Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: DAVID MORRIS
- Type: Wooden schooner-barge (non-propelled)
- Year Built: 1857
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length 141 ft (43 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Pigeon Bay, near Point Pelee, Ontario
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A typical mid-19th-century wooden schooner-barge, DAVID MORRIS relied on being towed by steamers, carrying bulk freight such as lumber across the Great Lakes.
Description
At approximately 43 m (141 ft) in length, she was a substantial barge suited to heavy cargo but lacked independent propulsion, making her vulnerable during severe weather.
History
In service from 1857, DAVID MORRIS was towed by steamer T.U. BRADBURY when disaster struck on 21 October 1873. A violent gale in Pigeon Bay caused her towlines to part. Unpowered, she was driven ashore at Point Pelee alongside her companion barge Globe, and both vessels were wrecked.
Significant Incidents
- Lost on 21 October 1873 due to severe storm damage.
- Parted from tow of steamer T.U. BRADBURY and wrecked ashore.
Final Disposition
Grounded and destroyed onshore at Pigeon Bay, the vessel was declared a total loss. The hull and cargo were likely broken up by storms.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Unknown—no record of modern rediscovery or marine survey. The wreck site remains uncharted.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”david-morris-1857″ title=”References & Links”]
DAVID MORRIS, a wooden schooner-barge built in 1857, was lost on 21 October 1873 after being torn from her tow and driven ashore during a storm in Pigeon Bay, Ontario. With no casualties, she wrecked near Point Pelee, but her remains remain unlocated.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: DAVID MORRIS
- Vessel Type: Wooden schooner‑barge (non‑propelled)
- Length: Approximately 141 ft (43 m) (alcheminc.com)
- Built: 1857
- Date Lost: 21 October 1873 (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Location Lost: Pigeon Bay, near Point Pelee, Ontario (Lake Erie) (alcheminc.com)
- Cause of Loss: Severely storm‑damaged; broke loose from tow of steamer T.U. BRADBURY, drove ashore and wrecked (alcheminc.com)
- Cargo: Lumber
- Casualties: None reported
Vessel Type
A typical mid‑19th-century wooden schooner‑barge, DAVID MORRIS relied on being towed by steamers, carrying bulk freight such as lumber across the Great Lakes.
Description
At approximately 43 m (141 ft) in length, she was a substantial barge suited to heavy cargo but lacked independent propulsion, making her vulnerable during severe weather.
History
In service from 1857, DAVID MORRIS was towed by steamer T.U. BRADBURY when disaster struck on 21 October 1873. A violent gale in Pigeon Bay caused her towlines to part. Unpowered, she was driven ashore at Point Pelee alongside her companion barge Globe, and both vessels were wrecked (alcheminc.com).
Final Disposition
Grounded and destroyed onshore at Pigeon Bay, the vessel was declared a total loss. The hull and cargo were likely broken up by storms.
Located By & Date Found
Unknown—no record of modern rediscovery or marine survey. The wreck site remains uncharted.
Notations & Advisories
- No current NOAA or Canadian chart hazards indicate the wreck.
- Shoreline location means dispersed remains may rest in shallow waters or along the coast.
Resources & Links
- Lake Erie Shipwreck “B” index listing for DAVID MORRIS (alcheminc.com)
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files note on DAVID MORRIS and Globe incident (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Conclusion
DAVID MORRIS, a wooden schooner‑barge built in 1857, was lost on 21 October 1873 after being torn from her tow and driven ashore during a storm in Pigeon Bay, Ontario. With no casualties, she wrecked near Point Pelee, but her remains remain unlocated.
Suggested Next Steps
- Investigate local archives in Leamington/Point Pelee for 1873 contemporary accounts or salvage records.
- Consult Parks Canada or Ontario Great Lakes shipwreck databases for historical sonar or shoreline surveys near Pigeon Bay.
- Explore opportunities for amateur or technical shore survey in shallow waters along Pelee’s coast to locate possible remains.