Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Orcadian
- Type: two-masted Canadian schooner
- Year Built: circa mid-1850s
- Builder:
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Lake Huron / Lake Ontario corridor
- Original Owners: Rae & Bros., Hamilton, Ontario
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Two-masted Canadian schooner.
Description
The Orcadian was a two-masted schooner built in the mid-1850s. At the time of her loss, she was carrying a cargo of 8,200 bushels of wheat from Bayfield, Ontario, to Oswego, New York.
History
Owned by Rae & Bros. of Hamilton, Ontario, the Orcadian was captained by James Corrigal. The vessel met her fate on May 8, 1858, during a collision with the schooner Lucy J. Latham, which was outbound from Oswego with a cargo of salt bound for Chicago.
Significant Incidents
- In the early morning of May 8, 1858, the Orcadian collided with the Lucy J. Latham under darkness or pre-dawn conditions.
- As the Orcadian began to sink, her rigging snagged on the Latham‘s bowsprit, causing the latter’s stern to lift significantly before the Orcadian sank.
Final Disposition
The Orcadian sank rapidly after the collision, and no salvage attempts were recorded. She was declared a total loss.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site of the Orcadian remains undocumented, with no modern dive or archaeological verification existing.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”orcadian-c1855″ title=”References & Links”]
The collision of the Orcadian and Lucy J. Latham serves as a reminder of the navigational hazards faced during overnight cargo operations on the Great Lakes in the mid-19th century.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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