Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: P.W.D. 114
- Type: Wooden barge
- Year Built: circa 1914
- Builder: Possibly foreign sources
- Dimensions: Length X ft; Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: Approx. 103 tons
- Location: Approximately 11 miles ENE of Hamilton, Ontario—near Oakville
- Coordinates: Approximately 11 miles ENE of Hamilton, Ontario
- Official Number: C133941
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: None
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A non-powered wooden barge operating in consort with tugs or steamers to transport bulk cargoes along Lake Ontario.
Description
Details such as hull dimensions and hold configuration remain undocumented. Based on standard practice, the barge would have been built stoutly to carry bulk commodities (e.g., coal, ore, building materials).
History
- Based out of Oswego, NY, and under command of Captain Ford, she was “bound Oswego for Cleveland” at the time of her loss.
Significant Incidents
- Cause: Foundered during the region’s largest storm of the year.
- Overview: In high winds and heavy seas, the barge was blown ashore and wrecked, resulting in a total loss.
- Casualties: No records specify crew fatalities or survivors—status unknown due to lack of documentation.
Final Disposition
- Outcome: The barge was a total wreck—likely stranded or submerged off shore near Oakville.
- Wreck Site: The precise resting location is uncertain. Being a deep-water weather-related loss, debris may lie scattered or partially buried offshore.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No formal Notices to Mariners from Transport Canada or U.S. authorities are documented for this incident.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”p-w-d-114-c-133941″ title=”References & Links”]
P.W.D. 114 exemplifies storm risks for convoy barges on Lake Ontario. Lost during a major gale in late October 1919, her total wreck near Oakville closed a brief service life of approximately five years. While historical records are limited, focused archival research and geophysical surveys could rediscover her remnants or refine the narrative of her demise.
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.
Wooden Barge – Official No. C133941)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name/Official No.: P.W.D. 114 (Official Number C133941) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Type: Wooden barge, approx. 103 tons (Government of Canada Publications)
- Built: Acquired or constructed circa 1914, possibly from foreign sources (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Lost: October 28, 1919
- Location: Approximately 11 miles ENE of Hamilton, Ontario—near Oakville—on Lake Ontario (Facebook, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Vessel Type
A non-powered wooden barge operating in consort with tugs or steamers to transport bulk cargoes along Lake Ontario.
Description
Details such as hull dimensions and hold configuration remain undocumented. Based on standard practice, the barge would have been built stoutly to carry bulk commodities (e.g., coal, ore, building materials).
Operational History
- Based out of Oswego, NY, and under command of Captain Ford, she was “bound Oswego for Cleveland” at the time of her loss (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Final Incident & Casualties
- Cause: Foundered during the region’s largest storm of the year.
- Overview: In high winds and heavy seas, the barge was blown ashore and wrecked, resulting in a total loss (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
- Casualties: No records specify crew fatalities or survivors—status unknown due to lack of documentation.
Disposition & Site Condition
- Outcome: The barge was a total wreck—likely stranded or submerged off shore near Oakville.
- Wreck Site: The precise resting location is uncertain. Being a deep-water weather-related loss, debris may lie scattered or partially buried offshore.
Notices & Warnings
No formal Notices to Mariners from Transport Canada or U.S. authorities are documented for this incident.
Sources & References
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – “P” listing (P.W.D. 114 entry) (Facebook, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Local dive group discussions (Oakville Scuba Divers) confirming location and date (Facebook)
Research Gaps & Recommendations
| Item | Status / Suggestion |
|---|---|
| Exact vessel specifications | Consult Canadian registry (1914–1919) for hull dimensions, construction details |
| Cargo aboard | Review Oswego shipping ledgers or Cleveland consular shipping manifests |
| Crew complement, casualties | Check Marine Department of Canada records and Oswego enrollment / crew lists |
| Eyewitness or salvage reports | Examine Hamilton–Oakville newspaper archives (Oct–Nov 1919) for storm salvage operations |
| Wreck location verification | Consider targeted side-scan sonar or magnetometer surveys offshore Oakville (~11 mi zone) |
Conclusion
P.W.D. 114 exemplifies storm risks for convoy barges on Lake Ontario. Lost during a major gale in late October 1919, her total wreck near Oakville closed a brief service life of approximately five years. While historical records are limited, focused archival research and geophysical surveys could rediscover her remnants or refine the narrative of her demise.
Would you like assistance locating registry documents, marine casualty reports, or organizing a remote survey for this wreck?
p-w-d-114-c-133941 1919-10-28 20:28:00