HARTFORD

Gone to pieces    2020 News Article Watertown NY.

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On October 12, 1894, the schooner Hartford, carrying a cargo of 22,000 bushels of wheat from Detroit to Cape Vincent, encountered a devastating fate in Mexico Bay, near Oswego, New York. The vessel, owned by G.H. McKinley, W.H. Consaul, and Captain O’Toole of Clayton, foundered in the turbulent waters, resulting in the tragic loss of all onboard. The victims of the shipwreck included Dennis McCarthy, a seaman from Oswego; Captain William O’Toole, his wife, and their child from Clayton; Michael Purcell, also from Clayton; Richard Seymour, the mate; and an unknown seaman from Grindstone Island.

In the aftermath of the disaster, only the body of Captain O’Toole’s child was recovered. The schooner Hartford, built in 1873, was a wooden vessel with a length of 137 feet, a beam of 26 feet, and a depth of 11 feet. The shipwreck and loss of life occurred on October 11, 1894, in Mexico Bay, Lake Ontario. The vessel had a gross tonnage of 323 and a net tonnage of 307.

Eyewitness accounts and testimonies shed light on the events leading up to the ship’s demise. The stormy day was marked by gusty winds, heavy rain, and turbulent waves. The Hartford was observed entering Mexico Bay, apparently anchoring around noon. Captain Fish, a member of the Life Saving crew, monitored the vessel’s position and believed it had a chance to weather the storm. However, as the crew made their way towards the wreck using beach apparatus, they witnessed the main and mizzen masts being swept away. Realizing the futility of their rescue efforts, they retreated to fetch a lifeboat, only to witness the foremast also succumbing to the forces of nature. The Hartford sank, leaving no survivors.

Eyewitnesses, including Mrs. E. O. Bartlett and Mr. Mathew Chrisman, recounted their observations of the tragedy. Mrs. Bartlett watched the Hartford through a powerful glass as it approached the shore, witnessing the chaos unfolding on deck before the vessel capsized and disappeared. Mr. Bartlett, after reaching the beach, observed the vessel for half an hour before its masts were lost. The wreck yielded little in terms of salvageable items, as most valuables were carried away by opportunistic individuals during the night.

The circumstances surrounding the Hartford’s course and eventual sinking remain a mystery. The vessel departed from Detroit with a load of red and white wheat, consigned to Farwell and Rhines of Watertown. It was not insured, unlike the cargo, which was insured for $13,000. Captain O’Toole, a respected seafarer, made the decision to anchor the vessel and ride out the storm, perhaps hoping to save the lives of his crew. Unfortunately, his decision resulted in the loss of all onboard.

The tragedy deeply affected the community, with the beach crowded by concerned onlookers. The coroner initiated an inquiry, and a jury was empaneled to investigate the incident further. The life-saving crew made a second attempt to reach the wreck using a lifeboat but encountered challenges, including Captain Fish being washed overboard and sustaining injuries. The wreck was inspected, revealing that the decks were submerged under forty feet of water, with both anchors cast.

As the days passed, no additional bodies were recovered, and the waves continued to hamper recovery efforts. Criticism of the life-saving crew’s actions during the disaster arose in some quarters but was countered by testimonies emphasizing the severity of the weather conditions and the near-impossibility of reaching the wreck.