Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Severn
- Type: Wooden schooner-barge (non-powered)
- Year Built: 1872
- Builder: Unknown
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: Likely in the 300–500-ton range
- Location: Lake Huron, off the Saugeen Peninsula
- Official Number: Unknown
- Original Owners: Mrs A. R. Christie
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A schooner-barge—essentially a large sailing barge rigged with two masts but relying on tow for propulsion. Typical of late 19th-century Great Lakes freight fleets, these barges were affordable carryalls for bulk cargo like coal, but vulnerable in storms.
Description
The Severn was part of a tow with the steamer Africa on 5 October 1895, transporting approximately 850 tons of coal through Lake Huron. During a fierce gale off the Saugeen Peninsula, the towline was cut, and the schooner vanished shortly thereafter.
History
Registered out of Owen Sound and owned by Mrs A. R. Christie, the Severn was involved in a significant maritime incident. The vessel was lost during a storm, and no wreckage or survivors were reported. The barge is considered a complete and unmapped loss.
Significant Incidents
- Date of Loss: 5 October 1895
- Voyage: Bound from Ashtabula, OH to Owen Sound, ON, as a towed barge behind the propeller Africa
- Incident: Caught in a violent storm on Lake Huron; Africa released Severn from tow, and the schooner disappeared—presumed foundered.
- Casualties: None documented—lost crew presumed among those aboard Africa (13 total fatalities; crew counts uncertain).
Final Disposition
The Severn was released in a storm and never seen again. Believed to have foundered during the gale; no wreckage or survivors were reported. The barge is considered a complete and unmapped loss.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No modern rediscovery or wreck location reported. The wreck probably lies in deep water off the Saugeen coast, with no navigational buoy or hazard marking indicating the site.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”severn-1872″ title=”References & Links”]
The Severn, a schooner-barge built in 1872 and carrying roughly 850 tons of coal, was lost in the stormy disaster involving the steamer Africa on 5 October 1895. Kept afloat by a tow that was cut during a Lake Huron gale, she was never recovered, her crew never seen again, and her wreck remains unlocated in deep Ontario waters.
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: Severn (often referenced as “Schooner Severn“)
- Vessel Type: Wooden schooner-barge (non-powered)
- Built: 1872 (exact builder not noted) (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, canadiangeographic.ca, threeharbors.com)
- Official Number: Unknown
- Tonnage & Size: Likely in the 300–500–ton range (typical of barges towed by Africa)
- Cargo: Approximately 850 tons of coal (thevintagenews.com, interlochenpublicradio.org)
Final Voyage & Loss
- Date of Loss: 5 October 1895 (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Voyage: Bound from Ashtabula, OH to Owen Sound, ON, as a towed barge behind the propeller Africa
- Incident: Caught in a violent storm on Lake Huron; Africa released Severn from tow, and the schooner disappeared—presumed foundered (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, thevintagenews.com)
- Casualties: None documented—lost crew presumed among those aboard Africa (13 total fatalities; crew counts uncertain) (en.wikipedia.org)
Vessel Type & Description
A schooner-barge—essentially a large sailing barge rigged with two masts but relying on tow for propulsion. Typical of late 19th-century Great Lakes freight fleets, these barges were affordable carryalls for bulk cargo like coal, but vulnerable in storms.
History
Registered out of Owen Sound and owned by Mrs A. R. Christie, Severn was part of a tow with Africa on 5 October 1895, transporting coal through Lake Huron (en.wikipedia.org, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com). During a fierce gale off the Saugeen Peninsula, the towline was cut—the schooner vanished shortly thereafter.
Final Disposition
Severn was released in a storm and never seen again. Believed to have foundered during the gale; no wreckage or survivors were reported. The barge is considered a complete and unmapped loss.
Located By & Date Found
Nil return. No modern rediscovery or wreck location reported.
Notations & Advisories
- As part of the Africa disaster, Severn is entwined in a prominent shipwreck event on Lake Huron.
- No navigational buoy or hazard marking indicates the site; the wreck probably lies in deep water off the Saugeen coast.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files entry confirms loss and tow details (smithsonianmag.com, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Wreck story featured alongside the discovery of Africa in marine databases (en.wikipedia.org)
Archival & Research Advancement
To round out this record, the following steps are recommended:
- Tow Logs: Investigate Africa‘s logbooks for crew and barge records.
- Shipping Company Records: Search under Mrs A. R. Christie’s ownership files in Owen Sound for voyage manifests or insurance policies.
- Contemporary Press: Review November 1895 editions of Owen Sound Sun, Kincardine News, and Port Elgin Times for reports on the storm and missing barge.
- Wreck Survey Resources: Compare coordinates from Africa‘s wreck find—85 m beneath Lake Huron—to hypothesize Severn‘s possible resting area.
Conclusion
Severn, a schooner-barge built in 1872 and carrying roughly 850 tons of coal, was lost in the stormy disaster involving the steamer Africa on 5 October 1895. Kept afloat by a tow that was cut during a Lake Huron gale, she was never recovered, her crew never seen again, and her wreck remains unlocated in deep Ontario waters.
severn-1872 1895-10-05 14:17:00