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.
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: T. G. Scott
- Built: 1854 (wooden scow‑schooner)
- Type: Two‑masted, flat‑bottomed cargo vessel (likely carrying lumber)
- Loss Date: Late October 1860 (storm-related)
- Location: Long Point, Lake Erie shoreline, Ontario (harboring region of the Grand River / Dunnville)
Vessel Type & Cargo
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.
Final Voyage & Loss
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.”
Final Disposition
- Declared a total loss after the storm.
- Unclear if registry documents were surrendered—the exact fate of her official documentation remains unverified.
Wreck Condition & Site
- 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.
Research Gaps & Next Steps
| Research Area | Action Required |
|---|---|
| Registry Documents | Search Canadian or U.S. registry indexes for T. G. Scott post-1860. |
| Newspaper Reports | Scan Dunnville Gazette, Bluffers Herald, and Cattaraugus-region newspapers from Oct–Nov 1860 for loss notice or tug involvement. |
| Tug & Tow Records | Investigate E. P. Dorr logs or local harbor authority minutes for assistance attempts or salvage negotiations. |
| U.S./Canadian Life‑Saving | Review lifesaving service logs for rescues or salvage assistance near Long Point during that period. |
| Archaeological Survey | Consider conducting a shore‑based survey during low water to locate timber debris; follow with remote sensing (magnetometer, side‑scan sonar) offshore. |
Summary Profile
- Name: T. G. Scott
- Built: 1854, wooden scow‑schooner
- Lost: Riding out a storm in late October 1860; driven ashore at Long Point, Lake Erie
- Cargo: Likely lumber
- Crew: Safe—no recorded casualties
- Partner Vessel: Assisted by tug E. P. Dorr, but couldn’t be saved
- Loss Value: Not documented
Significance
* 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.
t-g-scott-1854 1860-10-29 18:20:00