Construction and Early Service
The Wm. Buckley was a wooden schooner built in 1834 in Point Peninsula, New York. With a tonnage of 112 tons and equipped with two masts, the vessel was well-suited for the transportation of bulk cargoes, particularly coal, which was a critical commodity during the 19th century. The schooner was registered without an official number, typical of vessels constructed before the implementation of formal registry systems.
Throughout its service, the Wm. Buckley played an essential role in the bustling trade routes of the Great Lakes, transporting coal and other goods to various ports. The vessel was based out of Conneaut, Ohio, and was under the command of Captain Neil Buckley at the time of its final voyage.
Mishaps and Incidents
The Wm. Buckley experienced several significant incidents before its eventual sinking in 1854. On April 4, 1850, the schooner went ashore at Sandytown, near Buffalo, New York. Just a year later, on April 4, 1851, the vessel encountered further difficulties. While attempting to make the harbor, the Wm. Buckley broached to and fell off outside the Erie Basin pier, eventually going ashore again at Sandytown during a gale. Despite these setbacks, the vessel was salvaged and returned to service, continuing its operations on the Great Lakes.
Final Voyage and Sinking
On November 25, 1854, the Wm. Buckley set sail from Cleveland Harbor, bound for Gravelly Bay, Ontario. As the schooner navigated the waters of Lake Erie, it encountered the steamer May Queen near the mouth of Cleveland Harbor. In an effort to avoid a collision, the Wm. Buckley veered off course and struck a spile (a large wooden pile or post) near the East Pier.
The impact caused the vessel to founder in deep water approximately three-quarters of a mile offshore. Despite the sudden and severe nature of the accident, the crew was fortunate enough to escape with their lives, rescued by boats sent from the shore. The masts of the Wm. Buckley remained partially visible above the water, leading to initial hopes that the vessel might be salvaged. However, no records indicate that any salvage operation was undertaken, and the schooner was left to rest on the lakebed.
Legacy and Remembrance
The sinking of the Wm. Buckley near Cleveland Harbor in 1854 marked the end of the vessel’s 20-year service on the Great Lakes. While the ship’s physical remains likely lie undisturbed in the depths of Lake Erie, its story is preserved in the annals of maritime history.
The Wm. Buckley serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by the many schooners that traversed the Great Lakes, often at the mercy of the elements and the crowded shipping lanes. The vessel’s repeated mishaps and final sinking illustrate the hazards of maritime navigation in the mid-19th century, a time when ships were frequently lost to storms, collisions, and other unforeseen dangers.
Although the Wm. Buckley was not salvaged, the survival of its crew and the visibility of its masts for a time after sinking add a unique dimension to its story, highlighting both the dangers and the resilience of those who sailed the Great Lakes.
Resources & Links
Keywords
Wm. Buckley, wooden schooner, Great Lakes shipwreck, Lake Erie, Cleveland Harbor, Point Peninsula New York, maritime history, vessel loss, storm wreck, shipwreck remembrance.
Ongoing Research & Monitoring
Further research into the Wm. Buckley may uncover additional details about its construction, the specific circumstances of its various mishaps, and any surviving documentation related to its final voyage. Continuous monitoring of maritime history archives and shipwreck databases will ensure that any new information about the Wm. Buckley is integrated into its historical narrative
