The Calvin Snell was a wooden schooner constructed by Joel Norton in Richmond, Ohio. With dimensions of 122 feet in length, 26 feet in width, and 10 feet in depth, the vessel had a substantial tonnage of 278. The schooner was owned by Solomon Snell from Painesville, Ohio, and was registered out of Fairport, Ohio.
On May 28, 1858, while the Calvin Snell was en route from Kingston, Ontario, to the Welland Canal, it encountered a severe hull failure approximately 25 miles from Presqu’ile, Ontario, in Lake Ontario. At the time of its sinking, the schooner was carrying 70 tons of stone, which was listed as ballast in official records. Despite the catastrophic failure that led to the vessel’s sinking, the crew managed to escape without any casualties by using the ship’s small boat.
The sinking of the Calvin Snell was a significant loss, with the estimated property damage valued at $12,000—a considerable sum for that era. Following the loss, the ship’s documents were surrendered in 1858, marking the end of its brief service on the Great Lakes.
Incident Reports:
Newspaper sources from the period provide additional insights into the tragedy. The Buffalo Commercial Advertiserreported on January 15, 1859, that the Calvin Snell, while carrying 70 tons of stone, had sprung a leak and sank off Presqu’Isle in Lake Ontario. The publication highlighted the estimated loss of $12,000.
The Buffalo Daily Courier on May 28, 1858, detailed the schooner’s final voyage. It mentioned that the Calvin Snell had recently been ashore at Presqu’Isle before heading to Kingston, Ontario, where it discharged its cargo of wheat. After taking on ballast for the return journey, the ship encountered heavy weather. A sudden leak in the hull led to its rapid sinking in deep water. The crew’s quick thinking and use of the ship’s boats were credited with saving their lives, as recounted by the Cleveland Herald.
Legacy:
The sinking of the Calvin Snell serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by schooners navigating the Great Lakes during the 19th century. Although the vessel did not have an official number, its story is preserved through the detailed accounts of its final voyage and the loss it represented to its owner and crew.
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