THREE FRIENDS

Identification & Site Information

• Other Names: None
• Official No.: C (Canadian registration number, specific number not listed)
• Type at Loss: Schooner, Wood, 2-Mast
• Build Info: 1864, G. Hardison, Port Dover, Ontario
• Specs: Length: 82 feet (25 meters) Beam: 20 feet (6.1 meters) Depth: 8 feet (2.4 meters)
• Gross Tonnage: 115 tons (104.3 metric tonnes)
• Date of Loss: October 29, 1875
• Place of Loss: On a line between Charlotte, NY and Toronto, ON
• Lake: Ontario
• Type of Loss: Storm
• Loss of Life: None
• Carrying: 215 tons (195.6 metric tonnes) of coal

History and Description

The THREE FRIENDS was a two-masted Schooner constructed in 1864 by G. Hardison at Port Dover, Ontario. Designed primarily for transporting bulk goods, the ship was 82 feet in length and weighed about 115 tons. She was primarily used for cargo transport, with a cargo capacity of 215 tons of coal.

The THREE FRIENDS was owned by Mary Malone, who was the wife of the ship’s captain, Jack Malone, also known as “Three-finger” Jack. The Schooner was bound for Toronto from Oswego, NY, in 1875 when disaster struck on October 29. Caught in a violent storm on Lake Ontario, the ship began to take on water due to a leak that developed, despite the crew’s best efforts to mitigate the flooding.

As the ship continued to founder, the crew, along with Captain Jack Malone and his wife, Abandoned ship and escaped in the small boat just before the Schooner sank beneath the waves. After more than 30 hours adrift in the cold, the small boat finally reached land, west of Whitby, Ontario, where the survivors were found badly frozen but alive. They had endured extreme cold conditions, and although none of them lost their lives, it was a harrowing experience.

Earlier that year, in May of 1875, the THREE FRIENDS had encountered another storm near Port Weller, but the crew had managed to run for shelter. They tried to anchor at Presqu’ile, but the storm’s intensity and the parted anchor cable forced them into shallow water.

Final Disposition

The THREE FRIENDS was ultimately lost on October 29, 1875, after being overwhelmed by the storm. Her wreck remains a part of the stormy history of Lake Ontario, which was notorious for sudden and intense weather. Though the ship was Abandoned, the crew’s survival was an incredible testament to their endurance and resourcefulness. The incident became part of the folklore of the Great Lakes maritime community, especially in reference to the bravery of Captain Jack Malone and his crew.

Sources & References

• National Shipwrecks Project (NSP)

• Michigan Maritime Great Lakes (MMGL)

• Wrecks of the Michigan Waters Network (WMN)

Conclusion

The THREE FRIENDS story highlights the vulnerability of Great Lakes vessels to the unpredictable and fierce storms that can occur on these waters, particularly Lake Ontario, known for its sudden and violent weather patterns. The wreck of the THREE FRIENDS, though tragic, had a fortunate outcome for her crew, who managed to survive the ordeal after 30 hours adrift. The Malone family’s connection to the vessel and the details surrounding the storm have remained a significant part of the maritime heritage of the region.