Cortez

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Cortez
• Type: Wooden schooner
• Year Built:
• Builder:
• Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage:
• Location: Sandy Creek, near Ellisburgh, New York
• Coordinates: Approx. 43.7° N, 76.0° W (estimated)
• Original Owners: M.J. Cummings, Oswego, New York

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Cortez was a wooden-hulled schooner, designed for transporting bulk cargo such as grain, coal, and lumber across the Great Lakes. Schooners like the Cortez were essential to 19th-century commerce, though their wooden frames were highly vulnerable to storm damage and groundings.

Description

The Cortez was a wooden-hulled schooner, designed for transporting bulk cargo such as grain, coal, and lumber across the Great Lakes. Schooners like the Cortez were essential to 19th-century commerce, though their wooden frames were highly vulnerable to storm damage and groundings.

History

• November 1880: The Cortez departed Milwaukee carrying 19,000 bushels of wheat bound for Oswego, New York.
• 13 November 1880: The schooner ran aground at Sandy Creek during rough weather, approximately 20 miles east of Oswego. The crew escaped unharmed.
• Inspection: Surveyed by Capt. George McLeod and others, who determined the vessel was a total loss. Cargo was scattered along the shoreline.

Significant Incidents

The wreck sparked criticism of the Big Sandy Creek life-saving crew, with accusations of negligence. A formal investigation by Capt. D.P. Dobbins cleared the crew, citing extreme weather and difficult terrain as causes for their delayed response. The citizens of Ellisburgh defended the rescuers, acknowledging the risks faced by life-saving personnel.

Final Disposition

The Cortez was declared a total loss. Abandoned in place, the schooner broke apart in the surf and eventually disappeared. Its cargo was unsalvageable.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The story of the Cortez reflects the dangers of late-season navigation on Lake Ontario and the often unrealistic expectations placed on life-saving crews. Though little physical evidence remains, the vessel’s loss is remembered as part of the region’s maritime heritage and the perils of Great Lakes trade.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”cortez” title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]

As divers, remember to respect the site of the Cortez. Leave only bubbles, take only memories, and consider removing any garbage to leave the site better than you found it.