ANNIE FALCONER C83285

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION: #

The Annie Falconer was a two-masted wooden schooner built in Kingston, Ontario, in 1867 by Foster Jenkins and Company. It was constructed for Capt. W.R. Taylor and initially registered in Kingston. The schooner was designed for versatility, capable of carrying a wide variety of cargoes, including stone, lumber, coal, grain, and more. This made it a vital asset in the Great Lakes shipping industry during the late 19th century.

HISTORY: #

The Annie Falconer had a long and eventful career, marked by various incidents and changes in ownership. After her launch in May 1867, she quickly became a workhorse on the Great Lakes, transporting diverse cargoes to and from Canadian and American ports.

The schooner’s history includes several significant incidents:

• June 14, 1874: The Annie Falconer struck a rock and sank in the Welland Canal while carrying 410 tons of coal. The vessel was raised approximately a week later.
• October 1887: The schooner was caught in a storm after departing Oswego for Toronto. While the storm claimed other vessels, the Annie Falconer survived, though her mainsail rigging was damaged.
• October 1893: After leaving Kingston for Oswego, the schooner was caught in another storm and dragged ashore in Weller’s Bay. She spent the winter high and dry onshore but was refloated in the spring with minimal damage.

The Annie Falconer met her final misfortune on November 12, 1904. While en route from Big Sodus to Picton with a cargo of coal, the schooner began to leak as the wind picked up. The captain attempted to beach the vessel on Timber Island, but the schooner sank around 2 o’clock in the afternoon. The crew escaped in the yawl boat and eventually landed on Amherst Island after enduring challenging conditions for several hours. Unfortunately, the ship’s mate, Shell Sullivan, became separated from the rest of the crew and succumbed to exposure. The remaining crew members survived after reaching a farmhouse.

FINAL DISPOSITION: #

The Annie Falconer sank off Timber Island, Lake Ontario, on November 12, 1904. Despite the crew’s efforts to save the vessel by beaching it on Timber Island, the schooner was lost. The wreck was located in August 1975 by Barbara Carson, Audrey Rushbrook, and Doug Pettingill, and a major survey was conducted on the wreck in 1982.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES: #

There are no specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) directly related to the Annie Falconer wreck site. However, divers and mariners should exercise caution when exploring or navigating near the site.

LOCATED BY & DATE: #

The wreck of the Annie Falconer was located in August 1975. The site has since become a popular location for divers, with a major survey conducted in 1982.

RESOURCES & LINKS: #

• David Swayze Great Lakes Shipwreck File: Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• 3D Model by 3Dshipwrecks.com: Annie Falconer 3D Model
• Photo Galleries: WannaDive
• DeepQuest2: DeepQuest2
• Scuba Diving Magazine: Scuba Diving Magazine

KEYWORDS: #

Annie Falconer, Wooden Schooner, Lake Ontario Shipwreck, Timber Island, 1904 Shipwreck, Great Lakes Maritime History, 3D Shipwreck Model.

ANALYSIS: #

The Annie Falconer’s story is a vivid reflection of the challenges faced by schooners on the Great Lakes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Despite enduring multiple storms and incidents, the vessel served the shipping industry for over 30 years before its final sinking in 1904. The recovery and documentation of the wreck in the 1970s and 1980s have preserved the Annie Falconer’s legacy, offering a window into the region’s maritime history.