Lydia Mack (1872)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Lydia Mack
• Type: Scow-schooner
• Year Built: 1872
• Builder: Crouth
• Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage: ~100 T
• Depth at Wreck Site: 15 m / 50 ft
• Location: ~20 miles SW of Port Stanley, Ontario
• Original Owners: Berry Bros.

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Type: Single-deck wooden scow-schooner (coal and bulk freight)

Description

The Lydia Mack was a wooden scow-schooner built in 1872 at Port Stanley, Ontario. It was primarily used for transporting coal and other bulk freight.

History

The vessel was registered in Port Stanley and owned by Berry Bros. It had a tonnage of approximately 100 tons.

Significant Incidents

• On September 22, 1877, while bound from Cleveland to Port Stanley, the Lydia Mack sprang a leak mid-lake.
• The pumps initially kept her afloat, but one pump failed, leading to the vessel foundering and sinking in approximately 50 feet of water.
• All five crew members successfully abandoned ship and were not lost during the sinking.
• The vessel was valued at approximately $2,500 and was listed as a total loss.

Final Disposition

The Lydia Mack sank approximately 20 miles southwest of Port Stanley, Ontario, and was declared a total loss.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the Lydia Mack lies at a depth of about 50 feet in Lake Erie. The condition of the wreck is not detailed in the sources.

Resources & Links

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The wreck of the Lydia Mack serves as a historical reminder of the maritime activities in the Great Lakes region during the late 19th century.