Identification & Loss Details

  • Name: Phalarope
  • Year Built: 1854
  • Date of Loss: September 28, 1872
  • Cargo: Coal
  • Cause of loss: Driven ashore in a storm; Hull severely damaged (“tore up her bottom”)
  • Location: Near Rondeau, Ontario, Lake Erie (close to Point Pelee), per hydrographic records (alcheminc.com)
  • Rescue attempts: A wrecking expedition arrived mid-October but Abandoned the effort as hopeless

Vessel Type & Configuration

A wooden, two-masted Schooner approximately 136 ft in length, commonly employed in the Great Lakes coal trade. As single-Deck craft, schooners of this size typically featured Fore-and-Aft Sails and had reinforced hulls to handle bulk cargo like coal.

Incident Chronology

  1. Pre-loss: Phalarope departed on a typical coal run, navigating the southern Ontario coast.
  2. September 28, 1872: Caught in a significant storm near Rondeau/Point Pelee, she was driven ashore and “ran ashore and tore open her bottom” (alcheminc.com).
  3. Aftermath: The Hull failure was catastrophic. In mid-October, a wrecking crew inspected the site but determined recovery impossible; they deemed the task “hopeless,” ultimately abandoning the vessel.

Final Disposition & Wreck Status

  • Abandonment: Left in situ after wrecking crew conceded recovery was not feasible.
  • Remains: This suggests the Hull likely remains battered close to shore, possibly in shallow waters.
  • Wreck recognition: Entered into Great Lakes wreck records under the entry “29 Phalarope,” but no precise coordinates or modern survey data are publicly listed (alcheminc.com).

Navigational & Hydrographic Notes

  • Although noted in hydrographic registers, there are no recorded Notices to Mariners or hazard warnings.
  • Its proximity to Rondeau suggests it was considered stationary and out of major shipping routes, thus deemed non-threatening.

Source Summary

  • “Lake Erie Shipwreck Map… Index” (Alchem, Inc.) – Details include ship type, length, cargo, storm circumstances, Hull failure, rescue crew attempt, and date/location (alcheminc.com).

Potential Research & Dive Opportunities

  1. Archival exploration: Investigate 1872–73 local newspaper issues (e.g., Chronicling America, Newspapers.com, or Ontario/Goderich press) for storm reports or Phalarope wreck details.
  2. Hydrographic archives: Examine Department of Marine & Fisheries charts for wreck annotations near Rondeau or Point Pelee.
  3. Sonar/dive survey: A targeted search in shallow coastal waters could locate structural remains. Despite deterioration, parts of the Keel or framing might still be preserved.
  4. Field exploration: Shoreline reconnaissance may yield artifacts like Hull timbers or coal remnants washed ashore.

Conclusion

The Phalarope (1854–1872) succumbed to a storm off Rondeau, tearing open her Hull and grounding ashore. Salvage was deemed impossible, and the wreck remains Abandoned. While unlocated by modern surveys, her remains may still lie in shallow water near the wreck site. This location promises significant historical and dive-site potential—especially for maritime archaeologists and Great Lakes surveyors. Let me know if you’d like help locating period newspapers, hydrographic charts, or coordinating a sonar/dive mission.