IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION
The CANADIAN was a two-masted wooden schooner built in 1856. With a length of 103 feet and a gross tonnage of 160, it was designed primarily for transporting goods across the Great Lakes. Like many schooners of its time, the CANADIAN was well-suited for the lumber trade, carrying large quantities of timber between ports.
HISTORY
The schooner CANADIAN, constructed in 1856 in Oakville, Ontario, by M. Simpson, served as a sturdy vessel in the lumber trade on the Great Lakes. Over its operational years, the CANADIAN experienced several maritime mishaps but remained an active participant in the regional economy.
On November 4, 1880, while en route from Mudge Bay, Ontario, to Sarnia with a cargo of lumber, the CANADIAN encountered a significant misfortune. The vessel ran aground on a shoal near Clara Island, in the North Channel of Lake Huron. The crew managed to escape to shore without any loss of life, salvaging enough lumber from the wreck to build a makeshift shanty. They awaited rescue for a week until assistance arrived from Owen Sound. Unfortunately, a subsequent storm broke up the vessel, marking the end of the CANADIAN.
Earlier in its history, the CANADIAN had survived another sinking near Port Credit, Ontario, in December 1856 and went ashore near Point Abino, Ontario, in November 1862, where it likely resulted in the loss of 11 lives. Despite these earlier incidents, the schooner continued to serve its purpose until its final wreck in 1880.
At the time of its loss, the CANADIAN was under the command of Captain Blanchard and was owned by Mr. Farmer. Originally based in Toronto, the vessel later operated out of Oakville.
FINAL DISPOSITION
The CANADIAN was a total loss after running aground near Clara Island in Lake Huron’s North Channel. Despite efforts to salvage parts of the cargo and the vessel, the schooner ultimately broke apart in a storm shortly after the grounding.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES
- Current Notices: There are no active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) associated with the CANADIAN wreck site. Divers and search teams should consult with local authorities and maritime organizations before conducting explorations.
LOCATED BY & DATE
- Discovery: The exact location of the wreck remains undiscovered. There are no recent records of any expeditions or attempts to locate the remains of the CANADIAN.
RESOURCES & LINKS
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Bowling Green State University
- Great Lakes Ships
KEYWORDS
CANADIAN #2, Schooner, Lake Huron, Clara Island, Great Lakes Shipwreck, Maritime History, North Channel, Shipwrecks
CONCLUSION
The story of the schooner CANADIAN highlights the perils faced by Great Lakes vessels in the 19th century. Despite its robust construction and years of service, the CANADIAN met its end in the treacherous waters of Lake Huron’s North Channel. The vessel’s history, including its multiple mishaps and ultimate wreck, serves as a testament to the dangers of maritime navigation during that era. The legacy of the CANADIAN, like many other shipwrecks in the Great Lakes, remains a significant chapter in the region’s maritime history.
