Aurora (pre-1844)

The Aurora, a wooden schooner, tragically capsized in Lake Ontario in 1844, resulting in the loss of two lives. Explore its historical significance and the conditions of its wreck.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Aurora
  • Type: Schooner
  • Year Built: Before 1844
  • Builder:
  • Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage:
  • Location: Lake Ontario

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Aurora was a wooden-hulled schooner built before 1844, typical of the small, versatile vessels used for transporting goods and passengers across the Great Lakes. Schooners like the Aurora were widely used for their efficiency in carrying bulk goods such as lumber, grain, and other materials along the lake’s trade routes.

Description

The Aurora operated on Lake Ontario, a vital waterway for commerce during the 19th century. Unfortunately, on May 2, 1844, while sailing on Lake Ontario, the Aurora was caught in a gale. The strong winds and rough seas caused the schooner to capsize. Tragically, two lives were lost in the accident.
The precise cause of the capsizing is not documented, but weather-related disasters were a common hazard for schooners on the Great Lakes, especially during the unpredictable spring months when sudden gales could overwhelm even experienced crews.

History

The Aurora capsized and sank on May 2, 1844, in Lake Ontario. The incident resulted in the loss of two lives. There is no documentation of salvage efforts, so it is assumed the vessel remains in Lake Ontario.

Significant Incidents

  • May 2, 1844: The Aurora capsized in a gale on Lake Ontario, resulting in the loss of two lives.

Final Disposition

The Aurora capsized and sank on May 2, 1844, in Lake Ontario. The incident resulted in the loss of two lives. There is no documentation of salvage efforts, so it is assumed the vessel remains in Lake Ontario.

Current Condition & Accessibility

There are no known modern efforts to locate the wreck of the Aurora. Given the age of the wreck and its small size, any remains would likely be buried under sediment or otherwise deteriorated.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”aurora-pre-1844″ title=”References & Links”]

The Aurora is one of many schooners that faced the perils of the Great Lakes, where sudden storms often resulted in disaster for even the most experienced sailors.

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.

Identification & Site Information:

  • Vessel Name: AURORA
  • Year of Build: Before 1844
  • Vessel Type: Schooner
  • Hull Materials: Wood
  • Number of Decks: 1

Vessel Type

The Aurora was a wooden-hulled schooner built before 1844, typical of the small, versatile vessels used for transporting goods and passengers across the Great Lakes. Schooners like the Aurora were widely used for their efficiency in carrying bulk goods such as lumber, grain, and other materials along the lake’s trade routes.

History

The Aurora operated on Lake Ontario, a vital waterway for commerce during the 19th century. Unfortunately, on May 2, 1844, while sailing on Lake Ontario, the Aurora was caught in a gale. The strong winds and rough seas caused the schooner to capsize. Tragically, two lives were lost in the accident.
The precise cause of the capsizing is not documented, but weather-related disasters were a common hazard for schooners on the Great Lakes, especially during the unpredictable spring months when sudden gales could overwhelm even experienced crews.

Final Disposition

The Aurora capsized and sank on May 2, 1844, in Lake Ontario. The incident resulted in the loss of two lives. There is no documentation of salvage efforts, so it is assumed the vessel remains in Lake Ontario.

Located By & Date

There are no known modern efforts to locate the wreck of the Aurora. Given the age of the wreck and its small size, any remains would likely be buried under sediment or otherwise deteriorated.

Notmars & Advisories

No navigational advisories or hazards are currently associated with the wreck of the Aurora. However, Lake Ontario is known for having numerous historical wrecks, many of which lie undiscovered.

Resources & Links

The Aurora is one of many schooners that faced the perils of the Great Lakes, where sudden storms often resulted in disaster for even the most experienced sailors.

aurora-pre-1844 1844-05-02 07:50:00