Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: T. G. Scott
- Type: Two-masted, flat-bottomed cargo vessel
- Year Built: 1854
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Long Point, Lake Erie shoreline, Ontario
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A wooden scow-schooner, built for near-shore freight—most likely lumber given regional trade patterns. Shallow draft enabled impediment-free movement in protected waters but offered limited resistance to heavy seas.
Description
While seeking shelter from an autumn storm in late October 1860, T. G. Scott was driven hard ashore on the Long Point spit by high winds and waves. Despite being situated near the tug E. P. Dorr, she could not be saved and was expected to break apart under the pounding surf. No casualties were reported; records simply note “none mentioned.”
History
Final Disposition: Declared a total loss after the storm. Unclear if registry documents were surrendered—the exact fate of her official documentation remains unverified.
Significant Incidents
- Loss Date: Late October 1860 (storm-related)
- Assisted by tug E. P. Dorr, but could not be saved.
- No recorded casualties.
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss after the storm. Unclear if registry documents were surrendered—the exact fate of her official documentation remains unverified.
Current Condition & Accessibility
- Remains would lie in the surf zone off Long Point, now likely buried by sediment.
- Given the powerful beach surf, any surviving timbers or fasteners may lie deeply embedded or scattered.
- No modern survey or dive expedition has documented the wreck.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”t-g-scott-1854″ title=”References & Links”]
T. G. Scott exemplifies the risk borne by shallow-draft coastal cargo vessels when caught in severe weather near exposed shorelines. Her loss underscores the transitional reliance on tug assistance and the still-unpredictable nature of Great Lakes storm sheltering in the 19th century. As a largely unstudied wreck, she presents meaningful potential for maritime heritage surveys—both archival and archaeological—to fill gaps in early commercial vessel operations and storm response strategies.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
Join Shotline to read more →