Shipwreck Report: CLYDE

Identification & Site Information

• Name: CLYDE

• Type: Two-Masted Wooden Schooner

• Construction: Wooden Hull, carvel-built

• Builder: Carrick of Buffalo

• Year Built: 1841

• Location of Build: Chippawa, Ontario, Canada

• Tonnage: 114 tons

• Length: Not specified

• Beam: Not specified

• Depth: Not specified

• Cargo at Loss: 60 hogsheads of sugar and 109 tons of coal

• Location of Wreck: Approximately 10 miles east of Toronto, Ontario, Lake Ontario

• Coordinates: Exact coordinates not recorded

• Date of Incident: September 11, 1852

• Condition: Total Loss; wreckage scattered along the shore

• Accessibility: Presumed lost; location unconfirmed and inaccessible for diving

Vessel Type Description

The CLYDE was a two-masted Schooner, typical of the early 19th century. Such vessels were workhorses on the Great Lakes, primarily used for transporting bulk goods like coal, sugar, and other commodities. The CLYDE’s carvel-built wooden Hull and rigging design were well-suited for navigating Lake Ontario’s often challenging conditions. However, like many schooners of its time, it was vulnerable to sudden and violent storms.

History

The CLYDE was constructed in 1841 in Chippawa, Ontario, by the renowned shipbuilder Carrick of Buffalo. It was built for both cargo and passenger transport, incorporating state-of-the-art techniques and materials available in the mid-19th century. At 114 tons, it was a significant vessel for its era, equipped to meet the demands of Great Lakes trade.

For more than a decade, the CLYDE plied the waters of Lake Ontario, connecting ports such as Oswego, New York, and Toronto, Ontario. It carried various goods essential to the growing economy of the region. On its final voyage in 1852, the Schooner set sail from Oswego loaded with 60 hogsheads of sugar and 109 tons of coal, bound for Toronto.

However, as the CLYDE neared its destination, a sudden and violent storm swept across Lake Ontario. Despite the crew’s best efforts to steer the vessel to safety, the Schooner was driven ashore approximately ten miles east of Toronto. The relentless winds and waves shattered the wooden Hull against the rocky shore, scattering the wreckage along the coastline. Contemporary reports are unclear about the fate of the crew, leaving their final moments a mystery.

The loss of the CLYDE serves as a testament to the dangers faced by sailors on the Great Lakes, where unpredictable weather and powerful storms frequently claimed lives and vessels.

Final Disposition

The CLYDE was declared a Total Loss after the storm. Its wreckage was scattered along the shore, with no attempts made to salvage it. The exact site of the wreck remains undocumented, and it is presumed to have been buried beneath shifting sands or consumed by Lake Ontario’s waters.

NOTMARs & Advisories

There are no active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the CLYDE. Its wreckage has been lost to time, posing no navigational hazards today.

Located By & Date

The wreck of the CLYDE was observed by local residents as it came ashore during the storm on September 11, 1852. Despite these observations, the exact location has never been accurately documented.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The remains of the CLYDE are presumed to be lost, either submerged beneath Lake Ontario or buried along the shore east of Toronto. The site, if it still exists, is inaccessible for diving and has likely been dispersed or degraded over time.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes

• David Swayze Shipwreck File

• Great Lakes Ships Database

Keywords

Schooner CLYDE, Lake Ontario shipwreck, 1852 storm, Toronto shipwrecks, Great Lakes maritime history, wooden Schooner, Carrick of Buffalo, Chippawa Ontario, lost Schooner, 19th-century shipwreck.

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