Atlas (1838)

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

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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.