AUGUSTA C85422

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IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #

Name: AUGUSTA
Type: Three-Masted Wooden Schooner
Build Year: 1872
Builder: L. Shickluna
Build Location: St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Dimensions: 142 feet (length) x 26 feet (beam) x 12 feet (depth)
Gross Tonnage: 342 tons
Net Tonnage: 321 tons
Final Voyage Date: November 25, 1900
Wreck Date: November 25, 1900
Location: Near Port Credit, Lake Ontario, Ontario, Canada
Coordinates: Not specified
Condition: Total loss, vessel broke apart after stranding in shallows

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #

The AUGUSTA was a typical wooden three-masted schooner, a common sight on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. Built by the well-known shipbuilder L. Shickluna in St. Catharines, Ontario, the AUGUSTA was designed for the transportation of bulk goods across the Great Lakes. The schooner’s sturdy construction and ample cargo capacity made it well-suited for carrying heavy loads, such as coal, which was a common cargo for many Great Lakes vessels during this period.

HISTORY #

The AUGUSTA was launched in 1872, part of a wave of shipbuilding in Ontario during that time, which supplied the growing demand for transportation across the Great Lakes. The vessel had a length of 142 feet, a beam of 26 feet, and a depth of 12 feet. It was capable of carrying a significant amount of cargo, making it an important asset for its owners and operators.

However, the AUGUSTA‘s career was marked by several significant incidents. In 1890, the vessel was reportedly wrecked and declared a total loss, though it was apparently salvaged and returned to service. A more tragic incident occurred in 1898, when the schooner was wrecked again, resulting in the loss of seven lives.

FINAL DISPOSITION #

The AUGUSTA met its final demise on November 25, 1900, during a severe snowstorm while sailing from Charlotte, New York, to Toronto, Ontario, with a cargo of coal. As the storm intensified, the schooner was driven into the shallows near Port Credit, Ontario, on Lake Ontario. The impact of grounding in the shallows caused the vessel to “break her back,” a term used to describe severe structural damage that effectively splits a ship’s hull.

Fortunately, there were no fatalities in this final wreck, as the crew was rescued by local volunteers who braved the storm to assist them. The cargo of coal was lightered off the vessel, a process where the cargo is removed to reduce the ship’s weight and potentially refloat or salvage it. However, the damage to the AUGUSTA was too severe, and the vessel broke apart, resulting in a total loss.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #

The remains of the AUGUSTA have not been extensively documented, and the exact location of the wreck is not specified in available records. Given the nature of the final wreck, where the vessel broke apart in shallow waters, it is likely that little remains of the schooner today. The wreck may be scattered, buried, or otherwise degraded, making it difficult to identify or explore as a dive site.