The schooner “CLYDE,” with no known alternate names, had the official number 83141. It was a three-masted wooden vessel built in 1864 by L. Shickluna in St. Catharines, Ontario. The specifications for the vessel were 136 feet in length, 24 feet in breadth, and 12 feet in depth. It had a gross tonnage of 313 tons and a net tonnage of 293 tons. The vessel met its unfortunate fate on July 7, 1885, when it stranded on Mohawk Island in Lake Erie due to heavy fog. It was carrying a cargo of oak and walnut lumber at the time of the incident.
The “CLYDE” was owned by James Norris of St. Catharines. Following the stranding, the vessel became a total wreck and was declared a loss. The estimated value of the loss was around $10,000. Despite the significant damage, there were no reports of loss of life in the incident.
The vessel had a history spanning over 20 years, and its partial loss due to the stranding on Mohawk Island marked the end of its operational life. The “CLYDE” was part of the maritime activity on Lake Erie, and its unfortunate fate serves as a reminder of the challenges vessels faced while navigating through the waters, especially in adverse weather conditions like heavy fog.
Sources:
- Casualty List for 1885, Marine Record, December 24, 1885
- Total Losses on the Lakes, 1885, Cleveland Leader, December 7, 1885
- Department of Marine and Fisheries, Statement of Wreck & Casualty, 1885
- Shipping Register, Port of St. Catharines
