Identification & Site Information

•Wreck Name: E. Hall

•Type: Schooner

•Year Built: 1864

•Builder: Port Dover, Ontario

•Owner: Captain David O’Hagan

•Cargo at Loss: Coal

•Tonnage: 170 tons

•Final Location: Approximately 15 miles off Fair Haven, Lake Ontario

•Date of Incident: August 15, 1879

Vessel Type Description

The E. Hall was a Canadian-built wooden Schooner designed primarily for transporting bulk cargo across the Great Lakes. At 170 tons, it was a mid-sized vessel typical of its era, optimized for efficiency and durability in the challenging conditions of the Great Lakes. Its construction in Port Dover, Ontario, marked it as part of the thriving shipbuilding industry in the region during the mid-19th century.

History

The E. Hall served the bustling Great Lakes trade routes, carrying a variety of goods between ports. By 1879, it was owned by Captain David O’Hagan, with a mortgage held by H.B. Rathbun & Co., a significant player in the regional coal trade. At the time of its loss, the Schooner was en route from Big Sodus, New York, to Gananoque, Ontario, carrying a valuable cargo of coal.

On August 15, 1879, while approximately 15 miles off Fair Haven, the E. Hall encountered a severe storm. The vessel began taking on water, and despite the crew’s determined efforts to pump it out, the leak became uncontrollable. The Schooner slowly sank beneath the waves.

Thankfully, the crew managed to escape without injury, abandoning the vessel as it Foundered. The sinking of the E. Hall was a financial loss to its owner and mortgage holder, H.B. Rathbun & Co., which owned both the vessel and its cargo.

The loss was documented in the Daily British Whig of Kingston on August 18, 1879, providing a detailed account of the incident.

Final Disposition

The E. Hall sank in Lake Ontario and remains submerged at an unknown location approximately 15 miles off Fair Haven. Given its age and the nature of its sinking, the wreck is likely to be in a state of advanced decay, buried under sediment. Its value at the time of its loss was considered limited, with an insurance payout of $1,500.

Located By & Date

There are no documented efforts to locate the wreck of the E. Hall, and its precise location remains unknown.

Notices to Mariners & Advisories

There are no current NOTMARs or advisories specifically related to the wreck of the E. Hall.

Resources & Links

•Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Provides historical accounts and ship registries.

•Daily British Whig (Kingston, August 18, 1879): Contemporary report detailing the sinking.

•Herman Runge List: A reference for Great Lakes shipwrecks.

Conclusion

The E. Hall was emblematic of the schooners that powered commerce on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. Though it served dutifully for over 15 years, the vessel met its end during a storm, highlighting the ever-present risks faced by sailors of the era. Its loss off Fair Haven, Lake Ontario, was a blow to its owner, Captain David O’Hagan, and its mortgage holder, H.B. Rathbun & Co., who owned both the vessel and its cargo. While its wreck remains undiscovered, the E. Hall serves as a testament to the resilience of the Great Lakes maritime community.

Keywords

#EHall #Schooner #LakeOntario #PortDover #MaritimeHistory #GreatLakesShipwrecks #FairHaven #19thCenturySailing #CoalTrade