HINCKLEY U96578

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #

VESSEL DESCRIPTION #

The Hinckley was a 114-foot steambarge built in 1902 in Chaumont, New York. Owned by Captain Augustus R. Hinckley, the vessel played an essential role in the region’s shipping industry. It was registered at 232 gross tons and 188 net tons, with a beam of 24 feet. The Hinckley was primarily involved in transporting coal and other cargo across Lake Ontario, and it also held a government contract for placing and retrieving buoys and markers, making it a critical part of the navigation infrastructure in the area.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT #

Service Life: The Hinckley was the last ship of Captain Hinckley’s fleet and served the Great Lakes for nearly three decades. Its duties included opening and closing navigation at the end of each shipping season and transporting cargoes such as coal to various ports around Lake Ontario.

Incident Overview: On July 29, 1929, while en route from Fairhaven, New York, to Gananoque, Ontario, with a cargo of 300 tons of coal, the Hinckley sprang a leak. Unable to keep up with the water ingress using the onboard pumps, Captain Hinckley made the decision to intentionally beach the vessel in Gravely Bay, near Stony Point, New York. The goal was to prevent the ship from sinking in deeper waters.

The Hinckley was grounded on a rocky ledge approximately 300 feet from the beach and a quarter mile west of Stony Point light. However, a severe gale from the west struck the stranded vessel, exacerbating the situation. The ship, heavily laden with coal, became warped and listed, causing the port deck to be submerged in 14 feet of water. Despite efforts by the tug Salvage Prince and the George T. Davie, owned by the Pyke Wrecking Company from Kingston, the salvage operation failed. The crew was able to remove about 200 tons of coal, but the high waves and shifting winds forced them to abandon the wreck, which was eventually broken apart by the storm.

FINAL DISPOSITION #

Wreck and Loss: The Hinckley was completely wrecked after the storm, with the vessel breaking apart on the rocky ledge where it had been intentionally grounded. The coal cargo, partially salvaged, was lost along with the vessel. Notably, the Hinckley was uninsured, although insurance coverage was in place for the cargo. The wreck site is located in shallow water, making it accessible for exploration.

Location: The final resting place of the Hinckley is near Stony Point, New York, in Lake Ontario, lying in 5 to 15 feet of water. The wreckage is scattered across the rocky bottom, where it has remained since the vessel’s loss in 1929.

CURRENT CONDITION & DIVE INFORMATION #

Wreck Condition: The Hinckley wreck lies in shallow water, with remnants of the hull and machinery likely scattered and partially buried under sediment. The shallow depth of the site, ranging from 5 to 15 feet, makes it easily accessible to divers, although the wreckage may be fragmented due to the vessel’s destruction by the gale.

Diving Access: The site is accessible from the shore near Stony Point, making it a convenient dive location for those interested in exploring a piece of Lake Ontario’s maritime history. The shallow depth provides good visibility, particularly on calm days, and the location offers an intriguing glimpse into the early 20th-century shipping industry on the Great Lakes.

Points of Interest: Divers can explore the scattered remains of the Hinckley, including sections of the hull, machinery, and any remaining parts of the cargo. The rocky ledge where the vessel was grounded offers additional features to investigate, with the potential for interesting finds related to the wreck and the storm that caused its demise.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE #

The wreck of the Hinckley represents the end of an era for Captain Augustus R. Hinckley and his fleet. The steambarge played a vital role in the regional shipping industry and was a key vessel in maintaining navigation aids on Lake Ontario. Its loss underscores the challenges faced by mariners on the Great Lakes, where unpredictable weather and the hazards of shipping could quickly turn a routine voyage into a disaster.

The Hinckley‘s story is a testament to the resilience and resourcefulness of those who worked on the Great Lakes, as well as a reminder of the risks inherent in this vital industry.

Photo Gallery – CC Ben Ioset 2023