Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Lizzie Metzner
  • Former Names: None recorded
  • Official Registration Numbers: U.S. Official No. 140950; later Canadian Official No. C116549
  • Date Built & Launched: 1888
  • Builder: Rand & Burger, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
  • Construction: Wooden three-masted Schooner
  • Length: 77 ft (23.5 m)
  • Gross Tonnage: 77 tons
  • Ownership History: Sold in 1904 to Joseph Fagan of Belleville, Ontario
  • Date Lost: October 17, 1916

Vessel Type

Wooden Three-Masted Schooner

Description

The Lizzie Metzner was a wooden Schooner, a product of Rand & Burger’s Manitowoc shipyard. Built for the grain and general cargo trades of the late 19th century, her modest size and triple-masted configuration made her a capable workhorse on the inland waters of the Great Lakes. Initially American-registered, she transitioned to Canadian ownership in 1904, when she was purchased by Joseph Fagan of Belleville, Ontario.

History

Built in 1888, the Lizzie Metzner served for almost three decades on the Great Lakes. Operating during a period of transition from sail to steam, she represented the waning days of commercial sailing on these inland seas. Her final years under Canadian registry highlight the continued demand for economical cargo transport on Lake Ontario and connecting waters.

On October 16, 1916, she was docked in Oswego, New York. That evening, a violent northwesterly gale swept across the lake, with winds reported at 60 mph (97 km/h). Despite being secured at the dock, the force of the storm broke her mooring lines. By noon the next day, October 17, the Lizzie Metzner had been blown free of her dock, dragged her anchors, and was ultimately driven hard against the stone wall near the Oswego station. The impact severely damaged the vessel, and she was declared a Total Loss.

No lives were reported lost, and her crew, under Captain Chauncey Daryaw, included experienced seamen such as John R. Lobb and Hiram Willard. Their experience may have prevented a worse outcome during such dangerous conditions.

Final Disposition

The Lizzie Metzner was wrecked against a Breakwater or stone wall in Oswego Harbour and subsequently deemed a Total Loss. There is no record of salvage or recovery, suggesting the Hull may have been dismantled or deteriorated at the site.

Located By & Date Found

The wreck of the Lizzie Metzner has not been located or identified in modern times. Her final resting site remains undocumented beneath Oswego Harbour’s sediment and stone infrastructure.

NOTMARs & Advisories

  • Obstructions: No known remaining obstructions from the Lizzie Metzner wreck exist in navigational charts of Oswego Harbour.
  • Advisories: None specific to this vessel; general storm damage areas around Oswego are charted.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The Lizzie Metzner illustrates the risks faced by wooden sail-powered vessels even as the age of steam was overtaking the Great Lakes. Her loss in Oswego, while not catastrophic in human cost, marked the end of another small but significant chapter in regional maritime commerce. Today, she serves as a reminder of the many schooners lost not to deep lake wrecks, but to stormy harbours and shifting industrial priorities.

Suggested Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms

Keywords: Lizzie Metzner, Oswego Harbour, Schooner wreck, 1916 Great Lakes gale, wooden sailing vessel
Categories: Wooden Shipwrecks, Lost Vessels of Lake Ontario, 19th Century Shipbuilding
Glossary Terms:

  • Three-Masted Schooner: A sailing ship with three masts, fore-and-aft rigged, typically used for cargo.
  • Gross Tonnage: A measure of a ship’s overall internal volume.
  • Storm Mooring Failure: When a vessel’s dock lines or anchors fail under storm conditions, often leading to damage or grounding.