Detailed Overview of the Schooner DOMINION

Identification & Site Information

•Name: DOMINION

•Type: Wooden Schooner (Two-masted)

•Built: 1867, Wellington, Ontario

•Builder: D. Tait

•Dimensions:

•Length: 79 feet (24 meters)

•Beam: 19 feet (5.8 meters)

•Depth: 6 feet (1.8 meters)

•Tonnage: 76 tons

•Ownership:

•Initially owned by David Andrews (Charlotte or Napanee, Ontario)

•Later owned by Captain O’Hagan and E. W. Rathbun (Oswego)

Vessel History

Construction and Service

The DOMINION was a wooden, two-masted Schooner designed for the transportation of cargo across the Great Lakes. Built in 1867 by D. Tait in Wellington, Ontario, the Schooner was a modestly-sized but capable vessel, contributing to the bustling maritime commerce of the era.

Incidents and Losses

1.First Loss (September 18, 1870)

•Voyage: From Charlotte, New York, to Shannonville, Ontario, alongside the Schooner FLORENCE HOWARD.

•Incident:

About 15 miles into the journey, the HOWARD collided with the DOMINION amidships. The impact caused the DOMINION to heel over and sink quickly. The crew escaped in the Yawl and was later rescued by the lumber Schooner GEARING.

•Outcome: The DOMINION was recovered and returned to service.

2.Collision with the Steamer DROMEDARY (November 1871)

•Location: Hamilton, Ontario.

•Details: The Schooner collided with the Steamer DROMEDARY and sank. Specific details about recovery efforts or damage remain unavailable.

3.Final Loss (November 20, 1879)

•Voyage: En route from Oswego, New York, to Mill Point, Ontario.

•Incident:

The Schooner anchored under South Point for shelter during a severe storm. When the anchor chains gave way, the crew attempted to navigate toward Oswego Harbor. Unfortunately, the vessel struck Ford’s Shoal near the harbor and was destroyed by the pounding waves.

•Outcome: The DOMINION was reduced to wreckage and declared a Total Loss.

Legacy and Historical Significance

The DOMINION’s history reflects the challenges of 19th-century Great Lakes shipping, where vessels contended with unpredictable weather, collisions, and other hazards. Despite being a small Schooner, its repeated service, recovery after multiple incidents, and eventual destruction exemplify the resilience and peril of Great Lakes maritime commerce during this period.

Sources & External Links

1.Great Lakes Ships by C. Patrick Labadie

Website Link

2.Donald V. Baut Archives

Details on historical Great Lakes shipping

3.Board of Lake Underwriters Marine Directory

Historical records on marine incidents and vessel registrations.

4.Canadian Registers

Documentation of Canadian maritime vessels and ownership.

5.Steamboat Era in the Muskokas by Richard Tatley

In-depth exploration of Great Lakes maritime history.

6.Buffalo Commercial Advertiser (September 20, 1870).

7.Toledo Blade (Wednesday, September 21, 1870).

Keywords

•Schooner DOMINION

•Great Lakes Shipwrecks

•Collision Incidents

•19th Century Maritime History

•Ford’s Shoal

•Lake Ontario Shipping

Conclusion

The story of the Schooner DOMINION, from its construction in Wellington, Ontario, to its ultimate demise near Oswego, offers a compelling narrative of life and loss on the Great Lakes. Its history, marked by collisions, storms, and recovery efforts, underscores the hazardous yet vital role of schooners in the region’s 19th-century trade network.