IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
The Sophia was a small wooden schooner, typical of the early 19th century Great Lakes vessels used for coastal and lake navigation. At approximately 25 tons, the schooner was primarily engaged in transporting bulk goods, such as the load of corn it carried on its final voyage. The vessel was owned and captained by Horatio N. Throop, a young sailor from Pultneyville, New York. The schooner’s construction details, including length, beam, and depth, are not documented, but its design would have been well-suited to the demands of regional trade on Lake Ontario.
HISTORY #
On August 22, 1827, the Sophia, under the command of 19-year-old Captain Horatio N. Throop, set sail from Pultneyville, New York, bound for Oswego with a cargo of bulk corn. The weather conditions that morning were challenging, with a strong northwest wind driving the schooner across Lake Ontario.
Around 8 o’clock in the morning, the crew noticed a sudden and alarming change in the vessel’s motion. Within seconds, it became apparent that water was rapidly flooding the schooner from the leeward side, particularly toward the forward end. The crew immediately attempted to alter the schooner’s course to bring the leak above the waterline, but the inflow was too fast to control.
Within a minute, the forward end of the Sophia and two-thirds of its length were submerged. Just two minutes after the leak was discovered, the schooner sank entirely, leaving the three crew members struggling for their lives in the rough waters, approximately four miles from shore.
The crew members frantically searched for anything that could provide buoyancy. One crew member clung to a large oar, while another held onto an empty barrel with only one head. Despite the crew’s desperate efforts, the man with the barrel sank near the spot where the schooner went down. The crew member with the oar managed to swim about 100 yards toward land but drowned within minutes.
Captain Throop, known for his swimming ability, had been trying various methods to save his crew and had been encouraging them throughout the ordeal. However, time was against them. Captain Throop himself found a piece of board and clung to it with alternating hands as he swam toward the shore, approximately six miles below Great Sodus Bay.
Exhausted after a grueling four-hour struggle in the rough waters, Captain Throop finally reached the shore, where he was too weak to stand for nearly an hour. The cause of the disaster was later attributed to the cargo of corn, which likely became wet, causing it to swell and open some of the vessel’s seams.
FINAL DISPOSITION #
The Sophia was lost entirely to the waters of Lake Ontario on August 22, 1827. The sinking resulted in the tragic deaths of two crew members, who drowned despite their efforts to survive. Captain Horatio N. Throop was the sole survivor of the disaster, managing to reach the shore after hours in the water. The vessel, cargo, and lives lost made the event a poignant reminder of the dangers faced by mariners on the Great Lakes.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES #
There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) specifically related to the wreck of the Sophia. However, the area near Great Sodus Bay has long been known for its challenging navigation conditions, particularly during storms and strong winds.
LOCATED BY & DATE #
The exact location of the Sophia’s wreck is not documented, and the vessel likely remains lost in the depths of Lake Ontario. No modern attempts to locate the wreck have been recorded, and it is presumed that the remains of the schooner have long since deteriorated.
CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #
Given that the Sophia sank in 1827 and has never been located, the wreck is likely in a state of advanced deterioration, if any remains exist at all. The site is not accessible for diving or exploration, as the wreckage has not been found.
RESOURCES & LINKS #
For further information on the Sophia and the tragic sinking, the following resources were referenced:
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