A.E. VICKERY U13330

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The story of the A.E. Vickory, a wooden three-masted schooner, is one that combines elements of tragedy, adventure, and even a touch of legal farce. Launched in July 1861 as the J.B. Penfield in Three Mile Bay, New York, this vessel would undergo a significant transformation and ultimately meet its demise as the A.E. Vickory. This article explores the history, sinking, and aftermath of the A.E. Vickory, shedding light on the events that unfolded in the late 19th century.

The schooner initially began its journey as the J.B. Penfield, measuring 136.2 feet in length, 26.2 feet in width, and with a draft of 10.8 feet. It sailed through the Welland Canal, making its way from Detroit, Michigan, to Oswego, New York, under this name. However, its destiny took a turn on February 25, 1884, when it was officially renamed the A.E. Vickory.

The A.E. Vickory embarked on a voyage that would seal its fate. On August 15, 1889, this schooner, carrying a cargo of 21,000 bushels of corn destined for Wisers Distillery at Prescott, Ontario, Canada, set sail from Chicago, Illinois. The vessel was in the capable hands of river pilot Henry Webber Jr., who had come aboard at Fishers Landing to navigate it down the St. Lawrence River.

Tragedy struck swiftly that evening. Just 15 minutes after Pilot Webber took command, the A.E. Vickory collided with a shoal off Rock Island Light House, near Thousand Island Park. A stiff wind was blowing at the time, exacerbating the perilous situation.

Captain John Massey, upon realizing the severity of the situation, reacted with anger. In a fit of rage, he brandished a revolver, threatening Pilot Webber for what he perceived as careless navigation. A gunshot rang out, but the bullet miraculously ricocheted into the deck, avoiding injury. Cooler heads intervened as the ship filled with water, preventing further violence. The gun ended up in the river.

As the vessel rapidly sank, the captain and four crewmen scrambled into a yawl boat, taking with them what belongings they could salvage. They safely reached the shore while the A.E. Vickory found its resting place at the bottom of the river.

The aftermath of the shipwreck added an element of comedy to the tragedy. In the spring following the sinking, when the vessel had been libeled for a claim over salvage rights, a U.S. Marshal was dispatched to post a notice of seizure on the sunken ship. In an unwittingly comical turn of events, the marshal donned a suit of diving armor, determined to perform the seizure underwater. However, upon realizing that the Vickory lay 100 feet beneath the surface, he returned to the surface and simply posted the notice on a nearby tree.

The A.E. Vickory, originally built by Asa Wilcox, was 136 feet long, 26 feet wide, had a 10-foot hold, and was registered at 291 tons. After its sinking, the vessel was declared a total loss. Some of its salvageable items were sold at a sheriff’s sale. The masts, which posed a hazard to navigation, were eventually removed.

The sunken wreck remains one of the most popular dive sites on the St. Lawrence River, near the Rock Island Lighthouse. The bow of the Vickory lies about 15 feet off the shoal at a depth of 65 feet, while the stern end extends over a ledge that drops to 110 feet. The broken masts on the Vickory can be followed out into the channel, reaching depths of 180 feet.

This shipwreck serves as a testament to the perilous waters of the St. Lawrence River, where treacherous shoals and currents have claimed numerous vessels throughout history.

Captain John Massey, who had commanded the A.E. Vickory for seven years, was born near Ogdensburg in 1855. He came from a seafaring family, with nearly all of his nine brothers being sailors. In his early career, he earned the nickname “Old Man,” a customary title for lake captains. He continued to command various Great Lakes steamers in the years following the Vickory’s demise. Captain Massey passed away in 1915 in Milwaukee, leaving behind a legacy deeply intertwined with the maritime history of the Great Lakes.

The sinking of the A.E. Vickory remains an intriguing chapter in the annals of shipwrecks and maritime mishaps, offering a glimpse into the challenges faced by sailors navigating the St. Lawrence River in the late 19th century.1. Brockville Recorder and Times, August 21, 1889.

YouTube video CC Dan Gildea

Sources and External Links

• Bowling Green State University Great Lakes Maritime Database
• Brockville Recorder and Times, August 21, 1889
• Rock Island Lighthouse Historical and Memorial Association Website
• Chicago Inter Ocean, August 21, 1889
• Great Lakes Ships
• Great Lakes Maritime Database, Alpena Public Library C. Patrick Labbie Collection
• Ogdensburg Journal, March 26, 1915· Oswego Daily Times, August 17, 1889
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Thousand Island Life Edition Volume 16, Issue 3, March 2021
• Port of Oswego Enrollment records, Penfield Library
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes Website
• SUNY-Oswego Syracuse Standard, August 17, 1889
• Toronto Globe, April 10, 1890
• Wikipedia