The poster in this video has been drawn by Canada’s renowned marine artist Ian Morgan. Ian’s drawing depicts the shipwreck exactly as it lays on the bottom of Lake Erie today. The detail is amazing. Photos around the drawing are by John Veber. His photos and Dan Lindsay’s video have aided Ian in compiling this fantastic colour rendition.
Marine Artist Ian Morgan
Wheel on the Tradewind
News Articles about the Trade Wind
Oswego Times, Wed., June 1, 1853
The “Trade Wind” The Brighton Sentinel has a long and spirited account of the launch of the schooner Trade Wind, which took place at Colborne, C. W., on Wednesday last. This being the first vessel built at that place, the launch called together two or three thousand persons to witness it.
Among them was a large number of ladies, who presented Mr. J. M. Grover, the owner, with a beautiful flag, for his vessel, in a neat and appropriate address, to which Mr. Grover responded in suitable terms. The Sentinel says, “great praise is due to Mr. Peter Lamoree, the builder, for his skill and calculation, in arranging everything so that no accident occurred, and that the vessel did not ground, as the water was barely enough to carry her through.
News Articles about the Trade Wind
Oswego Times, Wed., June 1, 1853
The “Trade Wind” The Brighton Sentinel has a long and spirited account of the launch of the schooner Trade Wind, which took place at Colborne, C. W., on Wednesday last. This being the first vessel built at that place, the launch called together two or three thousand persons to witness it.
Among them was a large number of ladies, who presented Mr. J. M. Grover, the owner, with a beautiful flag, for his vessel, in a neat and appropriate address, to which Mr. Grover responded in suitable terms. The Sentinel says, “great praise is due to Mr. Peter Lamoree, the builder, for his skill and calculation, in arranging everything so that no accident occurred, and that the vessel did not ground, as the water was barely enough to carry her through.
Wheel on the Tradewind
“After the launch a number of Mr. Grover’s friends repaired to his residence, and partook of a lunch prepared in sumptuous style. We wish Mr. Grover every success, and long may he be spared an ornament to Colborne and surrounding country.”
Since writing the above, we have seen the Trade Wind, she having arrived in our harbor; and a beautiful craft she is, a credit to her enterprising owner and the skillful mechanic who built her. Mr. Lamoree is an old resident of our city and we are pleased to witness this evidence of his skill as a shipbuilder. The Trade Wind is to be employed principally, in the large and rapidly increasing trade between this place and Colborne.
TRADE WIND was hit when she was new by schooner CITIZEN off Barcelona NY Oct 3, 1853 with damage to starboard bow and fore rigging.
Diver - Ed McLaughlin
“After the launch a number of Mr. Grover’s friends repaired to his residence, and partook of a lunch prepared in sumptuous style. We wish Mr. Grover every success, and long may he be spared an ornament to Colborne and surrounding country.”
Since writing the above, we have seen the Trade Wind, she having arrived in our harbor; and a beautiful craft she is, a credit to her enterprising owner and the skillful mechanic who built her. Mr. Lamoree is an old resident of our city and we are pleased to witness this evidence of his skill as a shipbuilder. The Trade Wind is to be employed principally, in the large and rapidly increasing trade between this place and Colborne.
TRADE WIND was hit when she was new by schooner CITIZEN off Barcelona NY Oct 3, 1853 with damage to starboard bow and fore rigging.
Diver - Ed McLaughlin
Wheel on the Tradewind
Democracy (Buffalo), Dec. 4, 1854
COLLISION – We learn from Mr. Walker that the Captain of the Canadian barque SIR CHARLES NAPIER writes to this city that he came in collision on Friday near the cut at Long Point, with a vessel supposed to be the Barque TRADE WIND bound up from this port to Chicago.
The Captain says that the collision occurred in a snow storm and that he remained by the other vessel a few minutes and enquired of them what damage they had sustained, but recieved no answer, and when the snow storm cleared away the other vessel was not to be seen. What became of her he did not know. Nothing had been heard from the Trade Wind up to a late hour on Saturday evening. The SIR CHARLES NAPIER sustained about $1,000 damage by the collision, and was in the Welland Canal, repairing. It is supposed by the owners of the TRADE WIND, Messrs H.C. Walker & Co., that that vessel had not had time to reach the cut when the snow storm came on, and they are inclined to believe that it must have been some other vessel that the NAPIER ran into.
Democracy (Buffalo), Dec. 4, 1854
COLLISION – We learn from Mr. Walker that the Captain of the Canadian barque SIR CHARLES NAPIER writes to this city that he came in collision on Friday near the cut at Long Point, with a vessel supposed to be the Barque TRADE WIND bound up from this port to Chicago.
The Captain says that the collision occurred in a snow storm and that he remained by the other vessel a few minutes and enquired of them what damage they had sustained, but recieved no answer, and when the snow storm cleared away the other vessel was not to be seen. What became of her he did not know. Nothing had been heard from the Trade Wind up to a late hour on Saturday evening. The SIR CHARLES NAPIER sustained about $1,000 damage by the collision, and was in the Welland Canal, repairing. It is supposed by the owners of the TRADE WIND, Messrs H.C. Walker & Co., that that vessel had not had time to reach the cut when the snow storm came on, and they are inclined to believe that it must have been some other vessel that the NAPIER ran into.
Wheel on the Tradewind
Since the above has been in type we learn from Mr. Walker that Captain Eastwick and crew of the TRADE WIND have arrived. The captain states that after the collision with the SIR CHARLES NAPIER, the TRADE WIND sunk almost immediately, and the crew had barely time to take to the lifeboats, which they happened to have on board for Chicago, and thus save themselves. Their only boat was smashed at the time of the collision. The TRADE WIND was bound from this port to Chicago with 200 tons railroad iron and 1,000 stoves. She was owned by H.C. Walker & Co., and was insured for $12,000.
The captains of several vessels that arrived in port on Saturday report that they passed a sunken brig (sic) off Grand River with her topmasts out of the water about fifteen feet. What vessel it is, is not known, but it is thought that it may be the vessel that collided with the NAPIER.”
Capstan
Since the above has been in type we learn from Mr. Walker that Captain Eastwick and crew of the TRADE WIND have arrived. The captain states that after the collision with the SIR CHARLES NAPIER, the TRADE WIND sunk almost immediately, and the crew had barely time to take to the lifeboats, which they happened to have on board for Chicago, and thus save themselves. Their only boat was smashed at the time of the collision. The TRADE WIND was bound from this port to Chicago with 200 tons railroad iron and 1,000 stoves. She was owned by H.C. Walker & Co., and was insured for $12,000.
The captains of several vessels that arrived in port on Saturday report that they passed a sunken brig (sic) off Grand River with her topmasts out of the water about fifteen feet. What vessel it is, is not known, but it is thought that it may be the vessel that collided with the NAPIER.”
Capstan
Windlass
Daily News, (Kingston), 12 Dec 1854
Collision – The Buffalo Com. Advertiser of the 2nd learns that on the 1st, during the thick snow storm, the barque Trade Wind and Charles Napier, both bound up, while on opposite “tacks,” came in collision a short distance above Long Point. The barque had her fore rigging much damaged, and hull probably badly cut. The brig put into Gravelly Bay, and her Captain reports as being unable to see the Trade Wind, shortly after the collision, when the weather had cleared up so as to see any distance. It is feared that she sunk.
Daily News, (Kingston), 12 Dec 1854
Collision – The Buffalo Com. Advertiser of the 2nd learns that on the 1st, during the thick snow storm, the barque Trade Wind and Charles Napier, both bound up, while on opposite “tacks,” came in collision a short distance above Long Point. The barque had her fore rigging much damaged, and hull probably badly cut. The brig put into Gravelly Bay, and her Captain reports as being unable to see the Trade Wind, shortly after the collision, when the weather had cleared up so as to see any distance. It is feared that she sunk.
Windlass
The barque American Republic is ashore at Long Point Cut, Canada. She has on board 18,000 bush. of corn for this place.
The Captains of several vessels says the Buffalo Democracy that arrived in port on Saturday, reports that they passed a sunken brig off Grand River with her topmast out of the water about fifteen feet. What vessel it is not known, but it is thought that it may be the vessel that came in collision with the Napier.
The Luther Wright, schooner, ashore at Gravelly Bay, with 8,000 bush. corn from Toledo for Mr. Morton, Kingston, will be a total loss. Her cargo was fully insured. Only part of it will be saved in a damaged condition.
Stern Cabin Area
The barque American Republic is ashore at Long Point Cut, Canada. She has on board 18,000 bush. of corn for this place.
The Captains of several vessels says the Buffalo Democracy that arrived in port on Saturday, reports that they passed a sunken brig off Grand River with her topmast out of the water about fifteen feet. What vessel it is not known, but it is thought that it may be the vessel that came in collision with the Napier.
The Luther Wright, schooner, ashore at Gravelly Bay, with 8,000 bush. corn from Toledo for Mr. Morton, Kingston, will be a total loss. Her cargo was fully insured. Only part of it will be saved in a damaged condition.
Stern Cabin Area
Collision Damage on Starboard Side
Daily News, (Kingston), 19 Dec 1854
p.2 The Gale On Lake Erie
The gale at Cleveland, some particulars of which we have received by telegraph, has been most violent and destructive, and the loss of property along the lakes must be quite large. We find in the Cleveland papers some incidents connected with the storm, which are of interest. The barque Trade Wind, whose loss has been recorded in our paper, had on board, among a large quantity of other freight, two Government Lifeboats, which were being forwarded to the upper lakes. The crew were very much annoyed at the encumbrance they made, being stowed on the upper deck, in their way should a storm occur. Capt. Judson hearing their complaints, casually remarked that said boats might be of service to them before they got through the lake. That very day during a thick and blinding snow-storm off Long Point, the barque came in collision with the brig Chas. Napier and sunk so suddenly that the crew had just time enough to get into these same life-boats and were all saved. In noticing the loss of the R.R. Johnson, with all on board, the Cleveland Plain Dealer gives some interesting particulars of this mournful affair.
Daily News, (Kingston), 19 Dec 1854
p.2 The Gale On Lake Erie
The gale at Cleveland, some particulars of which we have received by telegraph, has been most violent and destructive, and the loss of property along the lakes must be quite large. We find in the Cleveland papers some incidents connected with the storm, which are of interest. The barque Trade Wind, whose loss has been recorded in our paper, had on board, among a large quantity of other freight, two Government Lifeboats, which were being forwarded to the upper lakes. The crew were very much annoyed at the encumbrance they made, being stowed on the upper deck, in their way should a storm occur. Capt. Judson hearing their complaints, casually remarked that said boats might be of service to them before they got through the lake. That very day during a thick and blinding snow-storm off Long Point, the barque came in collision with the brig Chas. Napier and sunk so suddenly that the crew had just time enough to get into these same life-boats and were all saved. In noticing the loss of the R.R. Johnson, with all on board, the Cleveland Plain Dealer gives some interesting particulars of this mournful affair.
Collision Damage on Starboard Side
At Chicago, whence the ill-fated vessel last sailed, Capt. Snell, her owner and commander, put her in charge of the mate, who was his brother, and left her to make her way down the lakes, while he took the railroad for the purpose of getting a special insurance upon her in Buffalo. She weathered the storms, passed over the flats, and beat her way down on to this lake, when the big north-wester of Sunday caught her this side the islands. The next seen of her was at daylight Monday morning, about two miles west of Fairport and twenty rods from the shore, beached, and the men hanging in her rigging. She lay broadside to, and every sea careened her over so as to bring her masts under water, and of course immersing the poor fellows clinging there for life. She was first discovered by a family of farmers living opposite on the bluff which overlooked the wreck. They immediately despatched a messenger to the harbor for a life-boat. They watched the sufferers on the wreck until one by one they were washed off, so that when the life-boat started for their relief, there were but three remaining. Intensely excited did they beckon the boat on, which for two miles rowed amid surges and breakers that one-half the time hid the rescuers from view. Two more of the sufferers were washed off by the sea, and yet the boat was some half mile to row. One, probably the most hardy and robust of them all, remains. He seems lashed to the rigging and rises and falls with it as it dives beneath the surge, then rises with it to nearly a perpendicular. The boat is almost to him, when suddenly the mast disappears again and he rises no more! All on board, nine in number, have been lost, and none left to tell the tale of their suffering. Portions of the wreck came ashore revealed the fact that it was the schooner R.R. Johnson. The farmer’s house we have described was the very home of the mate, and the family on shore who had sent after the life-boat was the family of the mate. In all probability the man who hung so long in the rigging was the mate himself, as he was a very resolute and robust man. Thus in the sight of his family and home he died a martyr to his mysterious fate, his wife unconsciously a spectator to the terrible scene. There is probably not on record a coincidence so strange, where a wife at her own home should witness the wreck of her husband at sea. Among those lost on board the schooner was Mr. John Gallaher, of this city. [Buffalo paper]
Deadeyes
Stove inside Hold
At Chicago, whence the ill-fated vessel last sailed, Capt. Snell, her owner and commander, put her in charge of the mate, who was his brother, and left her to make her way down the lakes, while he took the railroad for the purpose of getting a special insurance upon her in Buffalo. She weathered the storms, passed over the flats, and beat her way down on to this lake, when the big north-wester of Sunday caught her this side the islands. The next seen of her was at daylight Monday morning, about two miles west of Fairport and twenty rods from the shore, beached, and the men hanging in her rigging. She lay broadside to, and every sea careened her over so as to bring her masts under water, and of course immersing the poor fellows clinging there for life. She was first discovered by a family of farmers living opposite on the bluff which overlooked the wreck. They immediately despatched a messenger to the harbor for a life-boat. They watched the sufferers on the wreck until one by one they were washed off, so that when the life-boat started for their relief, there were but three remaining. Intensely excited did they beckon the boat on, which for two miles rowed amid surges and breakers that one-half the time hid the rescuers from view. Two more of the sufferers were washed off by the sea, and yet the boat was some half mile to row. One, probably the most hardy and robust of them all, remains. He seems lashed to the rigging and rises and falls with it as it dives beneath the surge, then rises with it to nearly a perpendicular. The boat is almost to him, when suddenly the mast disappears again and he rises no more! All on board, nine in number, have been lost, and none left to tell the tale of their suffering. Portions of the wreck came ashore revealed the fact that it was the schooner R.R. Johnson. The farmer’s house we have described was the very home of the mate, and the family on shore who had sent after the life-boat was the family of the mate. In all probability the man who hung so long in the rigging was the mate himself, as he was a very resolute and robust man. Thus in the sight of his family and home he died a martyr to his mysterious fate, his wife unconsciously a spectator to the terrible scene. There is probably not on record a coincidence so strange, where a wife at her own home should witness the wreck of her husband at sea. Among those lost on board the schooner was Mr. John Gallaher, of this city. [Buffalo paper]
Deadeyes
Stove inside Hold