Garrowenm (Mary, Inkerman, Tornado, Stork)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Garrowenm
• Type: Wood-hulled schooner or bark (converted from barge)
• Year Built: 1850
• Builder: G. Ault, Kingston, Ontario
• Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage: ~333 tons
• Depth at Wreck Site: 18.3 m / 60 ft
• Location: ~10 miles offshore between Cleveland and Toronto
• Coordinates: Approximate location noted, but exact position and depth require confirmatory dive mapping.
• Official Number: None assigned (Canadian registry)
• Original Owners: Co-owned by Captain Hughes and M. Miles
• Number of Masts: Not specified

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Garrowenm was a wood-hulled schooner or bark, originally built as a barge named Mary in 1850. It underwent several name changes and rebuilds throughout its service life, reflecting the common practice of repurposing aging vessels in the 19th century.

Description

Initially constructed as the Mary, the vessel was later renamed Inkerman around 1854, followed by Tornado in approximately 1857, Stork in around 1861, and finally Garrowenm in 1865. The ship was built by G. Ault in Kingston, Ontario, and had a registered tonnage of approximately 333 tons.

History

By 1869, the Garrowenm was operating under Captain Hughes out of Toronto and was co-owned by M. Miles. The vessel’s service history included transporting coal, and it was on a voyage from Cleveland to Toronto when it sank.

Significant Incidents

• Date: July 1, 1869
• Route: Departed Cleveland, bound for Toronto laden with coal
• Incident: Sprung a leak in calm weather approximately 10 miles offshore; water flooded over the deck to a depth of 60 feet
• Outcome: Crew abandoned ship in the yawl and reached safety; multiple claims of intentional scuttling as an insurance scam were refuted by early diver investigations.

Final Disposition

The Garrowenm sank in Lake Erie, and while the calm-weather sinking suggests structural failure rather than weather-induced damage, the exact circumstances remain unclear. The vessel’s wreck is believed to be located at a depth of approximately 60 feet.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is likely in a condition where the hull hulk and keel may remain intact, possibly broken above and below deck level. The exact position and depth require confirmatory dive mapping.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”garrowenmmary-inkerman-tornado-stork” title=”References & Links”]

The Garrowenm serves as an example of 19th-century vessel lifespan extension through structural repurposing and highlights the construction and maintenance challenges faced by aging wooden schooners.