Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Portage
- Type: Wooden, single-decked schooner
- Year Built: 1862
- Builder: William Brown
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 260 tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 7.62 m / 25 ft
- Location: Approximately 8 miles west of Port Rowan, Ontario
- Official Number: 19942
- Original Owners: Sylvester Doolittle, J. Joyce, F. Horton
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type: Wooden, single-decked schooner
Description
The Portage was a wooden, single-decked schooner built in 1862 by William Brown. Originally owned by Sylvester Doolittle, it had a registered tonnage of 260 tons.
History
1862: Enrolled first at Sandusky, Ohio; later with Oswego, New York.
1865: Recorded at Oswego with 224 gross tons.
1871: Owned by J. Joyce, described as a scow-schooner.
1872: Underwent repairs.
1874: Ownership transferred to F. Horton of Erie, Pennsylvania.
1878, July: Loaded with 400 tons of coal bound from Fair Haven, New York to Toledo, Ohio when caught in a gale and sank near Port Rowan.
Significant Incidents
- Date of Loss: 26–27 July 1878
- Location: Approximately 8 miles west of Port Rowan, Ontario, in ~25 ft of water off Lake Erie’s north shore
- Cause: Foundered in a sudden gale while transporting 400 tons of coal; took on water and sank near shore
- Casualties: None recorded
- Salvage: Part of the cargo was recovered the following spring
Final Disposition
The Portage sank during a gale while carrying coal. The wreck lies in approximately 25 ft of water, making it accessible for surveys and dives.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The hull foundered and likely settled on a sandy bottom in approximately 25 ft of water. Remains such as framing and any machinery might still lie in situ. The shallow depth near shore suggests that visual or sonar survey is feasible from small craft or shore. However, wreckage may be obscured by sediment or spring driftwood, requiring sonar for precise location.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”portage-us-19942″ title=”References & Links”]
The Portage, a 260-ton schooner built in 1862, met its demise on 26–27 July 1878 after taking on water and foundering during a gale off Port Rowan, Ontario. Fully laden with 400 tons of coal, her crew survived and much of the cargo was later salvaged. The wreck lies in shallow water (~25 ft), making it amenable to survey efforts. To enrich this profile, further research in maritime logs, insurance records, and period newspapers is recommended.
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.
Year Built: 1862, Portage River, Ohio
Official Number: 19942
Vessel Type: Wooden, single-decked schooner
Builder: William Brown
Original Owner: Sylvester Doolittle
Tonnage (“old style”): 260 tons
Final Disposition
- Date of Loss: 26–27 July 1878
- Location: Approximately 8 miles west of Port Rowan, Ontario, in ~25 ft of water off Lake Erie’s north shore (Alchem Inc.)
- Cause: Foundered in a sudden gale while transporting 400 tons of coal; took on water and sank near shore (Alchem Inc.)
- Casualties: None recorded
- Salvage: Part of the cargo was recovered the following spring (Alchem Inc.)
History & Operational Record
- 1862: Enrolled first at Sandusky, Ohio; later with Oswego, New York (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- 1865: Recorded at Oswego with 224 gross tons (Alchem Inc.)
- 1871: Owned by J. Joyce, described as a scow‑schooner (Alchem Inc.)
- 1872: Underwent repairs (Alchem Inc.)
- 1874: Ownership transferred to F. Horton of Erie, Pennsylvania
- 1878, July: Loaded with 400 tons of coal bound from Fair Haven, New York to Toledo, Ohio when caught in a gale and sank near Port Rowan (Alchem Inc.)
Wreck & Dive Notes
- Wreck Condition: The hull foundered and likely settled on a sandy bottom in approximately 25 ft of water. Remains such as framing and any machinery might still lie in situ.
- Accessibility: Shallow depth near shore suggests that visual or sonar survey is feasible from small craft or shore.
- Visibility: Wreckage may be obscured by sediment or spring driftwood, requiring sonar for precise location.
Research Recommendations
- Local Newspaper Accounts (July–August 1878):
- Port Rowan Gazette, Port Dover Chronicle, and U.S. newspapers along Lake Erie may contain storm reports and wreck assessments.
- Maritime & Insurance Logs:
- Lloyd’s or Board of Lake Underwriters might hold marine casualty reports, declarations of total loss, or claims filed after the incident.
- Harbor Master’s Records (Ontario/Ohio):
- Records from the Port Rowan or Toledo harbormasters may include notifications of foundered vessels or floating hazards.
- Spring Salvage Reports:
- Documentation related to coal salvage operations in 1879 may be found in port office archives or newspapers.
Sources
- Alchem Inc. “Erie–Ashtabula Shipwrecks”: Notes Portage as a 224-ton schooner that sank off Port Rowan in ~25 ft of water carrying 400 tons of coal (Alchem Inc.)
- History of the Great Lakes (LinkstoThePast): Confirms sinking in July 1878 off Port Rowan (Links to the Past)
Summary
The Portage, a 260-ton schooner built in 1862, met its demise on 26–27 July 1878 after taking on water and foundering during a gale off Port Rowan, Ontario. Fully laden with 400 tons of coal, her crew survived and much of the cargo was later salvaged. The wreck lies in shallow water (~25 ft), making it amenable to survey efforts. To enrich this profile, further research in maritime logs, insurance records, and period newspapers is recommended. Let me know if you’d like assistance obtaining specific archival records.
portage-us-19942 1878-07-27 19:22:00