Other Names #
- S.T. ATWATER
History #
The SAMUEL T. ATWATER, also known as S.T. ATWATER, was a wooden schooner built in 1866 in Irondequoit (Charlotte), New York. It had a length of 136 feet, a width of 24 feet, and a depth of 11 feet, with a gross tonnage of 323 tons and a net tonnage of 307 tons. The vessel was primarily used for transporting lumber.
On October 24, 1895, the SAMUEL T. ATWATER met its demise when it went aground and was wrecked on Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron. The incident occurred after the schooner was cast off by the steamer M. GROH during a gale. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties in the incident. The master of the vessel at the time was Captain McDermott.
The schooner underwent a rebuild in 1888 by Frank Alary in Tonawanda, New York. Over the years, it changed ownership and was involved in various incidents. In 1886, it suffered hull damage after striking ice near Lexington, Michigan, on Lake Huron. It was towed to Bay City for repairs but collided with the ferry HALL during the journey, requiring further repairs. In 1889, it ran aground on Horseshoe Reef in Buffalo and later sank in Tonawanda. The final wrecking of the SAMUEL T. ATWATER occurred in 1895 on Manitoulin Island, Lake Huron, while carrying a cargo of lumber.
The SAMUEL T. ATWATER’s history is characterized by its involvement in maritime accidents and incidents, reflecting the risks and challenges faced by vessels navigating the Great Lakes during the late 19th century.
