Site Description #
- Schooner
- Scattered
- 0 – 10ffw 3m Depths
- Black Pond Beach, New York
- Lake Ontario
History #
The ARIADNE, a schooner built in Newcastle, Ontario in 1871, met a tragic fate while carrying a cargo of 10,000 bushels of barley from South Bay, Ontario to an elevator in Oswego. Caught in a storm, the vessel was unable to reach the port and sought refuge near Stony Point until the storm subsided. However, it became uncontrollable and ran aground north of what is now Southwick Beach. The ship broke apart, resulting in a total loss. Regrettably, the cargo was uninsured.
During the incident, Captain Hugh McKay was washed overboard and drowned, along with two crewmen who froze to death. The bodies of the deceased crewmen had to be recovered from under six feet of ice. Tragically, the remains of Captain McKay were never found.
Three other crew members, Maurice Young, Edward Mulligan, and Thomas Cox, sought refuge in the rigging and were eventually rescued by the crew of the nearby Big Sandy Lifesaving station. They were then taken in by a local farmer and, after a few days of recovery, returned to their homes in Canada.
Photo Gallery – CC Ben Ioset 2023 #
The ARIADNE underwent several changes and experiences throughout its history. In 1873, it ran aground near New Castle, Lake Ontario. By 1876, the vessel had a tonnage of 158, with dimensions of 97 feet in length, 26.6 feet in beam, and 8.2 feet in depth. Ownership passed to F. Gibson in 1878 and later to Gibson et al. in Port Burwell, Ontario in 1879.
The final blow came on November 30, 1886, when the ARIADNE was wrecked near Oswego, New York, in Mexico Bay on Lake Ontario. It was carrying a cargo of 10,000 bushels of barley at the time. The ship went ashore near Big Sandy Creek, a few miles east of the Sandy Creek Life Saving Station, and broke into pieces. The captain and three crew members lost their lives in the tragic event.
In December 1886, the bodies of Southerland McKay and Charles Dean, two crew members, were recovered from the wreck. Burial certificates were issued, and the bodies were transported to Toronto for burial. However, the remains of Captain Hugh McKay had not yet been found. The sorrowful tale of young Hugh McKay’s death revealed an untold story of his plans for marriage to a young school teacher on Waupau Island, which was tragically cut short by the shipwreck. The news of his death reached his betrothed only after the event had taken place, adding to the heartache surrounding the ARIADNE’s tragic fate.
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