IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
The Canada was a traditional schooner, a common vessel type during the 19th century on the Great Lakes. Schooners were typically used for transporting various cargoes across the lakes, taking advantage of their speed and capacity to navigate the often treacherous waters. This particular schooner was carrying a cargo of salt from Kingston to Cobourg when it met its tragic end.
HISTORY #
The Canada was an older schooner owned by Mr. Richardson of Toronto. On November 30, 1848, the vessel departed Kingston bound for Cobourg, laden with 1,000 barrels of salt. As it neared Port Hope on December 3, 1848, the schooner was caught in a gale that wreaked havoc across Lake Ontario. The Canada was driven ashore, resulting in the complete loss of both the vessel and its cargo.
Initially, there was confusion surrounding the identity of the wrecked vessel, with some reports mistakenly identifying it as the steamer CANADA. However, subsequent clarifications confirmed that it was indeed the schooner Canada.
FINAL DISPOSITION #
The wreck of the Canada was particularly tragic due to the loss of six lives, including the two sons of the vessel’s captain, Alexander McDougal, who was the sole survivor. The wreck occurred near Port Hope, and both the schooner and its cargo were declared total losses. The estimated property loss was around $3,200, a significant amount for the time.
CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #
The exact location of the Canada‘s wreck near Port Hope remains unspecified in the historical records, and there is no mention of attempts to recover the vessel or its cargo. Given the age of the wreck and the lack of precise coordinates, it is unlikely that significant remains would be accessible for diving today.
RESOURCES & LINKS #
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
