The schooner Lochiel, under the command of Captain Scott, embarked on a journey from Dundas, Canada West to Oswego, carrying a cargo of 9,000 bushels of wheat. However, tragedy struck when the vessel foundered in a gale on Lake Ontario. The incident occurred at daybreak, approximately 15 miles northeast of the Genesee Light. The captain and crew managed to escape the sinking ship and arrived at Genesee in yawl boats at 9 a.m. on the same morning. Unfortunately, they were unable to salvage anything from the Lochiel.
News of the Lochiel’s fate spread, reaching Rochester, where reports confirmed the details of the vessel’s demise. The schooner, still laden with its cargo of wheat, succumbed to the harsh weather conditions and sank in Lake Ontario. The captain and crew, having narrowly escaped the sinking ship, arrived at the Genesee area in a yawl boat. They arrived at their destination at 9 a.m., but were unable to salvage any of the cargo or belongings from the Lochiel.
The Lochiel, prior to its tragic end, had a history as a schooner. It was built in 1852 at Port Sarnia by Robert Steel and had a tonnage of 223 tons. The vessel was owned by James Coleman & Co., with its home port listed as Dundas. Its appraised value was $4,000, and it was classified as Class B 1. It is worth noting that the Lochiel was formerly known as the Three Seas before being renamed. The ship had undergone repairs in 1861 and was described as rather flat in shape.
The details of the Lochiel’s sinking and its history are documented in the records of the Board of Lake Underwriters’ Lake Vessel Register for 1861. The tragic incident serves as a reminder of the perils faced by ships and their crews on the unpredictable waters of Lake Ontario.
