Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: David Ferguson
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1853
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: approx. 223 tons
- Location: Lake Huron
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A mid-19th-century fast-sailing schooner of moderate tonnage (223 tons). By the time of her loss, she was over 50 years old—a venerable age for wooden commercial sail.
Description
The David Ferguson was a two-masted wooden schooner built in 1853. She was approximately 223 tons and was known for her speed and sailing capabilities.
History
Caught in a significant late-season gale on Lake Huron, David Ferguson suffered extensive damage. The storm “mauled and dismasted” her, compromising both masts and rigging. While she limped into port under jury rig or auxiliary means, surveyors judged the vessel irreparable and financially unsalvageable. She was officially abandoned as a total constructive loss.
Significant Incidents
- Severely damaged and dismasted by a storm in late fall 1907 – 1908.
- Managed to reach port but was deemed beyond repair and declared a constructive total loss.
- Subsequently abandoned, likely at a port on Lake Huron or along its shore.
Final Disposition
After reaching port, likely on or near Lake Huron’s shoreline, the schooner was left to deteriorate. No salvage or meaningful repair was undertaken. No records indicate her ultimate fate—scrapping, sinking, or conversion remain unknown.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The current existence of remains—sunken timber or derivative equipment—remains undocumented; potential for maritime archaeological survey.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”david-ferguson-1853″ title=”References & Links”]
The David Ferguson was a durable wooden schooner that succumbed to its age and a late-season storm. Severely damaged but afloat, she was judged unrecoverable and formally abandoned in port. Her ultimate fate is undocumented, offering a potential avenue for in-depth archival research and investigation.
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.
(schooner, wooden – approx. 223 tons)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: David Ferguson
- Build year: 1853
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner (approx. 223 tons) (scholar.uwindsor.ca, brucemuseum.ca, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Final voyage: Late fall 1907 – 1908 on Lake Huron
- Incident: Severely damaged and dismasted by a storm; managed to reach port but deemed beyond repair and declared a constructive total loss. Subsequently abandoned, likely at a port on Lake Huron or along its shore.
Vessel Type & Condition
A mid-19th-century fast-sailing schooner of moderate tonnage (223 tons). By the time of her loss, she was over 50 years old—a venerable age for wooden commercial sail.
Fall 1907–1908 Storm Incident
Caught in a significant late-season gale on Lake Huron, David Ferguson suffered extensive damage. The storm “mauled and dismasted” her, compromising both masts and rigging. While she limped into port under jury rig or auxiliary means, surveyors judged the vessel irreparable and financially unsalvageable. She was officially abandoned as a total constructive loss (CORE).
Final Disposition
After reaching port, likely on or near Lake Huron’s shoreline, the schooner was left to deteriorate. No salvage or meaningful repair was undertaken. No records indicate her ultimate fate—scrapping, sinking, or conversion remain unknown.
Archival Gaps & Further Research
- Exact date & port of abandonment: Unknown—meteorological research for storms in November 1907–April 1908 may help identify specific events.
- Port documentation: Legendary abandonment ports include Goderich or Bayfield, Ontario; investigate local harbor logs and insurance registers.
- Crew & ownership: Names, roles, and ownership history have not been identified. Possible sources: maritime registers, crew agreements, insurance policies.
- Detailed wreck fate: Local newspapers (e.g., Goderich Signal-Star, Bayfield Breeze, Goderich Tribune) from late 1907 to mid‑1908 could carry notice of vessel abandonment, valuation, and final disposal.
- Physical remains: The current existence of remains—sunken timber or derivative equipment—remains undocumented; potential for maritime archaeological survey.
Conclusion
The David Ferguson was a durable wooden schooner that succumbed to its age and a late-season storm. Severely damaged but afloat, she was judged unrecoverable and formally abandoned in port. Her ultimate fate is undocumented, offering a potential avenue for in-depth archival research and investigation.
david-ferguson-1853 1908-10-23 12:40:00