Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: James G. Worts
- Type: Three-Masted Wooden Schooner
- Year Built: 1874
- Builder: W. Jamieson, Mill Point, Ontario
- Dimensions: Length 136 ft (41.5 m); Beam 26 ft (7.9 m); Depth of hold 11 ft (3.4 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 345 gross tons; 309 net tons
- Location: West of Tobermory, Ontario, Lake Huron
- Official Number: C71245
- Original Owners: David Sylvester, Toronto, Ontario
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The James G. Worts was a large, three-masted wooden schooner designed for bulk cargo transport, primarily used in the grain trade.
Description
The James G. Worts was built in 1874 at Mill Point, Ontario (now Deseronto, Ontario). The vessel was known for carrying grain, lumber, and other commodities across the Great Lakes. By 1895, it was still active, making regular voyages between ports in Ontario, the U.S. Midwest, and the Atlantic seaboard.
History
The James G. Worts was owned by David Sylvester of Toronto and was often towed by steamers to improve efficiency and speed on the lakes. The vessel’s final voyage began with a cargo of 20,000 bushels of wheat, heading for an eastern Canadian port.
Significant Incidents
- Stranding at Devil’s Island Bank: On November 8, 1895, the vessel stranded on Devil’s Island Bank, near Cove Island, while passing through treacherous waters. The crew abandoned the vessel safely, with no reported casualties.
- Destruction by a Second Storm: On November 13, 1895, a second storm dismasted the wrecked schooner, leading to its complete destruction.
- Tragic Lightkeeper Drowning: The day after the second storm, a local lighthouse keeper drowned while attempting to salvage cargo from the wreck.
Final Disposition
The James G. Worts was completely destroyed by storms, leaving no intact structure. Some wooden fragments, iron fastenings, or cargo remnants may still exist on the lakebed near the wreck site.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site is located at Devil’s Island Bank, near Cove Island, west of Tobermory, Ontario. The area is known for hazardous waters and shifting sands, which may have buried or dispersed wreckage.
Resources & Links
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The James G. Worts remains a lost piece of Lake Huron’s maritime history. While no significant wreckage has been found, potential artifacts may still lie beneath the waters near Cove Island, awaiting discovery by divers and researchers.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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