Identification & Site Information

• Name: Thrush
• Other Names: None
• Official Number: C97200
• Type at Loss: Schooner-Barge, wood, 3-mast
• Builder: A. Cantin, Montreal (or Quebec City)
• Date Built: 1890
• Specifications: Length: 181 ft (55.2 m) Beam: 34 ft (10.4 m) Depth: 12 ft (3.7 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 584 gt
• Net Tonnage: 584 nt
• Date of Loss: May 9, 1916 (Also reported as May 16, 1916)
• Place of Loss: Entrance to Fairhaven, New York Harbor, Lake Ontario
• Type of Loss: Storm
• Loss of Life: None reported
• Cargo: Coal
• Owner at Loss: Not specified
• Master at Loss: Not specified

Vessel Type & Design

The Thrush was a three-mast Schooner-Barge constructed of wood, designed primarily for bulk freight transport. Built in 1890 by A. Cantin in Montreal (or Quebec City), it was likely one of the larger Schooner-barges of its time on the Great Lakes. It was rigged as a Schooner, with three masts used for sailing, although it was a Barge, meaning it could be towed by steamers or sail under its own power when conditions allowed. The 584 gross tons of capacity suggests it was intended for heavier cargo, in this case, coal, which it was carrying on its final voyage.

Final Voyage & Loss

On May 9, 1916 (with an alternative date of May 16, 1916), the Thrush was bound from Kingston, Ontario, to Fairhaven, New York with a cargo of coal.  The vessel encountered a severe storm while approaching the entrance to Fairhaven Harbour in Lake Ontario.  It stranded on rocks or sandbars near the harbour entrance. The Schooner filled with water and sank, being declared a Total Loss. Fortunately, there are no reports of fatalities, and the crew was likely rescued or managed to escape in time, though details are unclear.

Final Disposition

After being stranded and filling with water, the Thrush was a Total Loss. The wreck likely remained submerged in the vicinity of Fairhaven, but no further details about the wreck’s final removal or salvage efforts have been recorded.

Located By & Date Found

The wreck has not been located or identified in modern times, as far as available records indicate.

NOTMARs & Advisories

The Fairhaven Harbor area has been prone to storm-related shipwrecks due to its position at the entrance to the harbor and the sometimes hazardous conditions in the Lake Ontario region. No modern navigational advisories or warnings are known to be associated with the wreck of the Thrush.

Resources & Links

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

3D Model by NOAA

Schooner Barge Thrush (Lake Ontario NMS) by Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary on Sketchfab

Conclusion

The Thrush met its fate in the stormy waters of Lake Ontario in 1916, after stranding near the entrance to Fairhaven Harbour. Its cargo of coal and loss in storm conditions reflect the common perils of the Great Lakes during the early 20th century. Despite the Total Loss, there were no fatalities reported, and the wreck’s exact position remains unconfirmed.

Keywords & Categories

Keywords: Storm-related shipwrecks, schooner-barge wrecks, Fairhaven Harbour, coal cargo, Lake Ontario shipwrecks

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Ontario, Storm-related losses, Early 20th-century shipwrecks

Glossary Terms: Schooner-Barge, Bulk Freight, Coal Cargo, Total Loss