Wreck of the T. J. Waffle

Oswego Daily Palladium
Tuesday September 23, 1919
Steamer Waffle probably lost in Lake Ontario
Wreckage on Lake Shore Near Beach Oswego
Brings Mute Evidence of Disaster Carried Crew of Six Under, Captain Beaupre of Kingston-Left Fair Haven Yesterday Morning for Kingston—Has Not Reached There
Wreckage that came in behind the strong North wind early to day and littered up the shore from Lake Ontario Park to a point West of Beach Oswego, brought much evidence that the little steamer T. J. Waffle probably foundered in Lake Ontario last night not far off the port of Oswego. No word had come up to late this afternoon from Captain C. Beaupre, of Kingston, Ont., the skipper of the boat and her crew of six. If the Waffle foundered, as seems probable they may have taken to a small boat and may be safe, but the fact they had not reported up to three o’clock this afternoon makes it appear that they have gone down with the steamer, the fate of which may never be known.
The Waffle which used to be on the Rideau trade, is owned by James Swift & Sons, of Kingston. She has traded on Lake Ontario for several years and frequently made the port of Oswego. Latterly she had been carrying coal from Fair Haven. She left Fair Haven yesterday morning at ten o’clock with 249 gross tons. She should have made Kingston last night. At three o’clock this afternoon. Mr. Ewin told the Palladium over the telephone that she had not arrived there and that no news had been received of her. He expressed deep regret when told of the wreckage found near this port.
There was a high North wind on the lake last night and when those living near the Beach arose early today they saw the first of the wreckage. It continued to come in during the morning. Among the articles washed up on shore were several life preservers marked with the name of the steamer.
The fact that the wreckage came so soon makes it probable that if th baot has foundered it must have gone down not far from shore. The wind did not kick up until late in the day, but several things may have happened to wreck the boat. She may have had an explosion or she may have sprung a leak.
Swift & Company said they would make every effort to get some information later today. They are sending another steamer to Fair Haven tonight and she will range about the lake looking for survivors. At the Fair Haven trestle it was said that no news had been heard from the Waffle since she cleared yesterday morning.
The waffle was a new boat being built in 1914. She was 102 feet long and had twenty-two feet five inches beam.
The captain of the tug Muscalonge of the Sin Mac line, today reported that he saw a small steamer about 5:30 yesterday afternoon. She was bound across when he first saw her and later turned and was apparently make for some South shore port.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Last of the Lake Schooners

Image
They Came into Port Together It was late in the afternoon on a summer day on Aug. 26, 1925. Not a cloud was in the sky. Suddenly on the horizon there appeared three lake schooners, under full sail, headed for Oswego harbor. At first some observers thought they were seeing an apparition or a mirage. But when it was discovered it was real, people thronged to the lower bridge to view a sight that hadn't been seen in decades. They came in on the wings of a northeast breeze from across Lake Ontario. Full of years, the schooner "Lyman M. Davis" proudly sailed into Oswego harbor right well into the 20th century. View is looking east with Fort Ontario on the bluff overlooking the harbor.                 Sailing Aboard the Lyman M. Davis                      By Susan Peterson Gately     Great Sodus Bay on Lake Ontario has seen its share of maritime activity. Like Oswego, it was a coal port during the last days of working sail. Unlike Oswego it continued to export
Read more

Rum running on Lake Ontario

  When rum running moved to Lake Ontario By Richard Palmer One of the most interesting periods of Great Lakes maritime history was the Prohibition era between 1920 and 1933. This was a nationwide ban on the sale, production, importation and transportation of alcoholic beverages under the 18th Amendment known as the Volstead Act. This led to the formation of criminal syndicates that, among other activities, smuggled alcoholic beverages in from Canada. It did not work well and led to some of the worst corruption in American history.  It took years to bring the problems associated with bootlegging and rum running that ran rampant on the Great Lakes under control. In August, 1929, residents of Oswego as well as those at all ports at the northern end of Lake Ontario learned through the newspapers that rum running syndicates in Detroit were planning to transfer their operations to Kingston, 60 miles directly across Lake Ontario.The reason for their decision is said to have been due to the bl
Read more

When Oswego Was a Major Great Lakes Port

Image
               Oswego Harbor, November 11, 1869. Photo by J. Austen. Oswego Advertiser and Times, November 19, 1869    OSWEGO HARBOR - John Austen photographed the harbor on November 11th when the river was spanned by shipping below the bridge and lower the harbor was filled with craft of kinds. The view is taken from an eminence on Oneida street, and presents a portion of the trestle-work of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western in the foreground, with a full view of the east side mills and elevators, with Lake Ontario in the distance.    The harbor and river present  complete forests of masts and spars, the whole thing showing off to the best possible advantage. The time very rarely occurs when so much of the shipping and business of this port can be taken at one view. Austen seized upon the opportunity, and has done his work well.    We have frequently been struck with the fact that outside of those having business connections with Oswego, so little is known of the magnitude of its
Read more