Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Atlas
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1838
- Builder: Dexter, New York, USA
- Dimensions: Length 52 ft (15.8 m); Beam 16.5 ft (5 m); Depth Not specified
- Registered Tonnage: 27 tons (old measurement)
- Depth at Wreck Site: 91.4 m / 300 ft
- Location: Approx. 6 miles northwest of Oswego, New York
- Coordinates: 43.530824, -76.599839
- Original Owners: Ortha Little & Son, Dexter, New York
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden two-masted schooner built for inland and lake cargo hauling. The Atlas represents typical regional shipbuilding of the late 1830s focused on utility and capacity for stone and other commodities.
Description
The Atlas was a shallow-draft wooden schooner suited for nearshore trade routes along Lake Ontario and inland rivers. Built in Dexter, New York, she was 52 feet (15.8 m) in length with a beam of 16.5 feet (5 m). She operated in the grain and stone transport trade and was rigged for simplicity and utility. The ship’s primary cargo during her final voyage was quarried limestone from Chaumont, used in constructing harbour infrastructure.
History
The Atlas served briefly from her launch in 1838 until her loss in May 1839. On May 4, 1839, she was transporting Black River limestone from Chaumont to Oswego when caught in a violent spring gale. Eyewitnesses observed the schooner floundering offshore before disappearing beneath the waves around 8:00 AM. All five aboard perished:
- Captain Asahel Westcott (26) – Brownville
- Ortha Little (48) – Co-owner, Dexter
- William Ackerman (19) – Brownville
- John See (18) – Unknown origin
- Asa Davis (30) – Cargo owner, from Mexico, New York
The shifting of heavy stone cargo in high seas is believed to have capsized the vessel instantly, making escape impossible.
Significant Incidents
The vessel sank quickly and was lost with all hands. Despite rescue attempts, no survivors were found. Debris including personal effects and parts of the schooner were recovered, confirming the identity of the lost vessel.
Final Disposition
The vessel sank quickly and was lost with all hands. Despite rescue attempts, no survivors were found. Debris including personal effects and parts of the schooner were recovered, confirming the identity of the lost vessel.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The vessel lies in 300 feet of water with significant collapse. Decks have fallen in, masts rest beside the hull, and the ship’s wheel is intact but encrusted. The cargo of limestone remains in place.
No current navigational hazards or active Notices to Mariners apply to the site. Due to depth and structural degradation, the wreck is not accessible for recreational diving and requires technical equipment.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”atlas-1838″ title=”References & Links”]
The Atlas is one of the earliest commercial schooner wrecks confirmed in Lake Ontario. Her story underscores the risks of 19th-century Great Lakes commerce and the fragile conditions under which mariners worked. Her rediscovery connects us with an era of regional economic growth and navigational hardship, making the Atlas a key cultural and historical artefact beneath Ontario’s inland seas.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
Shipwreck Report: Schooner Atlas
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Atlas
- Former Names: None documented
- Registration Number(s): Not documented
- Date Built and Launched: 1838
- Builder: Dexter, New York, USA
- Measurements:
- Length: 52 feet (15.8 metres)
- Beam: 16.5 feet (5 metres)
- Depth: Not specified
- Tonnage: 27 tons (old measurement)
- Hull Material: Wood
- Owner(s): Ortha Little & Son, Dexter, New York
- Date Lost: May 4, 1839
- Location of Wreck: Approx. 6 miles northwest of Oswego, New York
- Depth of Wreck: Approx. 300 feet (91.4 metres)
- Coordinates: 43.530824, -76.599839
Vessel Type
Wooden two-masted schooner built for inland and lake cargo hauling. The Atlas represents typical regional shipbuilding of the late 1830s focused on utility and capacity for stone and other commodities.
Description
The Atlas was a shallow-draft wooden schooner suited for nearshore trade routes along Lake Ontario and inland rivers. Built in Dexter, New York, she was 52 feet (15.8 m) in length with a beam of 16.5 feet (5 m). She operated in the grain and stone transport trade and was rigged for simplicity and utility. The ship’s primary cargo during her final voyage was quarried limestone from Chaumont, used in constructing harbour infrastructure.
History
The Atlas served briefly from her launch in 1838 until her loss in May 1839. On May 4, 1839, she was transporting Black River limestone from Chaumont to Oswego when caught in a violent spring gale. Eyewitnesses observed the schooner floundering offshore before disappearing beneath the waves around 8:00 AM. All five aboard perished:
- Captain Asahel Westcott (26) – Brownville
- Ortha Little (48) – Co-owner, Dexter
- William Ackerman (19) – Brownville
- John See (18) – Unknown origin
- Asa Davis (30) – Cargo owner, from Mexico, New York
The shifting of heavy stone cargo in high seas is believed to have capsized the vessel instantly, making escape impossible.
Final Disposition
The vessel sank quickly and was lost with all hands. Despite rescue attempts, no survivors were found. Debris including personal effects and parts of the schooner were recovered, confirming the identity of the lost vessel.
Located By & Date Found
- Discovered by: Jim Kennard, Roger Pawlowski, and Roland Stevens
- Date Found: June 2013
- Method: DeepVision side scan sonar and ROV
- Condition: The vessel lies in 300 feet of water with significant collapse. Decks have fallen in, masts rest beside the hull, and the ship’s wheel is intact but encrusted. The cargo of limestone remains in place.
NOTMARs & Advisories
- No current navigational hazards or active Notices to Mariners apply to the site.
- Due to depth and structural degradation, the wreck is not accessible for recreational diving and requires technical equipment.
Resources & Links
Conclusion
The Atlas is one of the earliest commercial schooner wrecks confirmed in Lake Ontario. Her story underscores the risks of 19th-century Great Lakes commerce and the fragile conditions under which mariners worked. Her rediscovery connects us with an era of regional economic growth and navigational hardship, making the Atlas a key cultural and historical artefact beneath Ontario’s inland seas.
Suggested Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms
- Keywords: Atlas schooner, 1839 shipwreck, Lake Ontario maritime history, Oswego shipwreck, Jim Kennard, stone cargo schooner
- Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Ontario, 19th Century Maritime Losses, Dexter Shipbuilding, Commercial Freight Vessels
- Glossary Terms:
- Schooner: A sailing vessel with two or more masts, fore-and-aft rigged
- Black River Limestone: A building material common to Jefferson County quarries
- DeepVision Sonar: High-resolution side-scan sonar used in modern underwater exploration
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