IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

• Name: GRAMPUS

• Type: Canadian Schooner

• Final Resting Place: Lake Ontario (Exact location unspecified)

• Cargo at Time of Loss: Oak timber

• Incident Date: Not specified, following a severe gale

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The GRAMPUS was a wooden-hulled Schooner designed for cargo transport on the Great Lakes. Like many vessels of its kind, the GRAMPUS played a crucial role in shipping timber, grain, and other bulk materials across Lake Ontario and the wider Great Lakes system. These vessels were workhorses of 19th-century commerce, designed to endure harsh conditions, though storms often overwhelmed them.

HISTORY

The GRAMPUS had a storied history, including multiple repairs and modifications to extend its operational life. Prior to its final voyage, the Schooner had suffered damage in a previous gale in October, necessitating significant repairs and refitting. Once restored, the vessel resumed its cargo operations.

On its last voyage, the GRAMPUS was heavily laden with oak timber, a valuable cargo. During a severe gale, the vessel broke amidships, rendering it structurally unsalvageable. The heavy timber cargo likely exacerbated the Schooner’s inability to withstand the storm’s force, leading to the Total Loss of the ship.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The GRAMPUS was wrecked alongside the Schooner AINSWORTH, which also succumbed to the same storm. Both vessels were deemed total losses due to extensive structural damage. The GRAMPUS, having broken amidships, could not be salvaged.

RESCUE OPERATIONS

The crews of both the GRAMPUS and the AINSWORTH were rescued the following morning by the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service. Members of the service used the Yawl from their Cutter to navigate the treacherous waters and safely evacuate the stranded sailors.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES

There are no modern Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) specifically related to the wreck of the GRAMPUS. The vessel’s remains have not been documented as a navigational hazard.

LOCATED BY & DATE

The exact location of the GRAMPUS wreck has not been formally identified or documented in modern records. Its fate remains intertwined with that of the AINSWORTH as a shared narrative of maritime loss.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY

The GRAMPUS likely remains in Lake Ontario, though the exact state of the wreck is unknown. Given the vessel’s destruction amidships and the likely loss of the timber cargo to the elements, its remains are presumed to be scattered and possibly buried beneath sediment.

RESOURCES & LINKS

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Historical records on Lake Ontario shipwrecks

• David Swayze Shipwreck File: Detailed documentation of lost vessels

• Great Lakes Ships Database: Comprehensive information on schooners like the GRAMPUS

CONCLUSION

The loss of the GRAMPUS highlights the risks faced by schooners on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. Despite efforts to repair and refit the vessel after previous damage, the Schooner’s heavy timber cargo and the relentless force of the gale proved insurmountable. While its story shares similarities with that of the AINSWORTH, the GRAMPUS’s legacy endures as a reminder of the hazards of Great Lakes navigation.

KEYWORDS

GRAMPUS, Canadian Schooner, Lake Ontario, Shipwreck, Maritime Rescue, Revenue Cutter Service, 19th Century Shipwrecks, Timber Trade