Site Description
- Schooner
- 51ft 16m Length
- ROV
- Mexico Bay
- Lake Ontario
History
The Black Duck, a small scow sloop, met its fate on July 26, 1872, when it foundered in Mexico Bay on Lake Ontario. Not much is known about the vessel’s builder or owner, except that it was owned in Sackett’s Harbor. The sloop had a tonnage of 21.65 gt, but details regarding its length, beam, and depth are unavailable. The Black Duck had been mentioned in Oswego marine news as early as 1866.
The final resting place of the Black Duck remained a mystery until it was discovered by Dan Scoville and Chris Koberstein in August 2013. The two explorers located the wreck using side scan sonar during their search off Oswego, NY.
On its last voyage, the Black Duck set sail from Cape Vincent with a cargo of coal destined for Dexter, NY. However, during the journey across Lake Ontario, the sloop encountered strong winds and rough seas. Despite the crew’s efforts, water continuously entered the ship’s hold, causing it to gradually sink deeper. Unable to withstand the weight of the water, the Black Duck eventually slipped beneath the waves in Mexico Bay. In a desperate attempt, the captain and crew managed to launch the ship’s yawl and safely reach the shore, narrowly escaping tragedy.
The final cargo of the Black Duck was listed as 30 tons of coal in the August 8, 1872 edition of the Watertown Journal. This load was likely too heavy for the small sloop, which had a displacement of only 21 tons according to its enrollment papers. Another source, the book “Old Shipping Days in Oswego” by Finn, mentions that the Black Duck was carrying whiskey on its final voyage. However, this claim lacks corroborating evidence, and the wreck’s cargo hold is filled with silt, obscuring any visibility of its contents.
Resting at the bottom of Lake Ontario, the Black Duck remains in remarkable condition. Its single mast still stands tall, and the ship features an interesting cabin that stretches from port to starboard, making it necessary to stand on the cabin roof to reach the stern rail. The ship’s tiller extends from the rudder post on the transom to the forward wall of the cabin, allowing the helmsman to steer the ship from the deck in front of the cabin. The Black Duck has a large cargo hold divided by a partition, possibly containing the ship’s centerboard. The shallow-draft rudder with a significant surface area indicates that the Black Duck was designed for navigation in shallow waters.
