IDENTIFICATION & VESSEL INFORMATION
- • Name Variants:
- • James Buckley
- • James Buckly
- • Type: Two-Masted Wooden Schooner-Barge
- • Built: 1884
- • Builder: J. Samson (or Simson), Quebec City, Canada
- • Official Number: C85717
- • Dimensions:
- • Length: 161 feet
- • Beam (Width): 32 feet
- • Depth: 11 feet
- • Tonnage:
- • Gross: 442 tons
- • Net: 442 tons
- • Primary Cargo: Coal
- • Owner: Ogdensburg Coal Company, Prescott, Ontario, Canada
HISTORY & OPERATIONS
The James Buckley was a key player in the bulk freight trade, primarily transporting coal across Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. As a Schooner-Barge, it relied on towing vessels for propulsion, often traveling in consort with other barges as part of larger cargo shipments.
FINAL VOYAGE & INCIDENT
Date of Loss
• October 16, 1912
Location
• Off the coast of Jefferson County, New York, Lake Ontario
Circumstances
• The James Buckley was part of a tow departing Oswego, New York, with four barges: H.B., Menominee, Argo, and Carney. The tow was led by the Tug William Proctor.
• A sudden gale caused the tow line to part, leaving the barges vulnerable to the storm.
Outcome
• The James Buckley was separated from the group and driven into shallow waters.
• The Tug William Proctor successfully delivered the Barge Menominee to Cape Vincent and then returned to rescue the crew of the James Buckley.
• The crew was rescued from the rigging of the sinking vessel using a heaving line.
LOSS DETAILS
• Condition of Vessel:
• The James Buckley was irreparably damaged by the storm and declared a Total Loss.
• It sank in shallow waters off Jefferson County, New York.
• Casualties: None. The entire crew survived, thanks to the rescue efforts of the Tug William Proctor.
• Cargo: Coal. The fate of the cargo was not documented but was likely lost with the vessel.
SIGNIFICANCE IN MARITIME HISTORY
The James Buckley represents the vital role Schooner-barges played in the economic development of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River regions. The vessel’s loss highlights the perils of towing operations during the era, particularly in inclement weather, when tow lines frequently parted, leaving barges at the mercy of the elements.
The event underscores the courage and dedication of mariners like the crew of the William Proctor, who risked their lives to save others during maritime disasters.
DIVE INFORMATION (IF APPLICABLE)
• Wreck Site:
• Located in shallow waters off Jefferson County, New York.
• Precise depth is not specified but likely accessible to recreational divers.
• Condition of Wreck:
• Likely fragmented due to storm damage and time.
• Wooden Hull components and possibly remnants of the cargo (coal) may remain.
• Points of Interest:
• Potential remains of rigging, timbers, or hardware associated with Schooner-Barge construction.
RESOURCES & LINKS
• CONCLUSION
The James Buckley was an integral part of the coal trade in the Great Lakes, serving faithfully until its untimely loss in 1912. The story of its final voyage and the crew’s rescue showcases the risks of 19th- and early 20th-century shipping and the resilience of Great Lakes mariners.
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