Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Tuscarora
- Type: Wooden unrigged barge
- Year Built: 1871
- Builder: Calvin & Breck, Garden Island, Ontario
- Dimensions: Length: 135 ft (41.1 m); Beam: 26 ft (7.9 m); Depth of hold: 11 ft (3.4 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 306 GT
- Location: Off the harbor entrance at Oswego, New York
- Official Number: C80912
- Original Owners: Owned out of Prescott, Ontario
- Number of Masts: Unrigged
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Tuscarora was a wooden unrigged barge, originally built as a sailing vessel or steamer before being converted for bulk cargo transport.
Description
The Tuscarora was built in 1871 at Garden Island, Ontario, by Calvin & Breck (some sources suggest H. Roney). Originally, she may have been a sailing vessel or steamer, but by the time of her loss in 1885, she had been converted into an unrigged barge for bulk cargo transport. As an unrigged barge, she would have been towed by a steam tug, carrying coal, lumber, or other bulk goods between Great Lakes ports. She was owned out of Prescott, Ontario, a known center for Canadian shipping and barge operations.
History
On October 4, 1885, the Tuscarora was in tow behind the tug Proctor along with four other barges, including the Hattie L. Johnson. As the convoy approached the Oswego, New York harbor entrance, a storm struck, creating rough conditions. The Tuscarora struck bottom near the harbor entrance lighthouse, causing severe structural damage. The barge quickly broke apart, rendering it unsalvageable. The crew of eight abandoned ship, but their small boat was unable to land due to rough waters. The Oswego Lifesaving crew successfully rescued them, ensuring no loss of life.
Significant Incidents
- October 4, 1885: The Tuscarora struck bottom during a storm, broke apart, and was declared a total loss.
Final Disposition
- Declared a total loss after breaking apart.
- No record of salvage or wreckage recovery.
- Any remains are likely scattered near the Oswego harbor entrance.
- No confirmed modern wreck site identified.
- Possible wreckage may still exist near the Oswego harbor lighthouse but has not been officially mapped.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Oswego, New York, has been a major Great Lakes port since the 19th century, with numerous wrecks near the harbor entrance due to its heavy maritime traffic and frequent storms. The Tuscarora‘s loss highlights the dangers of unpowered barges, which were often at the mercy of storms and shallow waters when being towed.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”tuscarora-c-80912″ title=”References & Links”]
The Tuscarora was a Canadian-owned wooden barge, serving in coal transport on Lake Ontario before her destruction in a storm near Oswego in 1885. Though her crew was saved, she was beyond repair after breaking apart near the harbor entrance. Today, her wreckage remains undiscovered, but she is one of many vessels lost near this historic Great Lakes port.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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