Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Fearless C 33524 (Tarry Not, D. McInnis)

Explore the history of the Fearless, a wooden schooner that met a tragic end in Lake Ontario during a fierce gale in 1875.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Fearless
  • Type: Wooden Schooner
  • Year Built: 1857
  • Builder: A. & D. Bailey, Charlotte, NY
  • Dimensions: Length: Approx. 122 ft (37.2 m); Beam: 24 ft (7.3 m); Depth of hold: 10 ft (3 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 265 tons
  • Location: East of the Toronto Islands
  • Official Number: None (Canadian registry post-1860)
  • Original Owners: Hosea Rogers, Mr. Ritchie, Ritchie & Co., William Nickel
  • Number of Masts: Two-masted

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The TARRY NOT began as a traditional two-masted wooden schooner designed for bulk freight transport, typical of Great Lakes cargo vessels in the mid-19th century. Her robust build, with a cargo capacity of around 12,500 bushels, made her ideal for hauling grain, coal, and lumber across Lakes Ontario and Erie. Following her rebuild in 1873, the vessel received structural reinforcements, likely updating her rigging and hull design to extend her service life as the FEARLESS.

Description

The TARRY NOT was originally owned by Hosea Rogers of Rochester, NY, and was valued at $8,500, rated Class A 1 by the Board of Lake Underwriters in 1860. After being sold to Mr. Ritchie of Hamilton, Canada West, in 1861 for $10,250, she transitioned to Canadian waters. In 1863, she was re-registered as D. McINNIS and later rebuilt and renamed FEARLESS in 1873 under the ownership of William Nickel, with a valuation of $10,000 and reclassified as Class A 2.

History

The vessel’s sale to Canadian interests in 1861 highlighted the active cross-border maritime trade between the U.S. and Canada on the Great Lakes. The significant repairs and structural modifications in Kingston, Ontario, in 1873 marked a new chapter in her service and ownership. Tragically, on November 14, 1875, while carrying a cargo of coal from Oswego to Toronto, the FEARLESS met her end during a severe northeasterly gale.

Significant Incidents

  • 1861 Sale: The vessel’s sale to Canadian interests highlighted the active cross-border maritime trade between the U.S. and Canada on the Great Lakes.
  • Rebuild in 1873: The vessel underwent significant repairs and structural modifications in Kingston, Ontario, where she was renamed FEARLESS, indicating both a new chapter in service and ownership.
  • Final Voyage: As the FEARLESS, the schooner met her tragic end during a severe northeasterly gale on November 14, 1875, while carrying a cargo of coal from Oswego to Toronto.

Final Disposition

Declared a total loss, the FEARLESS broke apart in the following weeks, with her remains scattered along the Toronto shoreline. The loss was estimated at $11,000, with partial insurance coverage reported. The wreck served as a stark reminder of the perilous conditions faced by mariners on the Great Lakes during the unpredictable fall storms.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the FEARLESS is not accessible for diving due to its location and the nature of the site. Divers are encouraged to respect the site and engage in no-touch documentation methods, leaving only bubbles and taking only memories.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”fearless-c-33524-tarry-not-d-mcinnis” title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]

The saga of the TARRY NOT—from her origins on the U.S. side of the Great Lakes, through her Canadian service as D. McINNIS, and finally to her tragic demise as the FEARLESS—illustrates the dynamic lives of 19th-century schooners. Each name change marked not just a new owner but new purposes and roles in an era when maritime commerce was the backbone of North American industry. The vessel’s ultimate loss in 1875 also stands as a testament to the fierce storms that have claimed countless ships and lives on the Great Lakes.

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 & Evolution of the Vessel

  • Original Name: TARRY NOT
  • Official Number: None (Canadian registry post-1860)
  • Type: Wooden Schooner (later rebuilt)
  • Year Built: 1857
  • Builder: A. & D. Bailey, Charlotte, NY
  • Original Specifications Tonnage:
    • 265 tons Length: Approx. 122 ft (37.2 m)
    • Beam: 24 ft (7.3 m)
    • Depth: 10 ft (3 m)
  • Ownership & Registration Timeline
    • 1857-1861: TARRY NOT was originally owned by Hosea Rogers of Rochester, NY, with a valuation of $8,500 and rated Class A 1* by the Board of Lake Underwriters (1860).
    • 1861: Sold to Mr. Ritchie of Hamilton, Canada West (now Ontario) for $10,250, as reported by the Detroit Free Press on April 6, 1861. This marked her transition to Canadian waters for service in the Canada trade.
    • 1863: Re-registered as D. McINNIS, owned by Ritchie & Co., homeported in Hamilton, Ontario.
    • 1873: Rebuilt and renamed FEARLESS under the ownership of William Nickel, based out of Clayton, with a valuation of $10,000 and reclassified as Class A 2.

Vessel Type & Description

The TARRY NOT began as a traditional two-masted wooden schooner designed for bulk freight transport, typical of Great Lakes cargo vessels in the mid-19th century. Her robust build, with a cargo capacity of around 12,500 bushels, made her ideal for hauling grain, coal, and lumber across Lakes Ontario and Erie. Following her rebuild in 1873, the vessel received structural reinforcements, likely updating her rigging and hull design to extend her service life as the FEARLESS.

Notable Events & History

  • 1861 Sale: The vessel’s sale to Canadian interests highlighted the active cross-border maritime trade between the U.S. and Canada on the Great Lakes.
  • Rebuild in 1873: The vessel underwent significant repairs and structural modifications in Kingston, Ontario, where she was renamed FEARLESS, indicating both a new chapter in service and ownership.
  • Final Voyage: As the FEARLESS, the schooner met her tragic end during a severe northeasterly gale on November 14, 1875, while carrying a cargo of coal from Oswego to Toronto.

The Loss of the FEARLESS (Former TARRY NOT)

  • Date: November 14, 1875
  • Location: East of the Toronto Islands, Lake Ontario
  • Cause: A violent northeasterly gale with snow squalls overwhelmed the vessel. She was unable to maintain control after losing her sails and was eventually driven aground.
  • Casualties: Captain William Ferguson was tragically drowned when the jolly boat capsized in heavy seas. The remaining crew was rescued after spending a harrowing night aboard the half-submerged wreck.
  • Rescue Efforts: Heroic efforts were made by Thomas Tinning and his crew from the Toronto Lifeboat Station, who braved the treacherous waters to save the surviving sailors.

Final Disposition

Declared a total loss, the FEARLESS broke apart in the following weeks, with her remains scattered along the Toronto shoreline. The loss was estimated at $11,000, with partial insurance coverage reported. The wreck served as a stark reminder of the perilous conditions faced by mariners on the Great Lakes during the unpredictable fall storms.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The saga of the TARRY NOT—from her origins on the U.S. side of the Great Lakes, through her Canadian service as D. McINNIS, and finally to her tragic demise as the FEARLESS—illustrates the dynamic lives of 19th-century schooners. Each name change marked not just a new owner but new purposes and roles in an era when maritime commerce was the backbone of North American industry. The vessel’s ultimate loss in 1875 also stands as a testament to the fierce storms that have claimed countless ships and lives on the Great Lakes.

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