Henry Rooney Shipwreck

The shipwreck of the Henry Rooney is one of the easiest to get to from Rochester. It is 2.09 miles from the outlet of Irondequoit Bay and 2.6 miles from the outlet of the Genesee River.

Location:
NOTE: The location from https://www.shipwreckworld.com/maps/schooner-henry-roney seems to be slightly off. As well as the depth. It is stated as:
Latitude: 43° 15' 47.52" N Longitude: -77° 33' 20.4012" W
Depth: 70 feet

There are actually 2 parts to the wreck. Both rest at 57 feet on a muddy bottom.

The most recent reading on the location is:
Bow:
N 43 15' 46.8"
W 77 33' 26.0"
Stern
N 43 15' 45.7"
W 77 33' 25.2"

Size of ship:
136(137) length x 25(26) beam x 11 height, 295 tons, built 1868

Lost Oct 24, 1879

Condition of the Wreck:

On several dives we made, the visibility has been extremely low - 3-4 feet. This happened to be when the water temperature was in the 70s. The first dive we made the visibility was much better. Maybe 15-20 feet but the water temperature was in the 40s, extremely cold.

The bow is sticking out vertically about 10 feet. There is about 10 feet of the bow in length still exposed ending in the bowsprit and at the widest point about 10 feet.

The stern is located about 128 feet south and slightly east of the bow at 154 degree. It is sticking out about 5 feet vertically and about 10 feet wide and 15 feet long.

The 128 foot section between the bow and the stern appears to be covered in mud, is sunken down, and no longer exposed. It is unknown how much of the center section remains and is just covered or is actually destroyed and missing. This would make an interesting target for an excavation to reveal what is underneath.

It is 2.09 miles at a heading of 144 degrees from the Inlet of Irondequiot Bay.
It is 2.67 miles at a heading of 77 degrees to the modern day Charlotte Boat Ramp.
It is 1.62 miles to the closest point on land.

I did stumble upon what looked like a mast at one point searching the site. Some video was taken, but I was not able to accurately record the location it was found. I will have to return to find the precise location of the mast.

Also, per Dan Scoville, a house boat was wreck near the site. However a second dive by Dan at the site the following year and there was nothing remaining of the house boat.

Footage from the Shipwreck:


History:

The ship was wrecked on July 24, 1879. 10 men survived. The cook, Charlotte Fisk of Buffalo, was drowned.

Some records from the Daily British Whig as well as the Evening Republic of Buffalo make clear records of the event:

https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/12757/data
"A telegram was received here this morning to the effect that the barque Henry Rooney, owned by Mr. I.H. Radford, and which left here yesterday at 5 o'clock, had sunk in the lake two miles from Charlotte, she having sprung a leak during a gale blowing from the north-west. She was laden with stone and lath, the stone being for the Rochester Iron Works, and the lath for Charlotte, shipped by Mr. Eddy, of Hull. All the members of the crew, some ten men, have been saved, but the unfortunate cook, Charlotte Fisk, of Buffalo, has been drowned. It seems singular that all should have been able to reach land but her. Was there a complete absence of gallantry and manly courage? We pause for a reply. Her Captain, (McDonald), is a Wolfe Islander. Two years ago the Rooney was sold for $8,500 but she is not worth that amount now. Some value her at $3,000. She lies in about 40 feet of water. Neither vessel or cargo are insured, but the freight was insured."
NOTE: I.H. Radford should be J.H. Radford

The ship is referenced in multiple ways over the records - H. Rooney, Henry Rooney, H Roney. There was a ship builder of that name that was in the area and I assume this ship was named after him.

It appears to have been built in Garden Island.

Just a few months before the shipwreck, she has gone aground.
On July 14, 1879
"The Garden Island brig H. Rooney, loaded at Chatham, went hard aground near Peche Island, while boating down. She was not wrecked this time, either, but her name is bound to be in print." (Source: Daily British Whig, Kingston, ON https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/12671/data)

As well, a few months before the wreck, a record of Radford buying out a half owner was recorded.

On August 6, 1879 "The H. Rooney - Capt. J.H. Radford has purchased from J.A. Peterson his half interest in the brig Henry Rooney, which has been engaged in the timber trade, but which Capt. Radford proposes to run in the trade between Montreal and Nova Scotia, carrying flour down and coal up. Last night the Rooney was chartered to bring a cargo of coal from Cleveland at $1.50 per ton." (Source: Daily British Whig, Kingston, ON https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/12691/data)

On October 29, 1879 some controversy was started on the fact the cook (a female) was left by the rest of the crew.
"American papers have been speaking harshly of the desertion of the cook by the crew of the brig Henry Rooney."
(Source: Daily British Whig, Kingston, ON https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/12760/data)

At which point a full account from Capt Radford was made in defense of leaving the cook behind. This is the best description of the shipwreck I have seen:
"A COOK'S DEATH
Capt. Radford Makes A Statement About the Sinking of the Rooney.
As there is yet much discussion about the loss of the brig Henry Rooney, and Captain I.H. Radford of Kingston has been much blamed because he did not save his cook from drowning, it is only fair that his explanation and defence should be given. Mr. Radford says he left this city a week ago for Charlotte, laden, as we have already intimated, with stone and lath. The vessel sailed out of this harbor about tea time, and went --- until --- when the wind blew fresh from the north west, then west, and a heavy sea was running. When in sight of Charlotte light the crew shortened sail. The vessel began taking water, and the pumps were set going. These kept the brig free. At six o'clock a flag of distress was run up, the vessel being then five or six miles from Charlotte. The sea broke over the brig, and the water gained in the hold. Then the top sail was carried away. Capt. Radford called the cook, telling her that the vessel was in danger, and that she should get up. The pumps were still kept going, but the water gained. Had a tug appeared the Captain thinks the vessel could have been saved at this time. Seeing none in sight, however, at eight o'clock Captain Radford ordered the main sail to be taken in, and the wheel to be put hard up in order to beach the vessel. He called the cook a second time, as he began to fear the vessel would founder. The main gaff caught on the lift and would not come down for some minutes. When it was got down the yawl boat was cleared and the men ordered to get in. Finding that the cook was not in the Captain again tried to reach the cabin to save her, but was unable to do so, as the vessel went down almost before the yawl was clear. In fact it is stated that the Captain narrowly escaped with his own life. The Rooney was not insured. She belonged to Captain Radford. The body of the cook is in the cabin, which is about fifteen feet under water. The flag of distress, still waving from the mast above the surface of the water, marks the spot.

Wind Wafts - And so it appears that Capt. I.H. Radford was not to blame for the loss of the cook of his vessel."
(Source: Daily British Whig, Kingston, ON, Oct 30, 1879, https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/12761/data)

On Nov 19, 1879, the body of Charlotte Fisk was found.
"The Body Found - of woman supposed to be cook from Henry Rooney lost off Charlotte."
(Source: Daily British Whig, Kingston, ON, Nov 19, 1879, https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/12776/data)

References to Henry Rooney (the shipbuilder) building other ships are cited here:
"On Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock the schr. Prussia was launched at Garden Island. She is the largest and finest craft of the fleet which will be engaged in Messrs. Calvin & Breck's lumber business, being specially designed and intended for the pine trade of Lake Superior. She will be commanded by Captain Tom Donnelly, a navigator of some experience, just returned from England, where he obtained a certificate of his knowledge and ability. The vessel is 139 feet keel, 145 feet overall, 26 ft. 2 in. beam, 14 feet depth of hold, and tonnage about 385 tons. She was built under the supervision of Mr. Henry Rooney, and rigged and fitted out by Mr. Dix. She will probably sail on Wednesday next, the Welland Canal opening on Monday."
(Source: Daily British Whig, Kingston, ON, May 1, 1879, https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/73793/data)

Other cases of the Henry Rooney being disabled earlier in it's lifetime include:
"-Rescued - tug H.A. Calvin towed sch. W.B. Allen, lately ashore at Toronto, and brig Henry Rooney, disabled, into harbor."
(Source: Daily British Whig, Kingston, ON, Nov 16, 1868, https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/73793/data)

Also of note, the Henry Rooney was one of the fastest of it's day. Note, the Welland Canal is used to connect Lake Erie to Lake Ontario to avoid Niagara Falls.
"-brig Henry Rooney, Capt. Milligan, made quickest trip on record for sailing craft through Welland Canal from Port Dalhousie to Port Colborne in 12 hours 20 minutes."
(Source: Daily British Whig, Kingston, ON, 7 Jul 1875, https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/73141/data)
Same note from The Ogdensburg Journal, 10 July 1875:
"THE brig, Henry Roney, passed through the Welland Canal, on the 3d, in twelve hours and twenty minutes. This is the quickest time ever made by a sail vessel."

Additional references were made to the boat in:

The "schrs Henry Rooney, Tecumseh, ..." was referenced as "Vessels Passing Detriot" on Sept 14, 1872 in the Evening Courier and Republic of Buffalo.

On Nov 5, 1879, a reference within the Evening Republic of Buffalo, that "Capt D.C. Dobbins, had arrived in Charlotte on official business. He was to make an investigation as to the cause and attendant circumstances of the lose of the schooner Henry Rooney, which sunk recently off the Sea Breeze."

Capt William Radford later was lost in a separate accident in Lake Erie:
"Barge Tasmania Lost in Lake Erie During Friday' storm.
Oct. 21.—The steamer Bulgaria came into port this afternoon bunging news of the loss of the barge Tasmania off Pelee Island in Lake Erie during Fridays storm. The Tasmania sank at 5 a. m. Friday with her entire crew of eight men. Those lost were Capt. William Radford, Court Right, Ont.; First Mate George Whitestone, Engineer Austin Mayhew, Cook J. R. Strough, Seamen Mike Boyle, August Ulbrlck, John Tracy and Harry La pas k. The Tasmania, together with the barge Ashland, also carrying a crew of eight men, was In tow of the Bulgaria. The Bulgaria and the Ashland rode the storm off Pelee Island "


We discovered other details from Microsoft AI tool "Copilot" but we found the results highly inaccurate and are unable to verify much of it:
"Sent by Copilot:
The Henry Roney was a wooden schooner built in 1867 in Black River, Ohio. It was primarily used for transporting goods across the Great Lakes. The ship was 137 feet long and had a beam of 26 feet, making it a sizable vessel for its time.

On October 15, 1879, the Henry Roney was en route from Cleveland, Ohio, to Oswego, New York, carrying a cargo of limestone and lath. During its journey, the ship encountered a severe storm on Lake Ontario. The rough weather caused the vessel to spring a leak, and despite the crew’s efforts to manage the situation, the ship began to take on water rapidly.

Captain John Marshall decided to head for the nearest safe harbor, which was Charlotte, near Rochester, New York. Unfortunately, the ship sank before it could reach safety. The crew managed to abandon the ship and were rescued by a passing vessel, so there were no fatalities.

Today, the wreck of the Henry Roney lies in Lake Ontario off the coast of Durand Eastman Park. The site is a popular spot for divers, who can explore the remains of the ship, including the bow and stern, which are still visible."

Other snippets on the Henry Rooney from before its sinking:
"FROM TOLEDO.—The following items are clipped from the Toledo Commercial of the 89th Inst:
The brig Henry Rooney, bound from Kingston to the port, lost her centre beard while coming through Lake Ontario. This, in connection with strong head winds, lengthened the trip a week."

"Chicago IL Tribune 1872 - 0849.pdf
WRECKING. —Captain E. F. Drake, with the steamer Magnet, is still at work at the wreck of the brig Henry Rooney, near Grand River. A day or two of good weather will probably suffice to get her off."

"Chicago IL Tribune 1872 - 0902.pdf
—The brig Henry Rooney, which went ashore near Fairport last fall, was brought into the port Sunday morning The wrecking steamer Magnet has been at work at her for some time. The Rooney was loaded with heavy •qanr* timber when she went ashore and, when an attempt was made to get her off the beach, it was found that she was full of sand, which necessitated the removal of all her cargo. It was a slow operation, but the timber was all taken out and placed on the bank, but it was then found that she was deeply sunk in the sand. On Saturday the tug S.E. Coe. In charge of Captain Thomas Pennington, was employed to aid in getting her off. The Coe proceeded to the vessel, and soon made the sand fly la all directions, and about 3 o'clock the Rooney was afloat and started for this port. But the heavy gale that set in forced the wrecking party to return to Fairport, where they laid until Sunday morning, when they again started for Cleveland, where they arrived safely. The Rooney is a very staunch vessel, and is very little damaged by her winter's sojourn on ths l each. She was taken to the dry docks for repairs.
— Cleveland Herald. "