Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Blanche
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1888
- Builder: Likely Mill Point (Deseronto), Ontario
- Dimensions: Unknown
- Registered Tonnage: Unknown
- Location: Lake Ontario, several miles southwest of Scotch Bonnet Island, near Point Petre
- Coordinates: Exact site undocumented
- Official Number: Unknown
- Original Owners: Not recorded
- Number of Masts: 2 Masts Standing
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Blanche was a two-masted wooden schooner constructed in 1888, almost certainly at Mill Point (now Deseronto), Ontario. Built for lake trade, schooners like Blanche were vital carriers of coal, lumber, and bulk cargo. Their shallow draft and rigging made them suitable for the variable weather conditions of Lake Ontario, though vulnerable to sudden squalls.
Description
The Blanche was a two-masted wooden schooner constructed in 1888, almost certainly at Mill Point (now Deseronto), Ontario. Built for lake trade, schooners like Blanche were vital carriers of coal, lumber, and bulk cargo. Their shallow draft and rigging made them suitable for the variable weather conditions of Lake Ontario, though vulnerable to sudden squalls.
History
On 27 May 1888, Blanche departed Oswego, New York, bound for Brighton, Ontario, with a cargo of coal. That evening, the vessel was sighted under moonlight by Captain Thomas Matthews of the schooner Fleetwing. Weather appeared calm but the barometer was falling, indicating instability.
Shortly after the vessels parted, Blanche was overtaken by a violent squall. Unlike the Fleetwing, which survived by reducing sail and preparing, Blanche succumbed to the storm and vanished with all hands. No survivors were reported.
Significant Incidents
- On 27 May 1888, Blanche left Oswego with coal for Brighton. She was last seen under full sail in calm weather, but a squall arose suddenly and she disappeared.
- The yawl boat was later found at Cape Vincent, and Captain Henderson’s body at Brighton.
Final Disposition
Evidence of loss included the discovery in June 1888 of Blanche’s yawl boat washed ashore near Cape Vincent, New York, and in September 1888, the body of Captain John Henderson recovered near Brighton, Ontario. Identification was made through personal effects including hand-knit socks made by his mother.
The wreck site has long been believed to lie southwest of Scotch Bonnet Island, near Point Petre, Lake Ontario.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Access: Boat only
Entry Point: Launch sites near Point Petre or nearby harbors
Conditions: Open Lake Ontario diving, subject to heavy weather and variable visibility
Depth Range: Unknown
Emergency Contacts: Canadian Coast Guard, Kingston sector
Permits: Diving permitted; artifact removal prohibited under Ontario Heritage Act
Dive Support: Available in Kingston and Prince Edward County
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”blanche-c-71061″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The crew of Blanche, including Captain John Henderson, were lost in the wreck. Henderson’s body was buried after recovery near Brighton, Ontario. Other crew members’ fates remain undocumented.
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 Card (Site Style)
Other Names: Picton, Old Picton, 2 Masts Standing, Petrie 2
Official Number: Unknown
Registry: Canada
Vessel Type: Wooden schooner
Builder: Likely Mill Point (Deseronto), Ontario
Year Built: 1888
Dimensions: Unknown
Tonnage: Unknown
Cargo on Final Voyage: Coal (approx. 30 tons)
Date of Loss: 27 May 1888
Location: Lake Ontario, several miles southwest of Scotch Bonnet Island, near Point Petre
Coordinates: Exact site undocumented
Depth: Unknown
Home Port: Presumed Lake Ontario port
Owners: Not recorded
Crew: Approx. 5–7 (exact unknown)
Casualties: Entire crew presumed lost
Description
The Blanche was a two-masted wooden schooner constructed in 1888, almost certainly at Mill Point (now Deseronto), Ontario. Built for lake trade, schooners like Blanche were vital carriers of coal, lumber, and bulk cargo. Their shallow draft and rigging made them suitable for the variable weather conditions of Lake Ontario, though vulnerable to sudden squalls.
History
On 27 May 1888, Blanche departed Oswego, New York, bound for Brighton, Ontario, with a cargo of coal. That evening, the vessel was sighted under moonlight by Captain Thomas Matthews of the schooner Fleetwing. Weather appeared calm but the barometer was falling, indicating instability.
Shortly after the vessels parted, Blanche was overtaken by a violent squall. Unlike the Fleetwing, which survived by reducing sail and preparing, Blanche succumbed to the storm and vanished with all hands. No survivors were reported.
Final Dispositions
Evidence of loss included the discovery in June 1888 of Blanche’s yawl boat washed ashore near Cape Vincent, New York, and in September 1888, the body of Captain John Henderson recovered near Brighton, Ontario. Identification was made through personal effects including hand-knit socks made by his mother.
The wreck site has long been believed to lie southwest of Scotch Bonnet Island, near Point Petre, Lake Ontario.
Located By & Date Found
Local divers reported the wreck site in 2000. The site was identified by Tom Rutledge (Save Ontario Shipwrecks – SLD) and DP in 2017.
Notmars & Advisories
None recorded. The wreck lies offshore and is not charted as a navigational obstruction.
Dive Information
Access: Boat only
Entry Point: Launch sites near Point Petre or nearby harbors
Conditions: Open Lake Ontario diving, subject to heavy weather and variable visibility
Depth Range: Unknown
Emergency Contacts: Canadian Coast Guard, Kingston sector
Permits: Diving permitted; artifact removal prohibited under Ontario Heritage Act
Dive Support: Available in Kingston and Prince Edward County
Crew & Casualty Memorials
The crew of Blanche, including Captain John Henderson, were lost in the wreck. Henderson’s body was buried after recovery near Brighton, Ontario. Other crew members’ fates remain undocumented.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“On May 27, 1888, the schooner Blanche left Oswego with coal for Brighton. She was last seen under full sail in calm weather, but a squall arose suddenly and she disappeared. The yawl boat was later found at Cape Vincent, and Captain Henderson’s body at Brighton.” – Regional press reports, 1888
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
No registry or enrollment data has been located. Insurance records may exist in regional archives or shipping company collections.
Site Documentation & Imaging
The wreck was located by divers in 2000 and later identified in 2017. Photographic documentation has been shared by regional divers, including the Save Ontario Shipwrecks network.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Fleetwing – Shotline Diving
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Divers Alert Magazine
References
- Regional newspaper reports, June–September 1888 (Cape Vincent, Brighton).
- Heritage Westmeath / Save Ontario Shipwrecks reports (2000–2017).
- Great Lakes Shipwreck research databases (BGSU, Maritime History of the Great Lakes).
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: Picton, Old Picton, Petrie 2
Official Number: Unknown
Coordinates: Not publicly released; believed near Point Petre, Lake Ontario
Depth: Unknown
Location Description: Offshore, southwest of Scotch Bonnet Island
Vessel Type: Wooden schooner
Material: Wood
Dimensions: Unknown
Condition: Wrecked, upright sections with masts standing
Cause of Loss: Sudden squall
Discovery Date: 2000
Discovered By: Local divers
Method: SCUBA survey
Legal Notes: Protected under Ontario Heritage Act
Hazards: Weather, waves, visibility
Permits Required: Yes, for artifact recovery or disturbance
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