Identification & Site Information

•Name: E.J. Vickery

•Vessel Type: Canal Boat

•Date of Incident: August 2, 1874

•Cargo: Ashes belonging to V.H. Burch

•Owner: Captain Benjamin Peterson

•Value: $1,200 (uninsured for lake navigation)

•Location: Approximately 8–10 miles north by west of Oswego, Lake Ontario

•Condition: Sunk due to heavy seas

•Casualties: None; all crew rescued

Vessel Type Description

The E.J. Vickery was a canal boat, a flat-bothttps://shotlinediving.com/wp-content/uploads/52895851813_b64678c0f7_c.jpged vessel designed primarily for use in canals. These boats often lacked self-propulsion and relied on tugs for movement across open waters. While ideal for calm canal conditions, canal boats like the Vickery were ill-equipped to handle the unpredictable and often harsh conditions of the Great Lakes.

History

Incident Summary:

On the evening of August 2, 1874, the canal boat E.J. Vickery was part of a convoy towed by the Tug C.P. Morey, carrying a cargo of ashes from the Bay of Quinte to Oswego. Rough seas caused the Vickery to break free from the Tug approximately 8 to 10 miles north by west of Oswego. The Morey, unable to safely retrieve the Vickery in the storm, docked the remaining boats before returning to rescue the stranded vessel.

Upon the Morey’s return, the crew spotted the Vickery’s light, but it disappeared before they could reach it. Despite sounding their whistle and flashing lights, the Vickery could not be located. Eventually, cries from the water led to the miraculous rescue of Captain Peterson, a young boy, and the steersman. They had survived by clinging to hatch covers and parts of the bow stable.

Final Moments of the Vickery:

According to Captain Peterson, the Vickery succumbed to the heavy waves, rapidly filling with water and sinking approximately 15 minutes before the Morey’s return. The vessel and its cargo were a Total Loss.

Final Disposition

The E.J. Vickery was uninsured, as was its cargo of ashes. Concerns about the strength of the Towline that connected the Vickery to the Tug C.P. Morey were raised following the incident, highlighting the risks associated with towing canal boats on the open waters of the Great Lakes.

Legacy and Significance

The loss of the E.J. Vickery underscores the vulnerabilities of canal boats on the Great Lakes and the challenges of navigating these waters in adverse conditions. The miraculous rescue of the Vickery’s crew illustrates the perilous reality of 19th-century maritime travel and the resilience of those who braved it.

Resources & Links

•David Swayze Shipwreck File: Information on Great Lakes shipwrecks.

•Daily Palladium (Oswego, NY), Aug. 3, 1874: Contemporary report detailing the incident.

Keywords

E.J. Vickery, Canal Boat, Lake Ontario Shipwreck, Tug C.P. Morey, 19th Century Shipping, Maritime Rescue, Oswego NY, Shipwreck History.

The loss of the E.J. Vickery is a poignant chapter in the history of the Great Lakes, emphasizing the treacherous nature of open-water towing and the dangers faced by those who depended on these vital waterways.