Norwegian and Tug Maria Melvin

Incident Description #

On August 20, 1870, the schooner Norwegian, sailing from Kingston, Ontario, to Oswego, New York, faced treacherous weather conditions. The schooner was running in ballast, meaning it was not carrying cargo, and Morgan Wheeler, the ship’s owner, was aboard as a passenger. As the vessel neared the Oswego harbor between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m., the ship encountered gale-force winds.

In an attempt to safely enter the harbor under sail, the crew hailed the tug Maria Melvin for assistance. However, as the tug was attempting to secure a line, a sudden squall from the southwest caused the schooner to surge forward. This made it impossible for the Maria Melvin to properly secure the line, leading both vessels to run aground near the east pier.

Once aground, both the Norwegian and the Maria Melvin began to take on water as heavy seas battered their hulls. The situation quickly worsened, causing the schooner’s seams to open and flood the ship. Despite these dangerous conditions, all crew members from both vessels managed to reach shore safely. Unfortunately, attempts by the Maria Melvin to tow the schooner were unsuccessful, and both ships were stranded on the rocks, creating a double wreck scenario.

Final Dispositions #

•Schooner Norwegian: Despite multiple efforts to salvage the Norwegian, including the use of powerful pumping equipment from Kingston and Buffalo, the schooner was ultimately abandoned as a total loss on August 24, 1870. Divers who inspected the wreck concluded that it was unsalvageable, and the schooner was left to the elements near Oswego.

•Tug Maria Melvin: The Maria Melvin was successfully pulled off the rocks with the assistance of the Canadian steamer Wellington. The tug was taken to a dry-dock for repairs, preventing a total loss.

Insurance Coverage #

•Norwegian: The schooner was insured for $12,000, with coverage split between Aetna and two other insurance companies. The loss was significant, but the insurance helped mitigate the financial damage.

•Maria Melvin: The tug was only partially insured, but its successful refloating and repair helped minimize further losses.

Salvage Efforts #

Several salvage attempts were made to rescue the Norwegian, including the deployment of divers and powerful pumping equipment. Unfortunately, despite these efforts, the schooner was declared a total loss after it was determined that the damage was too severe for the ship to be refloated. Meanwhile, the Maria Melvin was successfully refloated after being pulled from the rocks by the steamer Wellington and was later repaired.

Current Condition & Legacy #

While the Maria Melvin survived the incident and continued to operate, the Norwegian was left on the lakebed near Oswego. Like many other shipwrecks from the era, the Norwegian became a part of the maritime history of Lake Ontario. Though the ship was abandoned, the incident serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by vessels navigating the Great Lakes during unpredictable weather conditions.