History #
The ALBACORE was a schooner that met its unfortunate end in a storm on September 12, 1900. The vessel, built by Muir Bros. in Port Dalhousie, Ontario in 1872, had a size of 137 feet in length, 26 feet in width, and 11 feet in depth. It weighed approximately 327 tons. The ALBACORE was primarily used for transporting packages and bulk freight and had two masts.
During the storm, the schooner’s sails were blown out, causing it to be driven into the seawall at Fort Bank East in Oswego, Ontario, on the shores of Lake Ontario. The impact caused the vessel to break up. Although the ALBACORE was in distress, no lives were lost in the incident. Efforts were made by the tug J. NAVAGH to salvage the schooner, while the crew of the Lifesaving Service successfully rescued the people on board. The ALBACORE was owned by Captain Bradshaw of Toronto.
There is some discrepancy among newspapers regarding the exact location of the wreck, with some sources indicating it occurred at Oswego, while others mention Kingston, Ontario. It is worth noting that the ALBACORE was the sister ship of the ALBATROSS, both of which were known as “timber droughers.” These vessels were specifically designed for hauling large squared timbers.
In June 1874, the ALBACORE was involved in a collision with another schooner called BABINIAN at Kingston, resulting in a loss of $300. Over time, ownership of the ALBACORE changed hands. In January 1888, Muir of Port Dalhousie sold the barge to Captain Ewart of Colborne. By September 1900, the vessel was owned by John Ewart and W.A. Bradshaw of Toronto.
Newspaper reports from September 1900 described the conditions surrounding the ALBACORE’s stranding. The vessel had lost all its sails and was pounding heavily on a gravel bottom. The crew, consisting of Captain Charles R. Redfern, Mate John Chestnut, John Hunter, William Thorn, and cook Mrs. Frazer, was safely taken off the schooner by Captain Anderson and the lifesavers from the Kingston station. The ALBACORE, valued at $5,000, had been built in 1872 and had a tonnage of 327 tons.
The ALBACORE’s sister ship, the T.R. MERRITT, also encountered difficulties during the same storm and was likely to have suffered significant damage. It is worth noting that neither of the schooners had insurance coverage.
External Links #
- Great Lakes Ships Website
- Saginaw Courier-Herald, September 13, 1900
- Detroit Free Press September 13, 1900
- List of Vessels on the Registry Books of the Dominion of Canada, 1874
- List of Vessels on the Registry Books of the Dominion of Canada on December 31, 1889
- List of Vessels on the Registry Books of the Dominion of Canada on December 31, 1886
- Detroit Free Press September 19, 1900
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Toronto Telegram (Toronto, ON), 16 Jan 1943
