Identification & Site Information

• Name: ANTELOPE
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: None (Canadian registration)
• Type at Loss: Schooner, wood-hulled, 2-masted
• Date Built and Launched: 1854
• Builder: J&J Abbey, Port Robinson, Ontario
• Measurements: 107 ft (32.6 m) length, 20 ft (6.1 m) beam, 10 ft (3 m) depth; 180 tons
• Date Lost: September 18, 1860
• Place of Loss: Near Port Stanley, Ontario, Lake Erie

Vessel Type

Wooden Two-Masted Schooner

Description

The ANTELOPE was a medium-sized wooden, two-masted Schooner designed for the transport of bulk agricultural products across the Great Lakes, particularly Lake Erie. Built by J&J Abbey in Port Robinson, Ontario, in 1854, she was a typical example of mid-19th-century Canadian Schooner construction, optimized for navigating the often-turbulent waters of the Great Lakes while carrying large cargo loads.

History

The ANTELOPE had a relatively short but eventful career on Lake Erie. She primarily transported agricultural goods between ports in Ontario and Michigan, contributing to the growing trade networks essential to the region’s economy during the mid-19th century.

On November 25, 1857, just three years after her launch, the ANTELOPE was driven ashore near St. Joseph, Michigan, during a gale. The incident resulted in the loss of five lives, marking a tragic chapter in the vessel’s history. Despite the severity of the wreck, the ANTELOPE was recovered the following year and Rebuilt at great cost, demonstrating both the value placed on such vessels and the resilience of Great Lakes shipping enterprises during that period.

However, the Schooner’s luck did not hold for long. On September 18, 1860, while carrying a cargo of oats and peas from Morpeth, Ontario, the ANTELOPE encountered another storm near Port Stanley, Ontario. During the storm, she sprang a leak, and despite any efforts to save her, the Schooner sank, resulting in a Total Loss. This time, two crew members perished in the sinking. Given the vessel’s previous damage and the inherent structural weaknesses of wooden schooners subjected to repeated stresses, the final sinking may have been exacerbated by lingering vulnerabilities from the earlier wreck.

Final Disposition

Sprang a leak and sank near Port Stanley, Ontario, on September 18, 1860, during a storm. The vessel was declared a Total Loss.

Located By & Date Found

Nil—no confirmed reports of the wreck’s recovery or current location.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil—no current navigational advisories related to the ANTELOPE wreck site near Port Stanley, Lake Erie.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Port Stanley Terminal Rail & Maritime Museum

Conclusion

The ANTELOPE’s brief but turbulent career is a vivid reflection of the perils faced by schooners on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. Despite being Rebuilt at great cost after her 1857 wreck near St. Joseph, Michigan, she met her final fate in 1860 after springing a leak in a storm near Port Stanley. The vessel’s repeated encounters with disaster underscore the challenges of navigating the Great Lakes, where sudden storms and structural vulnerabilities often spelled doom for even the most resilient ships. The ANTELOPE‘s history also highlights the human cost of these maritime ventures, with a total of seven lives lost in her various mishaps.

Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms

• Keywords: ANTELOPE Schooner, Port Stanley shipwreck, Lake Erie Schooner loss, St. Joseph Michigan shipwreck, Great Lakes agricultural transport, J&J Abbey shipbuilders
• Categories: Lake Erie Shipwrecks, Wooden Schooner Losses, Storm-Related Shipwrecks, Rebuilt Vessels of the Great Lakes, 19th Century Maritime Disasters
• Glossary Terms:
• Sprang a Leak: A maritime term indicating a vessel began taking on water due to structural failure or damage, often leading to sinking.
• Rebuilt at Great Cost: Refers to the extensive and expensive process of salvaging and reconstructing a damaged vessel, common in the 19th century when shipbuilding was resource-intensive.
• Port Stanley, Ontario: A key port town on the northern shore of Lake Erie, historically significant for its role in regional trade and maritime activities.