IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

Vessel Name: W.J. Carter (also known as W.J. Carter U81112)

Type: Steambarge

Location of Wreck: Approximately 20 miles south of Point Petre Lighthouse, Lake Ontario

Coordinates: Exact location undocumented

Depth: Unknown

Length: 122 feet (37.2 meters)

Beam (Width): 28 feet (8.5 meters)

Depth (Hull): 9.6 feet (2.9 meters)

Gross Tonnage: 235.13 tons (initial); 317 tons (after re-registration)

Net Tonnage: 171.54 tons (initial); 170 tons (after re-registration)

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The W.J. Carter was a wooden steambarge, a robust vessel type specifically designed for transporting bulk cargoes such as coal, lumber, and other industrial materials on the Great Lakes. The vessel was powered by Screw Propulsion, driven by a steeple compound engine (15 + 28 x 26 inches) manufactured by Sheriffs Manufacturing Co. in Milwaukee in 1886. Its boiler was crafted by Johnston Brothers Works, Ferrysburg. The round Stern and single-Deck construction were characteristic of steambarges of the late 19th century, ensuring operational versatility and reliability.

HISTORY

Construction & Early Career

•Built: 1886 by Wolf & Davidson in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, under master carpenter W.H. Wolf.

•Original Ownership: W.J. Carter and J.R. Cook, Chicago, Illinois.

•Initially served in the lumber trade, carrying up to 352,000 board feet of lumber.

Operational Timeline

•1893: Sold to J.E. Danaher of Ludington, Michigan, later passing to Danaher & A.C. Wanvig.

•1902: Ownership transferred to John W. Greenwood, Buffalo, New York.

•1907: Acquired by Churchill Lumber Co., Alpena, Michigan.

•1913: Sold to Fin & Olsen Freighting Co., Ogdensburg, New York. Later managed by Ogdensburg Steamship Co.

•1918: Owned by Edward J. Burns.

The vessel experienced several incidents, including a grounding on Yorkshire Island, Lake Ontario, in 1919, signaling the wear and challenges of its prolonged service.

FINAL VOYAGE AND FATE

On July 28, 1923, the W.J. Carter met its end while navigating through a gale on Lake Ontario. The vessel, en route from Oswego, New York, to Cobourg, Ontario, was laden with coal when it began leaking and subsequently sank. Despite the treacherous conditions, all crew members were rescued.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY

The wreck lies at the bothttps://shotlinediving.com/wp-content/uploads/52895851813_b64678c0f7_c.jpg of Lake Ontario, south of Point Petre Lighthouse. While the exact condition of the wreck is unknown, the age and wooden construction of the steambarge suggest that it may be heavily decayed. The site may offer valuable historical artifacts and insight into 19th-century steambarge design and operation. It could be accessible to experienced divers if its location were identified with precision.

NOTICES TO MARINERS (NOTMARs)

There are no specific NOTMARs currently associated with the W.J. Carter’s wreck. However, the site is of historical interest and may pose potential hazards for recreational divers or vessels operating in the vicinity.

RESOURCES & LINKS

1.David Swayze Shipwreck File – Detailed records and shipwreck descriptions, including the W.J. Carter.

2.Great Lakes Ships Database – Historical profiles of vessels operating on the Great Lakes.

3.Wolf & Davidson Shipyard Records – For insights into the construction techniques used.

ANALYSIS

The W.J. Carter exemplifies the importance of steambarges in supporting the Great Lakes’ economic activity during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It served multiple owners and transported a variety of goods, reflecting the evolving demands of maritime commerce. The vessel’s sinking during its final voyage underscores the hazards faced by aging wooden ships as they contended with increasingly severe weather and competition from steel-hulled vessels.

The legacy of the W.J. Carter provides a compelling narrative about the resilience and challenges of the wooden steambarge era, making it a valuable subject for both maritime historians and underwater archaeologists.

KEYWORDS

W.J. Carter, Steambarge, Lake Ontario Shipwreck, 19th-Century Maritime History, Wolf & Davidson Shipyard, Robert Hicks Coal & Towing Co., Great Lakes Cargo Transport, Wooden Vessel