Blanche C 71061

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

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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.