Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Gleniffer
- Type: Three-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1873
- Builder: Port Robinson, Ontario
- Dimensions: Length 134 ft (40.8 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 338.41
- Depth at Wreck Site: 3.5 m / 11.5 ft
- Location: St. Clair River, near Star Island
- Original Owners: James Norris, J.O. Nisbet
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Gleniffer was a large Canadian-built schooner constructed to serve cargo trade routes across the Great Lakes. Her three-masted rig and reliance on frequent steam towage made her typical of transitional-era sailing vessels in the late 19th century, especially for bulk goods like grain and timber.
Description
The Gleniffer was a wooden hull vessel designed for the transportation of cargo across the Great Lakes. With a length of 134 feet and a gross tonnage of 338.41, she was a significant player in the shipping industry of her time.
History
Operational Incidents
- August 1878: Minor collision with Grace Murray on Lake Huron.
- November 1880: Heavily damaged in a gale near Port Colborne while carrying corn from Toledo to Kingston.
- November 1882: Grounded on Bird Island reef near the Niagara River entrance, later repaired in Port Robinson.
- 1883: Damaged again during a gale on Lake Erie.
Towage and Steam Assistance
Frequently towed by steamers including:
- Lincoln
- Celtic
- L. Shickluna
- Lisgar
Groundings and Repairs
- November 1889: Ran aground at Port Credit en route to Toronto. Raised and sold to McSherry.
- 1891: Significant rebuild in Toronto.
- 1898: Purchased by J.O. Nisbet of Detroit, registered in Sarnia, Ontario.
Significant Incidents
Final Incident
Date: June 27, 1902
Circumstances: While under tow by the steamer Seaman alongside the vessel Lothair, the Gleniffer collided with the steamer Admiral near the southeast Star Island dock in the St. Clair River. The collision caused Gleniffer to sink rapidly.
Aftermath: Deemed a navigational hazard, the wreck was destroyed using dynamite by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers shortly after the incident to clear the shipping lane.
Final Disposition
The wreck was fully demolished by government order; no remaining wreckage is known to exist. The site is no longer accessible for dive or survey purposes.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The Gleniffer is emblematic of the schooner era’s decline on the Great Lakes. Her long service, frequent damage, rebuilds, and eventual destruction by collision mark the challenges of adapting sail vessels to a steam-dominated shipping world. Though erased physically, her operational history remains well-documented and reflective of a dynamic industrial period.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”gleniffer-1873″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
As divers, we must remember to respect the history of shipwrecks like the Gleniffer. Leave only bubbles, take only memories, and ensure that we leave the underwater environment better than we found it.
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.
Gleniffer (Built 1873 – Lost June 27, 1902)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Vessel Name: Gleniffer
- Type: Three-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1873
- Builder: Port Robinson, Ontario
- Original Owner: James Norris, St. Catharines, Ontario
- Hull Material: Wood
- Decks: One
- Masts: Three
Dimensions and Tonnage
- Length: 40.8 m (134 ft)
- Beam: 8.0 m (26.1 ft)
- Depth: 3.5 m (11.5 ft)
- Gross Tonnage: 338.41
- Net Tonnage: 314.59
Vessel Type Description
The Gleniffer was a large Canadian-built schooner constructed to serve cargo trade routes across the Great Lakes. Her three-masted rig and reliance on frequent steam towage made her typical of transitional-era sailing vessels in the late 19th century, especially for bulk goods like grain and timber.
History
Operational Incidents
- August 1878: Minor collision with Grace Murray on Lake Huron.
- November 1880: Heavily damaged in a gale near Port Colborne while carrying corn from Toledo to Kingston.
- November 1882: Grounded on Bird Island reef near the Niagara River entrance, later repaired in Port Robinson.
- 1883: Damaged again during a gale on Lake Erie.
Towage and Steam Assistance
Frequently towed by steamers including:
- Lincoln
- Celtic
- L. Shickluna
- Lisgar
Groundings and Repairs
- November 1889: Ran aground at Port Credit en route to Toronto. Raised and sold to McSherry.
- 1891: Significant rebuild in Toronto.
- 1898: Purchased by J.O. Nisbet of Detroit, registered in Sarnia, Ontario.
Final Incident
Date: June 27, 1902
Circumstances:
While under tow by the steamer Seaman alongside the vessel Lothair, the Gleniffer collided with the steamer Admiral near the southeast Star Island dock in the St. Clair River. The collision caused Gleniffer to sink rapidly.
Aftermath:
Deemed a navigational hazard, the wreck was destroyed using dynamite by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers shortly after the incident to clear the shipping lane.
Wreck Condition and Current Status
- The wreck was fully demolished by government order; no remaining wreckage is known to exist.
- Site no longer accessible for dive or survey purposes.
Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- U.S. Corps of Engineers Reports (1902–1903)
Conclusion
The Gleniffer is emblematic of the schooner era’s decline on the Great Lakes. Her long service, frequent damage, rebuilds, and eventual destruction by collision mark the challenges of adapting sail vessels to a steam-dominated shipping world. Though erased physically, her operational history remains well-documented and reflective of a dynamic industrial period.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
Gleniffer; schooner; steam towage; Port Robinson shipbuilding; St. Clair River wreck; Star Island; Bird Island Reef; wooden hull; Great Lakes cargo vessel; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; maritime transition era.
unknown-64 1902-06-27 07:50:00