EMERALD C85417

Historical Overview #

The schooner EMERALD, a three-masted vessel, was built in 1872 in Port Colborne, Ontario, by George Hardison. Originally owned by P. Larkins and valued at $14,000, the EMERALD was listed as Class A 2 in the Insurance Classification Index of 1878. Over its years of service, the EMERALD was involved in the coal trade across Lake Ontario, with its final journey being from Fair Haven to Toronto, carrying a cargo of coal.

The Final Voyage #

On November 29, 1911, the EMERALD set sail from Charlotte, intending to reach Toronto. However, the schooner encountered adverse weather conditions while approximately 25 miles from its destination. The ship was forced to turn back to Charlotte, the port it had departed from 13 days earlier.

The crew on board included Captain Francis McMaster and his son Walter, along with John Slight from Port Hope, John Selkirk, John Bohrman from Picton, a Frenchman from Ogdensburg, and Mrs. Wright, the cook, from St. Catharines. Unfortunately, the vessel and its crew were never seen again.

The Discovery of Wreckage #

In the days following the EMERALD’s disappearance, wreckage began washing ashore about two miles east of the Gull Light near Cobourg, Ontario. Given the last known location of the EMERALD and the prevailing winds, it was widely believed that the schooner had foundered during the storm. Mrs. Warter Sharp of Brighton, Ontario, reported witnessing a distressed three-masted schooner, believed to be the EMERALD, disappear during a gale on November 17, 1911.

Further evidence supporting the loss of the EMERALD came when Captain Williams, a close friend of Captain McMaster, discovered a small door from the ship’s cabin locker. Other wreckage, including a cabin or deckhouse, a provision box, and the broken foremast, was also found along the coast. However, despite extensive search efforts, no bodies were ever recovered.

Speculations and Theories #

Various theories were proposed regarding the EMERALD’s tragic end. Some believed that the ship may have lost its foremast or bowsprit during a sudden wind shift, leading to the schooner being overwhelmed by the storm. Others speculated that the ship had struck an obstacle or was caught in a dangerous situation with no means of escape.

Interestingly, in July of the same year, divers searching for the sunken steel dredge SIR WILFRED near Port Hope encountered the hull of a large schooner close to the wreck site. While some speculated that this could be the remains of the EMERALD, no definitive evidence was found to confirm this theory.

The Legacy of the EMERALD #

The loss of the EMERALD and its crew left a profound impact on the communities connected to the ship. The schooner’s disappearance became a story that resonated deeply with the residents of areas like Toronto’s old Queen Wharf and Arthur Street, where many schooner families lived.

The wreck of the EMERALD remains one of the many maritime mysteries of Lake Ontario. Despite the passage of time, the exact location of the schooner’s final resting place remains unknown, leaving behind only memories and scattered pieces of wreckage as evidence of its existence.

External Links and References #

• David Swayze Shipwreck File: A comprehensive database of shipwrecks, including details on the EMERALD.
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Provides historical accounts and data related to shipwrecks on the Great Lakes.
• Great Lakes Ships: Information on the ships that sailed the Great Lakes, including their fates and historical significance.