Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Pioneer

Explore the wreck of the Pioneer, a 99-foot schooner that sank in Lake Ontario in 1871, resting at a depth of 150 feet.

GPS: 42.123293, -86.483884

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Pioneer
  • Type: Schooner
  • Year Built: 1860
  • Builder: Mr. M. Simpson of Newcastle
  • Dimensions: 99 ft (30.18 m); Beam: 18 ft; Depth of hold: 7 ft
  • Registered Tonnage: 115 tons
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 45.72 m / 150 ft
  • Location: Approximately 5-6 miles off Presqu'Isle Point, Lake Ontario
  • Coordinates: Approximate, historical records do not provide exact coordinates.
  • Original Owners: John Guy of Oshawa, John Blow of Whitby, John Allen
  • Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Pioneer is classified as a schooner, a type of sailing vessel characterized by its two or more masts and a fore-and-aft rig.

Description

The Pioneer was constructed with a carvel-built wooden hull, featuring a square stern and a standing bowsprit. It had a single deck and was designed for fishing and coal transport.

History

The Pioneer was launched in May 1860, built for fishing trips to the Gulf during the summer months. On June 11, 1871, while en route from Oswego loaded with coal, the vessel sank approximately 5 or 6 miles off Presqu’Isle Point. The cause of the sinking is unclear, but all crew members survived the incident. The vessel was registered in the port of Whitby, and its certificate was canceled in 1881, ten years after the loss.

Significant Incidents

  • June 11, 1871: The Pioneer sank in Lake Ontario, approximately 5-6 miles off Presqu’Isle Point, while carrying coal from Oswego.

Final Disposition

The Pioneer was permanently lost off Presqu’Isle Point, marking the end of its maritime service and becoming part of Lake Ontario’s maritime history.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the Pioneer lies at a depth of about 150 feet, making it accessible primarily to experienced divers due to the depth and conditions.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”pioneer” title=”References & Links”]

The story of the Pioneer serves as a reminder of the maritime challenges faced by 19th-century sailors and the importance of these vessels in the economic landscape of the Great Lakes.

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.

Identification and Site Information

  • Vessel Name: Pioneer
  • Type: Schooner
  • Location: Approximately 5-6 miles off Presqu’Isle Point, Lake Ontario
  • Coordinates: Approximate, historical records do not provide exact coordinates.
  • Depth: The wreck lies at about 25 fathoms (150 feet).
  • Tonnage: 115 tons
  • Length: 99 feet
  • Beam: 18 feet
  • Depth of Hold: 7 feet
  • Construction: Carvel-built wooden hull
  • Masts: Two
  • Stern: Square stern
  • Bowsprit: Standing bowsprit
  • Deck: Single deck

History

The Pioneer was a wooden schooner constructed by Mr. M. Simpson of Newcastle for Mr. J. Robinson and launched in May 1860. Built for the purpose of engaging in fishing trips to the Gulf during the summer months, the Pioneer had a tonnage of 115 tons and was well-suited for its intended use.

The schooner met its unfortunate fate on June 11, 1871, when it sank in Lake Ontario. The vessel was en route from Oswego, loaded with coal, when it went down approximately 5 or 6 miles off Presqu’Isle Point. The exact cause of the sinking remains unclear, but it resulted in the complete loss of the vessel, which now rests in about 25 fathoms (150 feet) of water. Remarkably, despite the harrowing experience, all crew members survived the incident.

Contemporary reports from the Cobourg Sentinel and other local newspapers confirmed the sinking of the Pioneer. The accounts noted that the ship foundered on Monday afternoon, June 11, 1871, in 160 feet of water, yet the crew managed to escape unharmed, highlighting the perilous nature of Great

The Pioneer was registered in the port of Whitby and built by John Treleaven, who also served as the surveyor. The subscribing owners included John Guy of Oshawa, John Blow of Whitby, and John Allen, each holding various shares in the vessel. By 1868, John Allen had transferred his shares due to a mortgage, and the vessel’s certificate was eventually canceled in 1881, ten years after the Pioneer was lost.

Final Disposition

The Pioneer was permanently lost off Presqu’Isle Point, marking the end of its maritime service. The shipwreck, now lying in deep waters, remains a part of Lake Ontario’s rich maritime history.

Resources & Links

Tags

  • Type: Schooner
  • Location: Lake Ontario, Presqu’Isle Point
  • Year Built: 1860
  • Year Wrecked: 1871
  • Purpose: Fishing, Coal Transport
  • Construction: Wooden hull, Carvel-built

Analysis

The sinking of the Pioneer adds to the long list of maritime tragedies that have occurred on the Great Lakes. The vessel’s history reflects the challenges faced by 19th-century mariners, who navigated these waters with limited technology and faced unpredictable weather conditions. The survival of the crew despite the total loss of the vessel is a testament to their seamanship and the importance of swift action in the face of disaster. The Pioneer‘s story also underscores the economic importance of these schooners, which played a vital role in transporting goods such as coal across the Great Lakes region.

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