GEORGE T. DAVIE C107233

Upon receiving the captain’s decision, James Ruth, acting master of the Davie, along with the other three crew members, G. Conaghan, L. Moore, and H. Moore, prepared the barge for departure. By early morning, the Salvage Prince and the Davie were ready to leave Oswego Harbour. They cleared the breakwater, embarking on their northbound journey towards Kingston.

Throughout the day, despite encountering heavy seas, the barge followed the tug closely. Passing the Main Duck Islands, they adjusted their course towards Nine Mile Point, passing west of Pigeon Island. Although the wind and sea conditions were noted to be strengthening, there was no immediate cause for alarm.

Historical Photos – SLD Archives

However, as per James Ruth’s account in the Shipping Casualty report, at around 2:45 pm, with a powerful following sea, the barge began exhibiting signs of poor steering, suggesting a problem with its heading. The forward pump and siphon were reported to be working steadily. At 3:30 pm, the Davie was observed by the Salvage Prince abruptly veering to starboard, capsizing, and subsequently sinking.

The four crew members on board, caught off guard, found themselves thrown into the frigid water. Despite the absence of time to launch a lifeboat, they were fortunate to be swiftly rescued by the Salvage Prince, which arrived within two minutes. Unfortunately, this marked the end of the George T. Davie’s forty-seven-year career.

The historical records provide additional details about the barge’s history. Built in 1898 by Geo. T. Davie & Sons in Levis, PQ, the barge changed ownership multiple times over the years. It underwent repairs, raising operations, and rebuilding, with fluctuating values reflecting its condition and usage. Ultimately, its final resting place became Pigeon Island in Lake Ontario, a solemn end to its storied existence.

Photo Gallery 2022 Matt Charlesworth CC

Built in 1898 at St. Joseph de Levis, Quebec by the Davie Shipbuilding Company, her dimensions were 177.5 feet long by 35 feet wide, with a hold of 12.5 feet deep, and a registered tonnage of 680. For the most part, she had an uneventful career, usually serving in the grain and coal trade on Lake Ontario and on St. Lawrence. Although originally registered at Quebec City, after being acquired from J. R. Booth by the Montreal Transportation Company, her registry was transferred to Montreal. While owned by this company, she sank in the St. Lawrence River near Alexandria Bay in June 1911. After being raised the following year and rebuilt, she went aground at the foot of Wolfe Island.

Photos 2009 Tom Rutledge CC

In June 1920 Canada Steamship Lines purchased GEORGE T DAVIE from the Montreal Transportation Company. The C.S.L. soon sold her to John E. Russell of Toronto, who in turn sold her to the Sowards Coal Co. in 1926. At this time her registry was transferred to Kingston, where she entered the Collingwood Shipbuilding Company’s dry dock that fall for a complete overhaul. In 1927 and 1928 she was being towed by the steamer Patdoris. By 1931 the Davie was employed by the Pyke Wrecking and Salvage Company, but it is not clear when ownership officially passed into their hands. Although she occasionally saw more glamorous service as a salvage lighter, her routine

in the coal-carrying trade continued until she disappeared from the surface on that cold April day in 1945. Striking on her starboard side, she still lies with her decks heeled sharply in that direction.

Upon impact the weight of the coal forced the hatch covers off, and most of the cargo spilled out over the lake bottom. The crane, lying amid the coal, was formerly on the HENRY DARYAW, which sank in the St. Lawrence River near Brockville in November 1941. Fastened on the roof of the intact cabin is a freshwater tank, its shape distorted by the pressure. Windows and doors allow a good view of the tangled woodwork inside. The steam-assisted steering wheel sits proudly at the stern, and the rudder is hard to port, no doubt as a result of the helmsman’s vain attempt to counteract that final sheer to starboard. The lifeboat rests near the side of the barge, not far from the crane’s clam bucket. A wooden ladder leans against the starboard bow, while high on the port bow a large anchor hangs from the hawse pipe. Leading off onto the bottom, the tow cable heads north in the direction of home.

YouTube Video starring the MuffenMan, Spike CC

RESOURCES & LINKS #

• SLD’s Image Public Holdings and Archives
• “Barge George T. Davie Sinks After Taking on Water” – The Kingston Whig-Standard, May 11, 1945. Provides a detailed report on the circumstances of the sinking and the crew’s efforts to save the barge.
• “Wolfe Island Wreck: The George T. Davie Succumbs to Flooding” – The Montreal Gazette, May 12, 1945. Discusses the impact of the wreck on local maritime activities and details of the event.
• “Lake Ontario Claims Another: The George T. Davie Lost to the Depths” – The Toronto Daily Star, May 12, 1945. This article offers historical context and expert commentary on the sinking
• David Swayze Shipwreck Database: This resource provides detailed information on the ship’s specifications, ownership history, and final disposition.
• Great Lakes Now Shipwrecks: A resource offering comprehensive information on shipwrecks across the Great Lakes, including the George T. Davie.
• Save Ontario Shipwrecks: A diving and preservation resource that provides details about the current state of the wreck and guidelines for exploration.