The NELLIE P. DOWNEY was a schooner made of wood, with no other known names. It was built by R. Robinson at the yard of Wm. Ross in Napanee, Ontario, in 1873. The vessel had dimensions of 84 feet in length, 20 feet in width, and 7 feet in depth. It had a gross capacity of 120 tons and a net capacity of 98 tons.
On June 12, 1884, the NELLIE P. DOWNEY met with a collision and was lost. The incident occurred approximately 8 miles off Oswego, New York, in Lake Ontario. The collision took place due to heavy fog. In the foggy conditions, the crew mistook the lights of the tug GLIDE, which was towing two barges, as a tug coming to tow them into the harbor. When the schooner cut behind the tug to pick up the tow cable, it was struck by the barge OSWEGO. The DOWNEY came alongside the barge, and the crew managed to clamber aboard the barge before the schooner sank five minutes later. Fortunately, there was no loss of life in the incident. However, the three men and two women on board lost all their belongings in the rush. The master of the vessel was Captain Robert Bartley, and the DOWNEY was owned by Downey & Allen of Kingston.
There is a mention in one newspaper that the schooner was recovered, but it does not appear in later records, suggesting that it might have been lost permanently. The NELLIE P. DOWNEY had a notable launch on August 5, 1873, from the shipyard of Wm. Ross in Napanee. The schooner was praised for its sturdy construction and elegant design. It was built with the best white oak timber and had a capacity of about 8,000 bushels.
In the foggy conditions that led to the collision, Captain Bartley of the NELLIE P. DOWNEY mistook the lights of the tug GLIDE for a harbor tug. The tug was actually towing the barges OSWEGO and ONEIDA, loaded with coal, across the lake. As the schooner passed the tug, the captain, still believing it to be a harbor tug, decided to heave to and prepare to take in the sails. However, this maneuver placed the schooner between the tug and its barges, causing the head barge, OSWEGO, to collide with the DOWNEY amidships. The schooner rapidly filled with water and sank within four minutes of the collision. The crew and two women aboard were saved, but the only item recovered from the vessel was the foghorn held by Captain Bartley. The NELLIE P. DOWNEY was owned by Gaylord, Downing & Co. and was valued at $6,000. It had an A 2 rating and was partially insured. No one was blamed for the accident, as it was deemed unavoidable.
Please note that the information provided is based on the details you mentioned in your message, and it’s possible that additional information may be available in historical records or archives.
