Some More on the HMS Ontario

It sank during a sudden and violent gale on October 31, 1780 and at least 120 men, women, children, and prisoners went down with the ship. The ship had departed earlierthat day from Fort Niagara. The ship is still considered as a British Admiralty property.

You Tube had a film on it and the degree of preservation is quite remarkable.

Not a lot was recovered after the sinking. According to official British records, the victims included 74 military, 9 women and children, 4 Indians, and 1 civilian. Evidently, there were no survivors.

Never Heard of this Ship Before. --Old Coot

HMS Ontario Found

A short article in the June 14th Chicago Tribune "Great Lakes find ends 3-year hunt."
A sunken ship was found. Sunken ships are of great interest to me; right up my alley you might say.

Two very dedicated underwater explorers found it after a three year search found the 22 gun British warship HMS Ontario which sank in a storm on October 31, 1780, five months after being launched. It carried 22 guns and was the largest British ship on the Great Lakes during the American Revolution.

It is partially on its side 500 feet down and very well preserved due to the extremely cold water. Jim Kennard and Dan Scoville spent three years searching for it with side-scan sonar.

Way to Go Jim and Dan!!! --Da Coot