Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Dolphin
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built:
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Pultneyville Harbor, Lake Ontario
- Number of Masts: Two or more
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The DOLPHIN was a schooner, a two- or more-masted sailing vessel widely used in the early 19th century, particularly for its speed and maneuverability. Schooners were integral to commerce on the Great Lakes, serving both the transportation of goods and passengers. Although specific details of the DOLPHIN’s dimensions and tonnage are not available, it would have been well-suited to the dynamic conditions of Lake Ontario.
Description
The DOLPHIN met its tragic fate on the morning of the 26th (exact date unknown but reported on January 12, 1819) during a severe gale in Pultneyville Harbor, Lake Ontario. The intense cold and stormy conditions caused ice to accumulate and exert crushing pressure on the vessel. The schooner was completely shattered, rendering it beyond recovery.
This incident underscores the perilous nature of Great Lakes navigation during winter, where severe weather and ice posed constant threats to shipping. The DOLPHIN is remembered as one of many ships lost to the treacherous ice conditions of Lake Ontario.
History
The loss of the DOLPHIN was documented in the Niagara Patriot on January 12, 1819. The exact date of the incident is not recorded but is presumed to have occurred shortly before the report.
Significant Incidents
- Date of Loss: Morning of the 26th (exact date unknown, reported January 12, 1819)
- Cause of Loss: Crushed by ice during a severe gale
- Condition: Completely shattered and destroyed
- Wreckage Status: No remains reported; likely lost or scattered by natural forces
Final Disposition
The destruction of the DOLPHIN serves as a poignant reminder of the risks faced by mariners on the Great Lakes. Harbors, though typically seen as safe havens, could become deadly traps during severe winter storms when ice could destroy even sturdy vessels.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) exist regarding the wreck site of the DOLPHIN.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”dolphin-pre-1819″ title=”References & Links”]
The DOLPHIN remains a significant historical example of the dangers of Great Lakes navigation, particularly during the harsh winter months.
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 & SITE INFORMATION:
- Vessel Name: DOLPHIN
- Type: Schooner
- Location: Pultneyville Harbor, Lake Ontario
- Final Fate: Destroyed by ice
- Incident Date: Morning of the 26th (Year: 1819, exact month and day unknown)
- Reported by: Niagara Patriot, January 12, 1819
- Captain at Time of Loss: E. Brockway
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION:
The DOLPHIN was a schooner, a two- or more-masted sailing vessel widely used in the early 19th century, particularly for its speed and maneuverability. Schooners were integral to commerce on the Great Lakes, serving both the transportation of goods and passengers. Although specific details of the DOLPHIN’s dimensions and tonnage are not available, it would have been well-suited to the dynamic conditions of Lake Ontario.
HISTORY:
The DOLPHIN met its tragic fate on the morning of the 26th (exact date unknown but reported on January 12, 1819) during a severe gale in Pultneyville Harbor, Lake Ontario. The intense cold and stormy conditions caused ice to accumulate and exert crushing pressure on the vessel. The schooner was completely shattered, rendering it beyond recovery.
This incident underscores the perilous nature of Great Lakes navigation during winter, where severe weather and ice posed constant threats to shipping. The DOLPHIN is remembered as one of many ships lost to the treacherous ice conditions of Lake Ontario.
FINAL DISPOSITION:
- Date of Loss: Morning of the 26th (exact date unknown, reported January 12, 1819)
- Cause of Loss: Crushed by ice during a severe gale
- Condition: Completely shattered and destroyed
- Wreckage Status: No remains reported; likely lost or scattered by natural forces
NOTICES TO MARINERS (NOTMARs):
No specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) exist regarding the wreck site of the DOLPHIN.
DISCOVERY & DOCUMENTATION:
The loss of the DOLPHIN was documented in the Niagara Patriot on January 12, 1819. The exact date of the incident is not recorded but is presumed to have occurred shortly before the report.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
The destruction of the DOLPHIN serves as a poignant reminder of the risks faced by mariners on the Great Lakes. Harbors, though typically seen as safe havens, could become deadly traps during severe winter storms when ice could destroy even sturdy vessels.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
- Niagara Patriot, January 12, 1819
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Shipwrecks