Simcoe (1880)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Simcoe
• Type: Propeller-driven schooner-freighter
• Year Built: Unknown
• Builder: Unknown
• Dimensions: Unknown
• Registered Tonnage: Unknown
• Location: Lake Huron, en route from Chicago to Collingwood
• Coordinates: Unknown
• Official Number: Unknown
• Original Owners: Unknown
• Number of Masts: Unknown

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Vessel Type & Description

• Hull Material: Likely metal (propeller vessel of mid-late 19th century), although exact specs are undocumented.
• Structure: Propeller-driven, steel/iron hull typical of freighters of the era, likely braced for bulk freight including grain.
• Estimated Tonnage/Dimensions: No registry data located; presumed mid-size Great Lakes freighter.

Description

Description

The propeller-driven vessel Simcoe foundered during a severe gale on 24 November 1880, while en route from Chicago to Collingwood on Lake Huron. Carrying corn and general freight, she sprung a leak and sank around midday. Thirteen of twenty-one crew members perished. Despite contemporary reporting of the loss, the wreck remains undiscovered.

History

History & Operational Record

• Service Period: Circa 1872–1880
• Trade: Chicago–Collingwood freight route, carrying agricultural products and general merchandise north bound, returning with lumber or coal.
• Notable Event: Final voyage resulted in disaster.

Significant Incidents

Incident Overview

• Weather Conditions: Mid-November gale, known for severe Lake Huron autumn storms.
• Timeline: Left Chicago Nov 19, encountered worsening conditions crossing Lake Huron, began taking on water, then foundered around noon on Nov 24.
• Casualties: 13 out of 21 crew perished; survivors rescued by other vessels or reached lifeboats.
• Cargo Behavior: Possibly contributed to loss due to shift in rough seas, though leak appears to be mechanical failure.

Final Disposition

Final Disposition

• The vessel sank in deep water; no known salvage attempted. Wreck location remains unconfirmed.
• Official registry status: Declared a total loss with no recovery.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Wreck Status & Dive Potential

• Site Condition: Unknown.
• Depth Estimates: Likely deep water of central Lake Huron (50–100+ fathoms), beyond most recreational diving limits.
• Exploration Status: No known archaeological dives or recorded wreck discoveries associated with Simcoe.

Resources & Links

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Research Gaps & Suggested Next Steps

• Ontario and Chicago newspaper archives (Nov 1880): Local press likely reported the sinking and rescue details.
• Collingwood shipping and harbor records: May list vessel arrival failures or missing manifest entries.
• Crew lists or casualty records: Ontario or U.S. marine disaster reports from late 1880 could include Simcoe.
• Great Lakes maritime registers (1880 Rice or Bureau Veritas): Might contain vessel build data or ownership.