The schooner “CLYDE” was a wooden vessel that met its unfortunate end in a storm on Lake Ontario in 1871. Built in 1861 by Tait in Belleville, Ontario, the “CLYDE” had dimensions of 82 feet in length, 20 feet in width, and 8 feet in depth, with a tonnage of 107 tons.
On a fateful day in September 1871, the “CLYDE” was on a voyage from Oshawa, Ontario, bound for Oswego, New York, carrying a cargo of barley. Unfortunately, the vessel encountered treacherous weather conditions that led it to run aground at Big Sodus in New York. Despite the crew’s efforts to navigate through the storm, the schooner was unable to withstand the powerful waves and was pounded against the shore.
The “CLYDE” was not able to survive the ordeal and suffered extensive damage. Over the course of the next few days, the vessel was battered by the elements, ultimately resulting in its total destruction. The ship’s cargo of barley was also lost, causing financial losses for its owners and those who had invested in the voyage.
Although the “CLYDE” faced a tragic end, it’s worth noting that there was no loss of life reported in this incident. The crew managed to escape the vessel before it succumbed to the storm’s fury. The wreck of the “CLYDE” serves as a reminder of the challenges that mariners faced in navigating the unpredictable waters of the Great Lakes during that era.
Sources
1. “Marine Disasters on the Western Lakes during 1871” by Capt. J.W. Hall.
2. “Marine Casualties on the Great Lakes 1863 – 1873. Report of the U.S. Coast Guard.”
3. Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, Friday, September 15, 1871.
4. Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, Monday, September 18, 1871.
