontario—noted to be near the lake’s northern shore, a region prone to shifting weather patterns and dangerous storms.

Navigation Risks: The location of the wreck is near an island, which could represent potential navigational hazards to modern vessels passing in the region. Given the stormy conditions at the time of the wreck, SWIFT serves as a cautionary note about the risks associated with unpredictable weather patterns on Lake Ontario.

Resources & Links

• Shipwreck Data: Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum
• Historical Information: Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• General Lake Ontario Maritime Data: Great Lakes Shipwrecks

Conclusion

The SWIFT, a scow-Schooner built in 1851, faced its demise during a storm on Lake Ontario in 1870. After its anchor chains parted, the vessel ran aground near Wolfe or Timber Island, where it was left wrecked and later stripped of valuable materials. Despite its loss, no lives were reported, and the ship’s remains were Abandoned. The SWIFT is a classic example of the many vessels lost to storm-related accidents during the era of sail and early steam navigation on the Great Lakes.