IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
The ALLIE was a scow-schooner, a type of vessel with a flat-bottomed hull designed for shallow waters, which made it well-suited for the Great Lakes. The schooner was constructed of wood and equipped with two masts, a common design for cargo transport during the 19th century. It measured 77 feet in length, 18 feet in width, and 5 feet in depth, with both gross and net tonnages recorded at 60 tons. The ALLIE featured a square stern and relied on sails for propulsion, making it a typical example of the workhorse vessels of its time.
HISTORY #
The schooner was originally built in 1859 in Cleveland, Ohio, and registered under the name RESCUE. The vessel served primarily as a cargo transporter on the Great Lakes, taking advantage of its shallow draft to navigate coastal and inland waters. In 1869, the vessel was sold to Canadian owners and renamed ALLIE. Now registered in Montreal, Quebec, under Canadian number C51700, the ALLIE continued to serve the maritime industry, primarily on Lake Ontario and surrounding waters.
In 1873, the vessel was evaluated by the Association of Canadian Lake Underwriters, who valued it at $1,400 and classified it as C1. During this assessment, an error in the Underwriters register mistakenly listed its former name as MONA, which was later corrected to RESCUE.
FINAL DISPOSITION #
The ALLIE met its unfortunate end near Belleville, Ontario, on September 30, 1875. However, the details of her loss are unclear, as the official document pertaining to the wreck was not surrendered until 1882, seven years after the incident. It is unknown what cargo she was carrying at the time of her sinking, and there are no records indicating whether there were any casualties. Some remnants of the ALLIE washed ashore near Pultneyville, New York, and parts of her cargo were reportedly seen there.
SITE DESCRIPTION #
The remains of the ALLIE are scattered and lie in shallow waters of approximately 5 feet (1 meter) in depth in Mexico Bay, Lake Ontario. The wreckage is dispersed and heavily degraded, typical of vessels lost in the mid-19th century. The exact extent and condition of the wreckage are not fully documented, but it represents the last traces of the schooner’s existence.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES #
There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) or advisories specifically related to the ALLIE’s wreck site.
LOCATED BY & DATE #
The remnants of the ALLIE were noted near Pultneyville, NY, but no formal salvage or detailed survey has been recorded.
RESOURCES & LINKS #
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes Website
- National Board of Lake Underwriters, Lake Vessel Register, 1873
- Register of the Ships of The Lakes and River St. Lawrence, 1864
- Association of Canadian Lake Underwriters, Lake Vessel Register, 1869 & 1873
- Registration Record for ALLIE (Official Number: 51700)
