Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Oriental
- Type: Wooden-hulled, two-masted schooner-barge
- Year Built: 1866
- Builder: Roney, Garden Island, Ontario
- Dimensions: ~137 ft × 25 ft × 13 ft; 354 GRT / 328 NRT
- Registered Tonnage: 354 GRT / 328 NRT
- Location: 2 miles off Port Dalhousie, Lake Ontario (near the mouth of Welland Canal)
- Official Number: C72581
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A sizable schooner-barge used for transporting coal across Lake Ontario, she lacked independent propulsion and was always towed by steamers. Registered out of Kingston and captained by Capt. George Stewart at her end (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Description
The Oriental was a wooden-hulled, two-masted schooner-barge designed primarily for the transportation of coal. Due to her design, she was dependent on steamers for propulsion and was towed during her voyages.
History
- 1866: Enrolled in Roney, Garden Island, Ontario; entered freight service on the Niagara corridor.
- 1887 (Oct 23): While moving coal from Charlotte, NY to Toronto in tow of Scotia and headed toward Port Dalhousie, Oriental parted towline amid a fierce gale. Breaking free, she was overwhelmed by waves and sank. The crew of seven perished.
Significant Incidents
- October 23, 1887: The Oriental sank after her towline snapped during a gale, leading to the loss of all seven crew members aboard.
Final Disposition
Once adrift, Oriental quickly foundered in deep water and sank. Salvage operations later recovered her anchor, chains, and gear in September 1888 (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files). No hull recovery efforts were documented.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There are no known dive surveys or archaeological investigations confirming the wreck’s location. Given the depth and the gale conditions at the time, her hull likely lies far below the surface and remains undiscovered.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”oriental-c-72581″ title=”References & Links”]
The Oriental met her fate under harsh autumn weather on October 23, 1887—her towline gave way amid a gale near Port Dalhousie, sending her into the depths with her entire crew of seven. The loss underscores the hazards of tow operations on Lake Ontario and the lethal consequences of sudden storms. While her precise resting place remains unknown, her story endures as a solemn chapter in Great Lakes maritime history.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Oriental
- Official Number: C72581
- Year built: 1866, Roney, Garden Island, Ontario
- Type: Wooden-hulled, two-masted schooner-barge
- Dimensions: ~137 ft × 25 ft × 13 ft; 354 GRT / 328 NRT
- Final loss date: October 23, 1887
- Location: 2 miles off Port Dalhousie, Lake Ontario (near the mouth of Welland Canal)
- Cargo: Coal
- Loss type: Towline snapped during gale while under tow of propeller Scotia; foundered and sank
- Casualties: Seven souls lost (all aboard) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Vessel Type & Description
A sizable schooner-barge used for transporting coal across Lake Ontario, she lacked independent propulsion and was always towed by steamers. Registered out of Kingston and captained by Capt. George Stewart at her end (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
History & Final Voyage
- 1866: Enrolled in Roney, Garden Island, Ontario; entered freight service on the Niagara corridor
- 1887 (Oct 23): While moving coal from Charlotte, NY to Toronto in tow of Scotia and headed toward Port Dalhousie, Oriental parted towline amid a fierce gale. Breaking free, she was overwhelmed by waves and sank. The crew of seven perished.
Final Disposition
Once adrift, Oriental quickly foundered in deep water and sank. Salvage operations later recovered her anchor, chains, and gear in September 1888 (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files). No hull recovery efforts were documented.
Located By & Survey Status
There are no known dive surveys or archaeological investigations confirming the wreck’s location. Given the depth and the gale conditions at the time, her hull likely lies far below the surface and remains undiscovered.
Notmar & Navigational Advisories
No Notices to Mariners reference the wreck directly. However, the area is still tracked as a key shipping channel for large lake freighters and tow operations. Modern mariners are advised to heed weather warnings and avoid winter towing in the region.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – highly detailed entry under “Oriental”, noting sinking details, crew loss, rescue efforts, and partial salvage (shipwreckworld.com, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Keywords & Categories
- Keywords: Oriental schooner-barge wreck, Port Dalhousie, coal tow loss
- Categories: Wooden schooner-barges, gale-related losses, Lake Ontario shipwrecks
- Glossary:
- Schooner-barge: A sailing vessel adapted to be towed, capable of minor sail handling
- Foundered: Swamped and sank due to storms or leakage
- Towline parting: Rope or cable snapping under tension, leaving barge adrift
Final Summary
The Oriental met her fate under harsh autumn weather on October 23, 1887—her towline gave way amid a gale near Port Dalhousie, sending her into the depths with her entire crew of seven. The loss underscores the hazards of tow operations on Lake Ontario and the lethal consequences of sudden storms. While her precise resting place remains unknown, her story endures as a solemn chapter in Great Lakes maritime history.
oriental-c-72581 1887-10-23 23:34:00