IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
The Boston was a propeller-driven vessel with a wooden hull, constructed in Cleveland, Ohio. It was designed for both passenger and freight transportation, featuring two decks and a single screw propulsion system. The vessel had a tonnage of 259 5/95 tons and was equipped with one mast. The Boston was capable of carrying a substantial cargo load, with a capacity of 12,000 bushels, making it a vital vessel for transporting goods such as flour, pork, wheat, and corn across the Great Lakes.
HISTORY #
The Boston had a varied and active service history on the Great Lakes. Between 1847 and 1852, the vessel underwent several enrollments in Cleveland, Ohio, and operated on routes including Buffalo to Chicago and along the Griffiths Western Line on the Erie Canal. Over the years, the Boston changed ownership multiple times, eventually coming under the ownership of the Ogdensburg Railroad Co.
The Boston was an essential part of the maritime trade network, facilitating the movement of goods between major ports on the Great Lakes. However, its service was cut short by a tragic collision on July 28, 1854.
On that day, the Boston collided with an unknown schooner off Oak Orchard, Lake Ontario. The collision was catastrophic, causing the propeller-driven vessel to sink rapidly in deep water. Despite the severity of the incident, all 25 individuals on board, including crew members and passengers, managed to survive. They spent nearly 24 hours in an open boat before reaching the safety of the Genesee River’s mouth.
At the time of the collision, the Boston was fully loaded with cargo, including flour, pork, wheat, and corn. The property loss was estimated at $35,000, a significant amount in the mid-19th century. The cause of the collision remains unclear, as the available reports did not extensively cover the specific circumstances leading to the incident.
The sinking of the Boston was widely reported in contemporary newspapers, highlighting the quick descent of the vessel and the miraculous rescue of those on board. Despite the total loss of the vessel and its cargo, the absence of casualties was a fortunate outcome.
FINAL DISPOSITION #
The Boston was lost entirely following the collision on July 28, 1854. The vessel sank rapidly in deep water off Oak Orchard, Lake Ontario, where it remains at a depth of approximately 180 feet (55 meters). The wreck has not been extensively explored or documented in modern times.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES #
There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) specifically related to the wreck of the Boston. The incident serves as a historical reminder of the perils of navigation on the Great Lakes during the mid-19th century.
LOCATED BY & DATE #
The wreck of the Boston has not been specifically located or explored by modern underwater surveys, and its exact resting place remains undetermined.
CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #
Given the age of the wreck and the fact that it has not been located or explored, it is presumed that the Boston remains largely intact due to the cold, fresh waters of Lake Ontario. The depth of 180 feet (55 meters) makes the wreck potentially accessible to experienced technical divers, though it is not commonly visited or documented.
RESOURCES & LINKS #
For further information on the Boston and its tragic sinking, the following resources were referenced:
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- C. Patrick Labadie Great Lakes Ships Website
- Enrollments, U.S. National Archives
- C. E. Feltner Enrollments Database
- Erik Heyl, Early American Steamers
- Lytle List Jack Messmer Notes
- John E. Poole notes
- H. G. Runge Collection, Milwaukee Public Library
- Steamboat Era in the Muskokas by Richard Tatley
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Buffalo Democracy – Feb. 28, 1855 (casualty list)
- Toronto Globe – Aug. 15, 1854
- The Democracy, Buffalo – August 1, 1854
- Cleveland Morning Leader – Tuesday, August 1, 1854
- Buffalo Daily Courier – Thursday, August 3, 1854
- Cleveland Morning Leader – Thursday, August 3, 1854
- Merchant Steam Vessels of the United States – Lytle-Holdcamper List, 1790 to 1868
- Detroit Free Press – Friday, May 14, 1847
- Buffalo Daily Courier – Saturday, November 13, 1847
