Fearless (1875)
Identification & Site Information:
•Vessel Name: Fearless (formerly D. McInnes)
•Vessel Type: Schooner
•Date of Wreck: November 14, 1875
•Location: 3 miles east of Toronto Lighthouse, Lake Ontario
•Cause: Stranding due to anchor chain failure during a storm
Vessel Type Description:
The Fearless was a 200-ton schooner built in 1857 by Bailey at Charlotte under the name D. McInnes. The vessel was rebuilt in Kingston in 1873 and was owned by Folger Bros. at the time of its loss. The schooner had a Class A 2 rating, indicating it was built to high standards for the time, and it was valued at $8,500 according to the 1874 Marine Register.
History:
On November 14, 1875, while en route from Oswego to Toronto, the Fearless encountered a storm and its anchor chain parted, leaving the vessel vulnerable. The ship ran aground 3 miles east of the Toronto Lighthouse, resulting in the tragic drowning of the captain. The schooner was totally wrecked, and the loss was estimated at $11,000.
Despite its class rating and recent rebuilding, the weather conditions were too severe, and the Fearless could not be saved. The schooner, just 15 years old at the time, became a total loss before the crew could rescue it from the storm’s impact.
Final Disposition:
After the stranding, the Fearless remained stranded on the East side of the Marsh near Toronto and was left through the winter. According to the Toronto Globe in December 1875, it was expected that the vessel would deteriorate further and likely be wrecked entirely by the spring.
Located By & Date:
The wreck of the Fearless was not moved after the stranding and was presumed to have broken apart during the following winter of 1875–1876.
Notmars & Advisories:
•Obstructions: The wreck remained stranded east of the Toronto Lighthouse, likely posing a hazard for local navigation until it was broken up by weather and waves.
•Advisories: There were no recorded efforts to recover or repair the schooner following the incident.
Current Condition & Accessibility:
The remains of the Fearless likely did not survive past the winter of 1875-76, given the extent of the damage from the storm. It is presumed that any remaining wreckage has long since deteriorated.
Resources & Links:
•Toronto Globe, December 4, 1875.
•Marine Register, 1874.
•Department of Marine & Fisheries, Statement of Wreck & Casualty, 1875.
Fearless, Schooner, 1875, Shipwreck, Lake Ontario, Toronto Lighthouse, Storm, Anchor Chain Failure
The wreck of the Fearless serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by schooners on Lake Ontario, particularly during severe storms, where even a well-built and recently refurbished vessel could not escape destruction.
