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
[shotline_reference_links slug=”lydia-mack-1872″ title=”References & Links”]
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.
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.
(scow-schooner; built 1872)
Identification & Construction
- Build: 1872 at Port Stanley, Ontario by Crouth
- Type: Single-deck wooden scow-schooner (coal and bulk freight), ~100 T
- Registry: Port Stanley; owned by Berry Bros.
Final Voyage & Loss
- Date: September 22, 1877
- Route: Bound from Cleveland to Port Stanley
- Cargo: 165 tons of coal
- Incident: Sprang a leak mid-lake; initially the pumps kept her afloat, but one failed. The vessel foundered and sank in ~50 ft of water, approximately 20 miles southwest of Port Stanley, Ontario.
- Casualties: None of the five crew members were lost during the sinking. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, alcheminc.com)
Incident Details
- The scow’s pumps functioned until one failed, after which water overwhelmed the hold.
- The crew abandoned ship successfully, but the vessel sank rapidly thereafter.
- Valued at approximately $2,500, she was listed as a total loss.
Summary Table
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Build Year | 1872, Port Stanley, Ontario |
| Type | Wood scow-schooner (coal carrier) |
| Tonnage | ~100 tons |
| Cargo on loss | 165 tons of coal |
| Date of Loss | September 22, 1877 |
| Location | ~20 miles SW of Port Stanley, Lake Erie |
| Depth at Loss | ~50 feet (15 m) |
| Casualties | None (5 crew survived) |
| Insured Value | Approx. $2,500 |
Sources
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, record “LYDIA MACK”
- Register of Wrecks and Casualties, Inland Waters (Lydia Mack 1877) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, alcheminc.com)
Suggested Next Research Steps
- Crew List & Survivor Accounts: Look for newspaper mentions in Port Stanley Evening News or Cleveland newspapers, Sept 1877
- Insurance Files: Underwriter records from Port Stanley insurers could provide detailed claims and hull valuation
- Launch & Registration Data: Access Port Stanley Customs or harbor logs for build specifics and vessel registration