Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: John R. Noyes
- Type: Wooden schooner-barge (bulk-freight)
- Year Built: 1872
- Builder: J. Navagh shipyard, Algonac, Michigan
- Dimensions: 136 ft × 26 ft × 11 ft; 316 GRT / 300 NRT
- Registered Tonnage: 316 GRT / 300 NRT
- Location: Near Salmon Point (Lakeside), off Prince Edward County, Ontario
- Official Number: 75434
- Number of Masts: Three-masted
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
This was a large wooden schooner converted for bulk freight, characterized by its deep hold and deck strength—commonly towed behind steam vessels to increase cargo capacity.
Description
Constructed in 1872 and later serving as a coal-barge, John R. Noyes left Charlotte, NY, in tow by the steamer John E. Hall on 12 December 1902. After enduring a gale for 36 hours, the towline failed near the Ducks shoal. The barge lost its yawlboat, sails, and anchors, then drifted and foundered. Survivors (5 crew and 2 dogs) were rescued on 15 December by the U.S. Life-Saving Station team at Charlotte—a heroic effort that earned them Gold Medals from the Treasury Department (shipwreckworld.com).
History
The John E. Hall sank earlier on 14 December with all hands and remains a separate tragic loss (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
Significant Incidents
- Storm-foundering after towline parted while being towed by the steamer John E. Hall.
- Rescue of 5 crew members and 2 dogs by the U.S. Life-Saving Station team at Charlotte on 15 December 1902.
Final Disposition
After the storm, John R. Noyes drifted and eventually broke up ashore near Salmon Point. She was officially lost; no salvage attempts were reported beyond crew rescue.
Current Condition & Accessibility
John R. Noyes was discovered by rescuers on 15 December 1902, grounded near Lakeside. Its wreck site has never been surveyed or mapped. The John E. Hall remains unsalvaged and unrecovered.
No navigational markers reference this wreck site. The area includes shallow shoals near Salmon Point—hazardous during winter storms—and is not charted for wreck safety.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”john-r-noyles-us-75434″ title=”References & Links”]
John R. Noyes sank on 15 December 1902 after a winter gale severed her towline near Salmon Point. Thanks to the heroic Charlotte Life-Saving Station crew, all aboard survived. The incident also claimed the lives of John E. Hall on 14 December. Both wrecks remain uncharted, serving as reminders of the perilous nature of early 20th-century towing operations on Lake Ontario.
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
- Name: John R. Noyes
- Built: 1872, J. Navagh shipyard, Algonac, Michigan, originally as a three‑masted schooner
- Official Number: 75434
- Vessel Type: Wooden schooner-barge (bulk-freight)
- Dimensions: 136 ft × 26 ft × 11 ft; 316 GRT / 300 NRT
- Final Loss: 15 December 1902
- Location: Near Salmon Point (Lakeside), off Prince Edward County, Ontario, Lake Ontario
- Cause of Loss: Storm-foundering after towline parted—towed by steamer John E. Hall
- Cargo: Coal
- Crew & Casualties: None; 5 rescued (plus 2 dogs)
Vessel Type
This was a large wooden schooner converted for bulk freight, characterized by its deep hold and deck strength—commonly towed behind steam vessels to increase cargo capacity.
History & Final Voyage
Constructed in 1872 and later serving as a coal-barge, John R. Noyes left Charlotte, NY, in tow by the steamer John E. Hall on 12 December 1902. After enduring a gale for 36 hours, the towline failed near the Ducks shoal. The barge lost its yawlboat, sails, and anchors, then drifted and foundered. Survivors (5 crew and 2 dogs) were rescued on 15 December by the U.S. Life-Saving Station team at Charlotte—a heroic effort that earned them Gold Medals from the Treasury Department (shipwreckworld.com).
The John E. Hall sank earlier on 14 December with all hands and remains a separate tragic loss (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
Final Disposition
After the storm, John R. Noyes drifted and eventually broke up ashore near Salmon Point. She was officially lost; no salvage attempts were reported beyond crew rescue.
Located By & Date Found
- John R. Noyes was discovered by rescuers on 15 December 1902, grounded near Lakeside. Its wreck site has never been surveyed or mapped.
- The John E. Hall remains unsalvaged and unrecovered.
Notmars & Advisories
No navigational markers reference this wreck site. The area includes shallow shoals near Salmon Point—hazardous during winter storms—and is not charted for wreck safety.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files summary: build info, incident overview (shipwreckworld.com, dickandlibby.blogspot.com)
- ShipwreckWorld Q&A post (with survivor rescue details) (shipwreckworld.com)
- Life-Saving Medal awards list; heroic rescue citation (dickandlibby.blogspot.com)
- National Museum of the Great Lakes article overview (nmgl.org)
- Newspaper brief from Lockport Journal (NY) Dec 1902 referencing tow line break and rescue (nyshistoricnewspapers.org)
Conclusion
John R. Noyes sank on 15 December 1902 after a winter gale severed her towline near Salmon Point. Thanks to the heroic Charlotte Life-Saving Station crew, all aboard survived. The incident also claimed the lives of John E. Hall on 14 December. Both wrecks remain uncharted, serving as reminders of the perilous nature of early 20th-century towing operations on Lake Ontario.