IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

•Vessel Name: Emery, W.Y.

•Type: Schooner

•Official Number: 71280

•Home Port: Port Burwell, Ontario

•Year Built: 1867

•Builder: George Dakin, Port Burwell, Ontario

•Dimensions: 102 feet length x 22.9 feet beam x 10.2 feet depth

•Gross Tonnage: 211 tons

•Net Tonnage: 154.04 tons

•Final Fate: Foundered

•Date of Wreck: September 20, 1899

•Location: Approximately 1.5 miles off Bear Creek, Lake Ontario

•Cargo: Coal

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The Emery, W.Y. was a two-masted wooden Schooner designed for cargo transport across the Great Lakes. Its robust construction and single-Deck design made it well-suited to carry bulk goods like coal, a critical energy source during its operational period. The Schooner reflects the era’s maritime design and was a key component of the Great Lakes trade network in the late 19th century.

HISTORY

The Emery, W.Y. was launched in 1867 in Port Burwell, Ontario, by George Dakin. It was initially owned by John Griffen and Sidney McDermand and operated as a cargo hauler, transporting coal and other bulk goods to various ports around the Great Lakes.

The Schooner’s service history is marked by several incidents:

•1877: The vessel went ashore east of Toronto, necessitating repairs.

•1880: It collided with another vessel near Leamington, Ontario.

•Over the years, the Emery, W.Y. also experienced groundings and underwent repairs to remain operational.

Despite these challenges, the vessel remained a reliable workhorse, reflecting the resilience of Great Lakes schooners of its time.

FINAL VOYAGE

On September 20, 1899, while transporting a cargo of coal from Charlotte, New York, to Kingston, Ontario, the Schooner encountered a severe gale on Lake Ontario. The storm caused the vessel to spring a leak, leading to its foundering approximately 1.5 miles off Bear Creek. The crew managed to escape and were rescued by the Tug PROCTOR, but the Emery, W.Y. was lost to the lake.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The wreck of the Emery, W.Y. remains at the bothttps://shotlinediving.com/wp-content/uploads/52895851813_b64678c0f7_c.jpg of Lake Ontario, its cargo of coal scattered on the lakebed. Its final resting place serves as a poignant reminder of the hazards faced by 19th-century maritime trade.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES

There are currently no specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) or navigational warnings related to the wreck of the Emery, W.Y..

LOCATED BY & DATE

The exact location and discovery date of the wreck are not documented. However, its history and loss are well-recorded in maritime archives.

RESOURCES & LINKS

•Great Lake Ships: Information on vessels like the Emery, W.Y. and their role in Great Lakes trade.

•YouTube Video: W.Y. Emery Shipwreck – Heritage Square Museum, Ontario NY.

•David Swayze Shipwreck File: Comprehensive database of Great Lakes shipwrecks.

•Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Historical records detailing incidents and vessel service history.

•Finger Lakes Times: Archival references to the ship’s operations and loss.

CONCLUSION

The Emery, W.Y. exemplifies the essential role of schooners in the Great Lakes economy during the late 19th century. Its loss in 1899 underscores the perils of navigating the often-turbulent waters of Lake Ontario. While the ship served faithfully for over 30 years, its fate reflects the vulnerability of wooden vessels to severe weather and the relentless conditions of the Great Lakes.

KEYWORDS

•Emery, W.Y.

•Port Burwell

•Great Lakes Schooner

•Lake Ontario Shipwreck

•19th-Century Maritime History

•Coal Cargo Vessel

•George Dakin Shipbuilder

•Tug PROCTOR

•Bear Creek Shipwreck