IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION
The CLYDE was a typical wooden schooner of the early 19th century, characterized by its two-masted rigging and carvel-built wooden hull. These vessels were the workhorses of the Great Lakes, used for transporting bulk goods such as coal, sugar, and other commodities. The schooner’s sturdy design and rigging allowed it to navigate the often treacherous waters of Lake Ontario, though it was ultimately no match for the storm that sealed its fate.
HISTORY
The CLYDE was built in 1841 in Chippawa, Ontario, under the expertise of master builder Carrick from Buffalo. Designed for both cargo and passenger transport, the schooner represented the cutting-edge shipbuilding technology of its time. At 114 tons, it was a significant vessel, equipped to handle the demands of Great Lakes navigation.
For over a decade, the CLYDE sailed the waters of Lake Ontario, delivering goods between ports such as Oswego and Toronto. However, its service came to a tragic end on September 11, 1852. On that fateful day, the CLYDE set sail from Oswego, New York, bound for Toronto, Ontario, laden with a cargo of 60 hogsheads of sugar and 109 tons of coal. As the schooner approached its destination, a violent storm swept across Lake Ontario, battering the vessel with fierce winds and towering waves.
Despite the crew’s best efforts to navigate through the storm, the CLYDE was driven ashore, a mere ten miles east of Toronto. The schooner, unable to withstand the relentless forces of nature, was shattered upon the rocks, its wooden hull splintering and scattering along the shoreline. The wreckage of the CLYDE marked the end of the vessel’s service, a poignant reminder of the dangers that seafarers faced on the Great Lakes.
The fate of the CLYDE’s crew remains shrouded in mystery. Contemporary newspaper reports from the time were unable to confirm whether the crew survived the disaster, leaving their final moments lost to history. The tragic end of the CLYDE serves as a somber reminder of the perils of maritime navigation in the mid-19th century.
FINAL DISPOSITION
The CLYDE was completely destroyed in the storm, with its wreckage scattered along the shore east of Toronto. The schooner was declared a total loss, and no attempts were made to salvage the vessel. The exact location of the wreck remains unknown, and it is presumed to have been consumed by the lake or buried under shifting sands.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES
There are no active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the CLYDE, as the vessel’s wreckage has been lost to time.
LOCATED BY & DATE
The wreck of the CLYDE was observed by local residents as it was driven ashore during the storm on September 11, 1852. However, the exact location of the wreck has never been precisely documented.
CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY
The remains of the CLYDE are presumed to be lost to the waters of Lake Ontario. The wreckage, if it still exists, is inaccessible and likely buried or dispersed along the lakebed.
RESOURCES & LINKS
Keywords:
Schooner CLYDE, Lake Ontario shipwreck, 1852 storm, Toronto shipwrecks, Great Lakes maritime history, wooden schooner, Carrick of Buffalo, Chippawa Ontario, lost schooner, 19th-century shipwreck.
