IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION:
The Brothers was a small, wooden, two-masted schooner constructed in Goderich, Ontario. Designed for navigating the waters of the Great Lakes, it was a modest vessel with a primary purpose of transporting cargo across the region. Schooners like the Brothers were common during the mid-19th century, providing essential transport for goods and materials between ports.
HISTORY:
Built in 1852 by Henry Marlton, the Brothers served the Great Lakes for 17 years before meeting its tragic end. During its operational years, the schooner was a regular sight on Lake Huron, contributing to the bustling maritime commerce of the region.
In the early spring of 1869, the Brothers was navigating near Goderich, Ontario, when it encountered a large ice field. The harsh conditions of early spring, with lingering ice and unpredictable weather, posed significant risks to vessels of this era. The ice field proved too much for the Brothers, and the pressure exerted by the shifting ice caused the hull to be crushed. Remarkably, despite the severity of the incident, there were no reported casualties among the crew.
The Brothers was not the first vessel of its name to be lost on the Great Lakes. There is historical mention of another schooner named Brothers that reportedly sank near Port Burwell in 1833. However, it is unclear if there is any direct connection between these two vessels beyond the shared name.
FINAL DISPOSITION:
The Brothers was crushed by ice and sank off the coast of Goderich, Ontario, in Lake Huron in the spring of 1869. The vessel was a total loss, with the wreckage likely scattered by the ice and waves. No cargo details or further salvage attempts are recorded.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES:
There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) specifically related to the wreck site of the Brothers.
LOCATED BY & DATE:
The exact location of the Brothers’ wreck remains unspecified in the available historical records.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
KEYWORDS:
Brothers schooner, wooden schooner, Goderich Ontario, Lake Huron shipwreck, 19th-century shipping, Great Lakes maritime history.
CONCLUSION:
The Brothers was a small yet significant player in the maritime trade of the Great Lakes during the mid-19th century. Its untimely loss in the treacherous ice fields of Lake Huron serves as a reminder of the harsh and unpredictable conditions faced by mariners of that era. Despite its tragic end, the story of the Brothers adds to the rich tapestry of Great Lakes shipping history, illustrating both the dangers of early maritime navigation and the resilience of those who sailed these waters.
