A. MEDBURY

Site Description #

History #

On November 6, 1872, the American vessel A. Medbury, weighing 226 tons, suffered a tragic fate when it collided with another ship and sank off Four Mile Point in Lake Ontario. The collision resulted in the vessel being almost split in two, causing it to sink within a mere three minutes. Thankfully, no lives were lost in the incident. The estimated loss value of the A. Medbury was $9,700, rendering it a total loss.

The Toronto Mail reported the incident on Thursday, November 7, 1872. It stated that the schooner Hercules, which had departed from Kingston the previous evening with railroad iron bound for Hamilton, crashed into the A. Medbury near Snake Island. The impact of the collision was so severe that the A. Medbury rapidly sank, giving the crew little time to save themselves. The vessel had been loaded with salt destined for Chicago. The Hercules also sustained significant damage and had to be towed back to port by the tug Mixer. The A. Medbury had insurance coverage of $5,000 from the Merchantile Marine Insurance Co. of Cleveland, while the freight list and cargo were insured for $3,900 in the British American insurance company.

The history of the A. Medbury reveals several noteworthy incidents prior to its tragic end. The vessel was enrolled in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1855, and its first voyage involved transporting salt to Buffalo. In 1861, it underwent repairs in Cleveland, and the following year, it ran aground in the St. Mary’s River while carrying iron ore. The A. Medbury changed ownership in 1863, being owned by George Warner and B.L. Pennington of Cleveland. In the same year, it was involved in a collision with a propeller in Cleveland but was subsequently repaired. The vessel also lost its sails during a gale on Lake Huron in October 1863. In 1866, it underwent repairs and had a gross tonnage of 165.07. The A. Medbury experienced further collisions, including one with the bark Merritt on Lake Michigan in June 1866 and another off Cleveland on Lake Erie in June 1869. In July of the same year, it collided with the propeller Avon in the Welland Canal. Additionally, the vessel suffered damage in heavy weather on Lake Michigan in November 1869. The A. Medbury underwent repairs in 1871 before meeting its final fate in the collision near Four Mile Point on Lake Ontario.

The shipwreck record compiled by David Swayze provides additional details about the A. Medbury. Built in 1855 by Burton Parsons in Vermillion, Ohio, the schooner was constructed using wood. It had dimensions of 112 feet in length, 24 feet in width, and 9 feet in depth. The vessel’s official number was 388. On the day of the loss, November 6, 1872, the A. Medbury was located approximately 100 yards north of Four Mile Point, near Niagara, in Lake Ontario. The ship was carrying a cargo of salt and was bound for Chicago when the collision with the schooner Hercules occurred. The impact resulted in the A. Medbury being nearly severed in two, leading to its swift sinking. The crew had little time to react and were fortunate to save themselves from the tragic incident.