Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: ANGELIQUE
- Type: Scow Schooner
- Year Built: 1863
- Builder: Joseph Renaud
- Dimensions: Length 53 ft (16.15 m); Beam 17 ft (5.18 m); Depth of hold 3 ft (0.91 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 32 tons
- Location: Ruthven, Ontario, Lake St. Clair
- Official Number: 91863
- Original Owners: Thomas Lucas (1877), Joseph Fecteau (final owner)
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Scow Schooner: A two-masted, flat-bottomed sailing vessel designed for transporting cargo.
Description
The ANGELIQUE was a scow schooner built in Belle River, Ontario, by Joseph Renaud in 1863. It was a small cargo vessel, featuring a single deck and two masts. In 1877, it underwent partial reconstruction at Ruthven, Ontario, where it was fitted with new spars and other equipment to extend its operational life.
History
The vessel served primarily as a cargo carrier, transporting goods across Lake St. Clair. By 1877, it was owned by Thomas Lucas but later came under the ownership of Joseph Fecteau.
On its final voyage, the ANGELIQUE was transporting molding sand, a dense cargo that likely strained the aging vessel’s hull. On July 13, 1887, the hull gave way, causing the ship to leak and eventually sink in Ruthven, Ontario. At the time of its sinking, it was under the contract of Captain Ives, who faced a loss of $250 for the cargo. The vessel itself, valued at $1,000, was a total loss.
Significant Incidents
- July 13, 1887: The ANGELIQUE sank in Lake St. Clair due to hull failure while carrying molding sand.
Final Disposition
The ANGELIQUE rests in Lake St. Clair, though its precise location is not widely documented. The vessel’s final resting place remains an artifact of Great Lakes maritime history.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No formal records of discovery or salvage attempts are available for the ANGELIQUE. The wreck poses no known hazards to navigation and is not marked on modern maritime charts.
Resources & Links
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The ANGELIQUE is a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by early Great Lakes vessels. Its sinking, attributed to hull failure and the burden of heavy cargo, underscores the risks of maritime transport in the late 19th century. Despite its modest size, the ANGELIQUE holds a place in the broader history of Great Lakes commerce and navigation.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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