- Schooner
The schooner Laurel, also known as Laura, met a tragic fate on Lake Ontario. This wooden schooner, with an official number of C, was built in 1871 at Oliver’s Ferry, Ontario, by O’Mara. It had dimensions of 67 feet in length, 16 feet in beam, and 5 feet in depth, with a tonnage of 45.
On August 22, 1876, the Laurel faced its demise approximately 15 miles from Oswego, New York. The vessel was caught in a severe storm that proved to be overwhelming. While carrying a cargo of 60 tons of iron ore, bound from Kingston to either Charlotte or Fair Haven, New York, the schooner began to take on water. Unable to withstand the forces of the storm, it ultimately foundered off Big Sandy Creek.
Although the Laurel was lost in this tragic event, the three crew members aboard managed to escape harm. Using the vessel’s yawl, a small boat typically carried on board larger ships for emergency situations, the crew safely reached the shore with the assistance of local fishermen. The Laurel was owned by its skipper, Captain Staley, and his father. This unfortunate incident serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by sailors and the unpredictable nature of Lake Ontario’s storms.
