History #
The ACONTIAS was a schooner built in 1856 in Oswego, New York. It had an official number of 1394. The vessel, constructed with a wooden hull and a single deck, was owned by Avery & Baker, based in Oswego.
With two masts, the ACONTIAS had a tonnage of 374 according to the old measurement style.
Throughout its history, the ACONTIAS faced various incidents. In 1860, on June 1, it was damaged in a collision with the propeller GLOBE near Bar Point, Ontario, at the mouth of the Detroit River. On August 27, 1863, the schooner ran aground at Stony Point, Michigan, in the Detroit River but managed to get free. Later in 1863, it was wrecked at Colchester, Ontario.
A significant incident involving the ACONTIAS occurred when it struck a rock off Clay Banks, near the mouth of the Detroit River in Lake Erie. The collision caused the schooner to sink, resulting in a total loss of both the vessel and its valuable cargo of wheat. This incident highlighted the need for navigational improvements in the area, such as the installation of a permanent lightship or the removal of the rock to ensure safer passage for vessels.
The ACONTIAS underwent rebuilding in 1866 in Detroit, measuring 136.5 feet in length, 25.8 feet in beam, and 10.5 feet in depth. Its gross tonnage was recorded as 264.4, and it became owned by John P. Clark of Detroit. Over the years, ownership of the schooner changed hands multiple times.
On October 29, 1887, the ACONTIAS met its final fate when it drifted ashore and was wrecked at Presque Isle, Michigan, on Lake Huron. Alongside the ACONTIAS, the barges LOTTIE MASON and MOSS, which were part of the same tow, also went ashore. The ACONTIAS and MOSS were loaded with lumber from Cheboygan to Detroit, while the LOTTIE MASON was destined for Buffalo. The crew of the LOTTIE MASON was eventually rescued by the Middle Island life-saving crew after being stranded in the rigging for five hours.
The ACONTIAS had a notable history of incidents and changes in ownership, ultimately meeting its demise on the shores of Presque Isle in 1887.
