Tragedy Strikes the Schooner ANAWAN on Lake Ontario
On a fateful day in June 1852, the serene waters of Lake Ontario turned into a scene of heartbreak and loss as the schooner ANAWAN capsized, claiming the lives of its crew and leaving behind a tale of sorrow and devastation.
The ANAWAN, a sturdy vessel owned by Mr. C. Smith of Buffalo, set sail from its home port with a crew of five men and a young passenger. Bound for Presque Isle, Canada, the schooner carried a valuable cargo, its sails billowing in the wind as it embarked on its journey.
However, heavy squalls and treacherous weather conditions loomed on the horizon, unbeknownst to the crew. In the early hours of the morning, about eight miles from shore off Pultneyville, disaster struck. The ANAWAN capsized, leaving the vessel floating on its beam ends, a tragic sight for any passing ship.
Captain Cochran of the schooner PEARL, who chanced upon the capsized vessel, rushed to investigate but found no one aboard the ANAWAN. Her sails were still set, and her boat remained attached, indicating that the crew had likely faced a sudden and tragic fate. From all appearances, the Captain and his crew, comprising five men, were presumed lost at sea.
Days later, the schooner ANAWAN was towed into Buffalo Harbor by the steamer Howard and the brig Champlain. Tragically, the lifeless body of a young boy named James Herrigan, aged about 14 years, was discovered floating in the water in the hold of the vessel. James had served as the cook on board the ill-fated schooner, and it is believed that he was in his berth, perhaps asleep, when the catastrophe struck.
Coroner Lewis conducted an inquest on the body and returned a verdict of accidental drowning. As the vessel was being pumped out, fears arose that more bodies may be found on board, but young James Herrigan’s body was the only one discovered at the time.
The ANAWAN’s fate was sealed that fateful night, and the maritime community mourned the loss of its crew and passenger. The young boy’s tragic demise touched the hearts of many, and the sorrowful event serves as a poignant reminder of the perils faced by those who venture upon the waters of Lake Ontario.
The ANAWAN’s final journey serves as a solemn testament to the unpredictability of the sea and the risks undertaken by sailors in their pursuit of commerce and adventure. As we remember the ill-fated schooner and those who perished on that tragic night, let us honor their memory and the resilience of those who continue to navigate the waters with courage and determination. May the ANAWAN and its crew rest in peace, forever remembered in the annals of Lake Ontario’s maritime history.
