Other Names #
- WILLIAM O. BROWN
History #
The W.O. BROWN, also known as WILLIAM O. BROWN, was a wooden schooner built in 1862 by J.W. Leach in Buffalo. It had a length of 140 feet, a beam of 25 feet, and a depth of 12 feet, with a gross tonnage of 306 tons (400 tons old measurement).
The vessel was involved in two notable incidents. In 1865, it sank in Lake Erie due to a collision with the bark A.P. Nichols. The W.O. Brown was carrying a cargo of coal and pig iron at the time, and although the crew was saved, the vessel sank in approximately 24 feet of water. It was later recovered by J.P. Clarke and returned to service in September 1867.
However, the final and tragic loss of the W.O. Brown occurred on November 28, 1872. The schooner was downbound from Duluth in a frigid gale when it was driven ashore near Point Maimanse, Ontario, on Lake Superior. The violent pounding from the storm caused the vessel to be completely destroyed. Out of the nine people on board, only three survivors managed to struggle through a harsh cold wave and reach safety at the Soo on Christmas Day. The W.O. Brown was carrying a cargo of wheat during this final voyage.
The last available information about the vessel dates back to 1880. The W.O. Brown had its share of incidents and recoveries, but its ultimate fate was met in the stormy waters of Lake Superior.
