Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

W.H. Davy (1856)

Explore the wreck of the W.H. Davy, a wooden schooner that sank in 1860 during a storm on Lake Erie, with a crew that survived by clinging to the rigging.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: W.H. Davy
  • Type: Wooden Schooner
  • Year Built: 1856
  • Builder: Hazelton at Bath, Ontario
  • Dimensions: 98 × 24 × 9 ft; Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage: 226 tons
  • Location: Lake Erie, near Middle Sister Island (~2 miles west)
  • Number of Masts: Two-masted

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden two-masted schooner, primarily used for transporting coal.

Description

The W.H. Davy was a wooden schooner built in 1856, measuring approximately 98 feet in length, 24 feet in beam, and 9 feet in depth. It had a registered tonnage of 226 tons.

History

The W.H. Davy was constructed by Hazelton at Bath, Ontario, and was primarily engaged in the coal trade. On its final voyage, it was en route from Cleveland, Ohio, to Goderich, Ontario.

Significant Incidents

  • Final Voyage: On September 8, 1860, the vessel sprang a leak amid worsening weather conditions.
  • Outcome: It foundered during a gale on Lake Erie, approximately 2 miles west of Middle Sister Island.
  • Crew Actions: The crew climbed the rigging and remained there for about 18 hours during the storm.
  • Rescue: They were eventually rescued by the tug T. Whitney, with no casualties reported.

Final Disposition

The W.H. Davy sank soon after taking on water. The specifics of the wreck site’s condition are unclear, and no known modern surveys or dives have been documented.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is likely lying in moderate-depth waters typical of the region, but its exact condition remains unknown.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”w-h-davy-1856″ title=”References & Links”]

The W.H. Davy foundered during a storm on Lake Erie on September 8, 1860, after leaking and sinking 2 miles west of Middle Sister Island. The crew survived by clinging to the rigging until rescued by tug T. Whitney. Further research and exploration could enhance understanding of this lesser-known wreck.

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.

Wooden Schooner, Built 1856

Identification & Construction

  • Name: W.H. Davy
  • Build Year: 1856 (or 1857), constructed by Hazelton at Bath, Ontario
  • Vessel Type: Wooden two-masted schooner, approx. 98 × 24 × 9 ft, 226 tons
  • Cargo Type: Coal

Final Voyage – September 8, 1860

  • Route: En route from Cleveland, Ohio, to Goderich, Ontario
  • Incident: Sprang a leak amid worsening weather conditions
  • Outcome: Took on water and foundered during a gale on Lake Erie, about 2 miles west of Middle Sister Island
  • Crew Actions: Climbed the rigging and remained perched for approximately 18 hours in the storm
  • Rescue: Eventually rescued by the tug T. Whitney; no casualties reported (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)

Wreck Site & Condition

  • Location: Lake Erie, near Middle Sister Island (~2 mi west)
  • Condition: The schooner sank soon after taking on water; specifics of the wreck site’s condition are unclear
  • Survey Status: No known modern surveys or dives documented; likely lying in moderate-depth waters typical of the region

Research & Investigation Opportunities

  • Archival Records
    • Investigate Cleveland and Goderich newspapers from September 1860 (e.g., Cleveland Herald) for incident coverage and crew names
    • Consult Canadian and U.S. port records for W.H. Davy, including registration and crew manifests
  • Underwater Survey
    • Conduct side-scan sonar sweep in waters west of Middle Sister Island to identify wreckage
    • Follow-up with ROV or diver reconnaissance contingent on depth and visibility conditions
  • Documentary Add-ons
    • Review Life-Saving Service or Marine Department logs for towing and rescue notes about tug T. Whitney‘s operation that day

Summary

The W.H. Davy, a schooner transporting coal, foundered during a storm on Lake Erie on September 8, 1860, after leaking and sinking 2 miles west of Middle Sister Island. The crew survived by clinging to the rigging overnight until rescue by tug T. Whitney. No losses were recorded, and the event was chronicled in the Great Lakes Shipwreck Files as “08 PM D” (marshcollection.org, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com). Further research and site exploration could enrich knowledge about this little-known wreck.

w-h-davy-1856 1860-09-08 16:21:00