St. Andrew C 22416

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: St. Andrew
• Type: Wooden Schooner
• Year Built: 1857
• Builder: Merry & Gay
• Dimensions: Approximately 116 × 23 × 11 ft; 214 gross / 202 net tons with registry specs
• Registered Tonnage: 214 gross / 202 net tons
• Depth at Wreck Site: 60 ft
• Location: Approximately 10 miles offshore south of Big Creek, Ontario
• Official Number: 22416
• Number of Masts: 2-mast

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden Schooner, 2-mast; built 1857; lost circa September 11 or 21, 1882.

Description

The St. Andrew was a wooden schooner constructed in 1857, measuring approximately 116 feet in length, 23 feet in beam, and 11 feet in depth. It had a registered tonnage of 214 gross and 202 net tons. The vessel was built by Merry & Gay, and it is often noted for its historical significance in the Great Lakes shipping industry.

History

The St. Andrew was bound from Toledo to Kingston, carrying a cargo of 14,000 bushels of wheat when it encountered storm conditions that led to its sinking. The vessel began to take on water due to a leak and ultimately sank approximately 10 miles south of Big Creek, Ontario, in about 60 feet of water. The crew managed to survive the incident, but the vessel was lost without recovery.

Significant Incidents

• Loss Date: Often listed as September 11, with some records citing September 21, 1882.
• Location: Approximately 10 miles offshore south of Big Creek, Ontario.
• Route & Cargo: Bound from Toledo for Kingston; carrying 14,000 bu of wheat.
• Cause: Sprung a leak in storm conditions, began sinking; crew attempted to reach shore but vessel sank in ~60 ft of Lake Erie.
• Outcome: Crew survived; vessel lost without recovery.
• Registry Surrender: Vessel formally surrendered post-loss; dredging of wreck not recorded.

Final Disposition

The St. Andrew was formally surrendered after its loss, and there are no records of any attempts to recover the wreck. The vessel remains lost in Lake Erie, with its exact location still subject to further exploration and research.

Current Condition & Accessibility

As of now, the condition of the wreck is unknown, and it has not been officially surveyed or documented in recent years. However, it is believed to lie at a depth of approximately 60 feet, making it accessible for divers with appropriate experience.

Resources & Links

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The schooner St. Andrew, lost during a storm south of Big Creek on Lake Erie in September 1882, is a well-characterized vessel with measurable registry match to the listed incident. Despite confusion with a separate wreck in Lake Huron, recent historical re-evaluations clarify that the Erie loss is distinct and historically separate. Proper archival research should resolve vessel identity conclusively.