Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Shannon
- Type: Wooden scow schooner
- Year Built: 1867
- Builder: Unknown
- Dimensions: Length: Approximately 100 ft (30.5 m); Beam: Approximately 24 ft (7.3 m); Depth of hold: Approximately 7 ft (2.1 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 100 tons
- Location: Lake Ontario, approximately 20 miles northeast of Oswego, New York
- Official Number: Not recorded
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Two-masted
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Shannon was a wooden scow schooner, a flat-bottomed, two-masted sailing vessel commonly used in the 19th century for transporting bulk cargoes across the Great Lakes. Scow schooners were particularly suited for shallow waters and were often employed in the coal and lumber trades.
Description
Constructed in 1867, the Shannon was designed for the transportation of heavy bulk cargoes. Her flat-bottomed hull allowed for easy loading and unloading in shallow ports. On her final voyage, she was laden with 100 tons of anthracite coal, destined for Gananoque, Ontario.
History
On June 20, 1874, the Shannon departed Oswego, New York, around 4:00 PM, heading northeast across Lake Ontario. Approximately 20 miles into her journey, the crew discovered that the vessel was rapidly taking on water through a significant leak extending from the keel to the plank sheer along the stem. Efforts to control the flooding using pumps were unsuccessful.
Captain Acton ordered the crew to use the jib topsail to attempt to jacket the hull and slow the leak. However, the force of the incoming water sucked the sail into the hole, rendering the effort futile. Recognizing the imminent danger, the crew abandoned the vessel, lowering the yawl and escaping with minimal personal belongings.
The crew rowed approximately 20 miles back to Oswego, arriving around 9:00 PM, exhausted but unharmed.
Significant Incidents
- June 20, 1874: The Shannon sank due to hull failure caused by a structural leak.
Final Disposition
The Shannon sank in Lake Ontario shortly after the crew’s evacuation. The exact location of the wreck remained unknown until July 2012, when shipwreck explorers Dan Scoville and Chris Koberstein discovered the vessel upright on the lakebed, with both masts still standing and the cargo holds filled with coal.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There are no current Notices to Mariners or advisories regarding the Shannon wreck site.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”shannon-1867″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The Shannon serves as a poignant example of the challenges faced by 19th-century mariners on the Great Lakes. Her discovery in 2012 provides valuable insights into the construction and operation of scow schooners, as well as the perils of maritime navigation during that era.
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: Shannon
- Official Number: Not recorded
- Date Built: 1867
- Builder: Unknown
- Specifications: Wooden scow schooner; two-masted
- Length: Approximately 100 ft (30.5 m)
- Beam: Approximately 24 ft (7.3 m)
- Depth: Approximately 7 ft (2.1 m)
- Tonnage: 100 tons
- Date Lost: June 20, 1874
- Location: Lake Ontario, approximately 20 miles northeast of Oswego, New York
- Cause of Loss: Hull failure due to structural leak
- Cargo: 100 tons of anthracite coal
- Casualties: None reported
Vessel Type
The Shannon was a wooden scow schooner, a flat-bottomed, two-masted sailing vessel commonly used in the 19th century for transporting bulk cargoes across the Great Lakes. Scow schooners were particularly suited for shallow waters and were often employed in the coal and lumber trades.
Description
Constructed in 1867, the Shannon was designed for the transportation of heavy bulk cargoes. Her flat-bottomed hull allowed for easy loading and unloading in shallow ports. On her final voyage, she was laden with 100 tons of anthracite coal, destined for Gananoque, Ontario.
History
On June 20, 1874, the Shannon departed Oswego, New York, around 4:00 PM, heading northeast across Lake Ontario. Approximately 20 miles into her journey, the crew discovered that the vessel was rapidly taking on water through a significant leak extending from the keel to the plank sheer along the stem. Efforts to control the flooding using pumps were unsuccessful.
Captain Acton ordered the crew to use the jib topsail to attempt to jacket the hull and slow the leak. However, the force of the incoming water sucked the sail into the hole, rendering the effort futile. Recognizing the imminent danger, the crew abandoned the vessel, lowering the yawl and escaping with minimal personal belongings.
The crew rowed approximately 20 miles back to Oswego, arriving around 9:00 PM, exhausted but unharmed.
Final Disposition
The Shannon sank in Lake Ontario shortly after the crew’s evacuation. The exact location of the wreck remained unknown until July 2012, when shipwreck explorers Dan Scoville and Chris Koberstein discovered the vessel upright on the lakebed, with both masts still standing and the cargo holds filled with coal.
Located By & Date Found
- Discovered By: Dan Scoville and Chris Koberstein
- Date Found: July 2012
- Location: Approximately 20 miles northeast of Oswego, New York, Lake Ontario
NOTMARs & Advisories
There are no current Notices to Mariners or advisories regarding the Shannon wreck site.
Resources & Links
Conclusion
The Shannon serves as a poignant example of the challenges faced by 19th-century mariners on the Great Lakes. Her discovery in 2012 provides valuable insights into the construction and operation of scow schooners, as well as the perils of maritime navigation during that era.
Suggested Keywords and Categories:
- Keywords: Shannon, Lake Ontario shipwreck, 1874 schooner sinking, scow schooner, Dan Scoville, Chris Koberstein
- Categories: Maritime History, Great Lakes Shipwrecks, 19th Century Navigation
Glossary Terms:
- Scow Schooner: A flat-bottomed sailing vessel with two or more masts, used primarily for transporting bulk cargoes in shallow waters.
- Hull Failure: Structural failure of a vessel’s hull, leading to water ingress and potential sinking.
- Yawl: A small boat carried by a larger vessel, used for emergency evacuations or shore excursions.