Tranchemontagne (1864)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Tranchemontagne
• Type: Schooner
• Year Built: 1864
• Builder: Recleur, Sorel, Quebec
• Dimensions: Length: 108 ft (32.92 m); Beam: 23 ft (7.01 m); Depth of hold: 6 ft (1.83 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 130 t
• Location: Near the harbor mouth at Oswego, New York
• Official Number: C?
• Number of Masts: Two-masted

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Tranchemontagne was a wooden schooner, a type of vessel commonly used for cargo transport, especially on the Great Lakes.

Description

Built in 1864 at Sorel, Quebec, by Recleur, the schooner was primarily used to carry grains, evidenced by her cargo of 7,200 bushels of rye when she sank. She was noted for being rebuilt in 1875, possibly to extend her service life or to repair damage. As with many schooners of the time, she was a two-masted vessel, designed for efficient sailing in the relatively calm waters of the Great Lakes.

History

The Tranchemontagne operated along the Great Lakes, primarily as a cargo carrier, transporting agricultural products like rye. On the night of October 31, 1880, while navigating the waters of Lake Ontario, she encountered a violent storm. The schooner was bound for Oswego, New York, and was attempting to enter the harbor when disaster struck.

Around 3 a.m., she struck the breakwater head-on, causing significant damage to her bow and resulting in the vessel sinking. The crew of six men managed to escape the sinking ship. They took to the rigging, with the exception of one crew member who was washed overboard. This man managed to survive by climbing onto a provision box, which carried him to safety along the shore.

The United States Life Saving Service responded to the scene and rescued the remaining five crew members from the breakwater, where they had sought refuge after the wreck. The Tranchemontagne broke up rapidly after the collision, further exacerbating the damage and ensuring that she could not be saved.

Significant Incidents

• October 31, 1880: The Tranchemontagne sank after striking the breakwater near Oswego, New York, during a storm.
• All six crew members survived, with one being washed overboard but rescued later.

Final Disposition

The Tranchemontagne was reported to have sunk quickly after the collision with the breakwater. The wreck was broken up soon after, and no attempt was made to recover the vessel. The crew’s lives were spared thanks to the Lifesaving Service, and the ship’s wreckage became just another casualty of the dangerous conditions on Lake Ontario.

The ship’s wreck site and the crew’s survival were key parts of the story, marking another chapter in the tragic history of maritime disasters on the Great Lakes, particularly in the treacherous conditions at harbor mouths like that of Oswego.

Current Condition & Accessibility

There are no reports of the wreck being rediscovered in modern times, and the vessel was likely lost to the bottom, her remains dismantled or dispersed due to the violent storm and subsequent breaking up of the hull.

Resources & Links

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The sinking of the Tranchemontagne in the fall of 1880 serves as a reminder of the power of the storms that frequently strike Lake Ontario and other Great Lakes, especially near the harbor mouths where waves and winds can create hazardous conditions. Despite the crew’s narrow escape, the schooner’s wreck was a total loss, highlighting the constant dangers faced by those working on these waters. Her story is a part of the broader history of maritime tragedies that shaped the development of safer navigational practices and life-saving services on the lakes.