- Sailing Vessel Hull -Sloop?
- 52ft Length
- Cape Vincent, NY
- St. Lawrence River
History #
Constructed by Barney Eveleigh, a prominent businessman from Sackets Harbor, the BENICIA BOY was a small but sturdy sloop measuring 50 feet in length and 14 feet in width. With a gross tonnage of 21 and a net tonnage of 15, it was designed to navigate the shallow waters of rivers, bays, and harbors, carrying valuable cargo. Owned by Sackets Harbor, the sloop played a crucial role in the local maritime trade.
In May 1883, the BENICIA BOY found itself at the mercy of a violent storm while attempting to return to Cape Vincent. Having lost its anchors during the fierce struggle against the elements, the sloop’s crew faced a perilous situation. Desperate to seek shelter, they made a courageous attempt to raise the anchor and reach the safety of the dock.
The storm’s relentless fury proved too much for the BENICIA BOY. Despite the crew’s valiant efforts, the sloop collided with the dock at Cape Vincent with an impact so powerful that it shattered the vessel into pieces. Miraculously, the crew managed to jump onto the dock just moments before their beloved ship succumbed to the unforgiving forces of nature.
By sheer chance, divers Raymond I. “Skip” Couch and Dennis R. McCarthy stumbled upon the wreckage of the BENICIA BOY. Unable to immediately identify the vessel, they temporarily named it the “Box Stove Wreck” due to the discovery of a cast-iron stove in the hull. With a passion for history and a determination to unveil its secrets, they embarked on an extensive investigation to uncover the true identity of the ship.
Months of research, combing through historical records, and studying ship registries led the team to a breakthrough. They found compelling evidence linking the Box Stove Wreck to the BENICIA BOY, a sloop constructed by Barney Eveleigh. The ship’s dimensions and historical accounts aligned with the remnants they had discovered, providing a strong case for their hypothesis.
To gain further insights into the sloop’s design and the circumstances surrounding its sinking, the team recreated the ship’s internal structure using computer simulations. By delving into newspaper archives and ship registries, they discovered that the BENICIA BOY, named after a renowned 19th-century American prizefighter, was capable of carrying 10 cords of cedar wood. It is believed that the sloop sank while attempting to transport cargo to Carleton Island during inclement weather.
The significance of this discovery goes beyond the mere identification of a shipwreck. Sloops from the Great Lakes region are relatively rare, and the BENICIA BOY offers valuable insights into the maritime history of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. As the crew seeks additional information and engages in discussions about conducting an in-depth archaeological survey, they hope to shed more light on the intriguing world of sloops and deepen our understanding of this bygone era.
Conclusion:
The BENICIA BOY?
YouTube Video CC Dan Gildea 2023 #
