Shipwreck Report: Schooner James G. Worts (1874–1895)

Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: James G. Worts (also recorded as J.G. Watts in some records)
• Official Number: C71245
• Vessel Type: Three-Masted Wooden Schooner
• Built: 1874, by W. Jamieson, Mill Point, Ontario (now Deseronto, Ontario)
• Final Location: West of Tobermory, Ontario, Lake Huron (Near Devil’s Island Bank, Cove Island area)
• Date Lost: November 8, 1895
• Cause: Stranded in a storm – Later destroyed by waves
• Final Cargo: 20,000 bushels of wheat
• Loss of Life: None (but the local lightkeeper drowned the next day attempting to visit the wreck site)
• Specifications  Hull Material: Wood
  •  Length: 136 feet (41.5 meters) Beam: 26 feet (7.9 meters) Depth: 11 feet (3.4 meters)
• Gross Tonnage: 345 gross tons
• Net Tonnage 309 net tons
• Owner: David Sylvester, Toronto, Ontario
• Master at Loss: Captain George Williamson

Operational History

The James G. Worts was a large, three-masted wooden Schooner built in 1874 at Mill Point, Ontario (modern-day Deseronto, Ontario). The vessel was designed for bulk cargo transport, regularly carrying grain, lumber, and other commodities across the Great Lakes. The ship was owned by David Sylvester of Toronto and was primarily used in the grain trade. Like many large schooners of the era, the James G. Worts was often towed by steamers to improve efficiency and speed on the lakes.

• By 1895, the vessel was still active in the grain trade, making regular voyages between ports in Ontario, the U.S. Midwest, and the Atlantic seaboard.

Final Voyage & Loss (November 8–13, 1895)

• Route & Purpose:  The James G. Worts was carrying 20,000 bushels of wheat, heading for an eastern Canadian port. She was under tow by the Steamer City of Owen Sound, a common practice for schooners on the Great Lakes.
• Stranding at Devil’s Island Bank: On November 8, 1895, while passing through the treacherous waters west of Tobermory, Ontario, the vessel stranded on Devil’s Island Bank, near Cove Island. The crew was able to abandon the vessel safely, with no reported casualties at the time of the wreck.
• Destruction by a Second Storm: Five days later, on November 13, 1895, a second storm swept through the area, dismasting the wrecked Schooner. With no protection from the wind and waves, the James G. Worts was pounded to pieces and completely destroyed.
• Tragic Lightkeeper Drowning:  The day after the second storm, a local lighthouse keeper attempted to row out to the wreck to salvage cargo. His small boat capsized in the rough water, and he drowned, making him the only fatality indirectly linked to the shipwreck.

Wreck Site and Potential Remains

Location: Devil’s Island Bank, near Cove Island, west of Tobermory, Ontario, Lake Huron

Current Condition:  The James G. Worts was completely destroyed by storms, meaning no intact structure remains. Some wooden fragments, iron fastenings, or cargo remnants may still exist on the lakebed near the wreck site. The area around Cove Island and Devil’s Island is known for hazardous waters and shifting sands, which may have buried or dispersed wreckage.

Exploration & Archaeological Interest:

The Fathom Five National Marine Park, located near Tobermory, protects several historic shipwrecks in the region. While the James G. Worts is not an officially marked dive site, divers may find remnants of the wreck scattered along the rocky shoals.

A Typical Great Lakes Schooner Lost in Dangerous Waters  The James G. Worts was one of many grain schooners that met their fate in the unpredictable waters of Lake Huron.  Her loss near Tobermory—one of the most notorious shipwreck regions in the Great Lakes—highlights the perils of sailing in the late 19th century.

A Cautionary Tale for Schooner Tows By 1895, many large sailing vessels relied on steamers for towing, which increased speed but also introduced new risks. Had the James G. Worts been sailing under her own power, she may have had better maneuverability to avoid stranding.

The Tragic Lightkeeper’s Fate The drowning of the lighthouse keeper the day after the wreck adds a somber chapter to the ship’s history. The danger of small-boat operations in rough weather was as deadly as the storms that sank large ships.

A Likely Dispersed & Forgotten Wreck Unlike other well-preserved schooners in the Fathom Five National Marine Park, the James G. Worts was pounded to pieces and largely lost to time. However, some wreckage may still be present in the area, awaiting future discovery by divers and researchers.

Further Research and Resources

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca Contains records of grain schooners and shipwrecks in the Great Lakes.
• Fathom Five National Marine Park (Canada’s First National Marine Park) https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/on/fathomfive Nearby shipwrecks are protected within the marine park.
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society https://www.greatlakesshipwrecks.orgProvides historical research and documentation of Great Lakes shipwrecks.
• Toronto Marine Historical Society May contain archival material on schooners like the James G. Worts.

Conclusion

The James G. Worts was a classic three-masted Schooner built in 1874, operating on the Great Lakes grain trade for over 20 years. Her final voyage in 1895 ended when she stranded on Devil’s Island Bank near Tobermory, Ontario, where she was later destroyed by a second storm.

Although no lives were lost in the initial wreck, a local lighthouse keeper drowned the next day while attempting to salvage cargo, making this a shipwreck story with an unfortunate postscript.

While no significant wreckage has been found, the James G. Worts remains a lost piece of Lake Huron’s maritime history, and potential artifacts may still lie beneath the waters near Cove Island.