The schooner Edith Sewell, also known as Edith Sewall, was built in 1874 in Chaumont, New York. The vessel, with an official number of 135011, was primarily a schooner but was also referred to as a steam screw. It had a wooden hull and had a gross tonnage of 9.
Tragedy struck the Edith Sewell in August 1883 when it sank off Wolfe Island in Lake Ontario. Fortunately, no lives were lost in the incident. Reports from that time indicate that the small schooner sank near the head of Wolfe Island, with parts of its upper works washing ashore.
Efforts were made to locate and recover the sunken vessel. Grappling operations were carried out to find the wreck, but as of the available information, the exact location of the wreck had not been discovered. Meanwhile, pieces of the Edith Sewell’s upper works continued to be found on the shore of Wolfe Island.
The sinking of the Edith Sewell had significant consequences for its crew and owners. The crew, consisting of Captain Alex Bailey, Engineer Baily, and Steward McKee, managed to survive the ordeal by clinging to wreckage and were later rescued by fishermen. However, the loss of the vessel and its cargo of fish resulted in substantial financial damages.
The Edith Sewell was a valued vessel, estimated to be worth $3,000 at the time of its sinking. It had been engaged in the transportation of fish from Clark & Robbins’ grounds on Georgian Bay to Sackett’s Harbor. The exact cause of the sinking is not mentioned in the available records.
Today, the Edith Sewell remains at the bottom of Lake Ontario, resting in approximately 40 feet of water. While its exact resting place may still be unknown, the vessel serves as a reminder of the maritime history and the challenges faced by sailors on the Great Lakes during the late 19th century.
