CAYUGA (1841)

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IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #

Name: CAYUGA
Type: Two-Masted Wooden Brig (Schooner)
Construction: Wooden-hulled vessel
Builder: Oswego, New York
Year Built: 1841 (Rebuilt in Kenosha, Wisconsin, around 1846)
Dimensions: 70 feet in length, 14 feet in width, 6 feet in depth
Tonnage: Approximately 60 tons
Final Resting Place: Gull Reef, off South Bay Point, Lake Ontario
Coordinates: Not specifically recorded
Depth: Exact depth unknown; likely in shallow waters due to grounding on the reef
Condition: Wrecked and stripped of valuable materials; declared a total loss
Accessibility: Likely inaccessible or destroyed; location may be buried or lost to time

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION
The CAYUGA was a wooden brig, a type of sailing vessel with two masts, typically used for cargo transport across the Great Lakes. The brig configuration allowed the vessel to carry a significant load while maintaining maneuverability and speed. Built in 1841 in Oswego, New York, the CAYUGA represented the sturdy and reliable design common to many merchant vessels of the time, tailored to the demanding conditions of the Great Lakes.

HISTORY
The schooner CAYUGA was a small but robust brig built for the rough waters of Lake Ontario. Initially constructed in 1841 in Oswego, New York, the vessel played a crucial role in the transportation of goods across the lake. After being rebuilt in Kenosha, Wisconsin, around 1846, the CAYUGA continued to serve its purpose, carrying various cargoes, including wheat, between key ports on the Great Lakes.

On November 6, 1854, the CAYUGA faced its greatest challenge. The vessel, loaded with a cargo of wheat bound for Oswego, was caught in a severe gale on Lake Ontario. The powerful storm forced the ship onto Gull Reef, near South Bay Point, where it grounded and sustained significant damage. Despite the crew’s efforts to save the ship, the CAYUGA was eventually declared a total loss.

FINAL DISPOSITION
After the wreck, the captain of the CAYUGA remained aboard until rescued by the steamer PASSPORT. Meanwhile, the crew managed to make it to safety in their boat, escaping the storm’s fury. Efforts were made to salvage what could be retrieved from the vessel. The propeller-driven COASTER from Oswego salvaged part of the wheat cargo, but the ship itself was beyond repair.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES
There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the CAYUGA. The wreckage has not been definitively located or marked, and thus, there are no current advisories for the area.

LOCATED BY & DATE
The CAYUGA’s wreck was noted immediately following the storm in November 1854, but specific recovery or exploration efforts have not been documented.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY
The condition of the wreck is largely unknown. It is presumed that the vessel’s remains may be scattered or buried in the shallow waters around Gull Reef. The site is not a known or accessible dive location, and any remnants of the CAYUGA are likely to have deteriorated significantly over time.

RESOURCES & LINKS

Democracy Buffalo – November 11, 1854
Buffalo Democracy – Feb. 28, 1855 (casualty list)
Toronto Globe – Nov. 11, 1854
Buffalo Daily Courier – Friday, November 10, 1854
The Democracy, Buffalo – Wednesday, November 15, 1854
The Democracy, Buffalo – Friday, November 24, 1854
Port of Oswego Enrollment No. 26 of 1846

Keywords:
CAYUGA shipwreck, Lake Ontario shipwrecks, Gull Reef wreck, schooner wreck Lake Ontario, 19th-century Great Lakes shipping, Oswego-built schooner, maritime history, shipwreck salvage, storm wreck Lake Ontario, Great Lakes maritime disasters.