The Yonkers (Tennyson) Shipwreck
New York and New Jersey's (Wreck Valley)
Historical and current New York and New Jersey Shipwreck Information and
images for scuba divers and fisherman.
YONKERS
Originally built as a three masted sailing ship in 1864. The Yonkers
was 187 feet long had a 38 foot beam and displaced 1,265 gross tons.
She was originally built as the Ocean Signal. She was sold and
renamed the Tennyson. In 1877 she was sold again this time being
re-named Deutschland. In 1877 the Deutschland ran aground. The ship
was damaged and at that time was converted into a barge and re-named
once again Yonkers.
On January 26, 1898the Yonkers went down in rough seas. At the time
she was carrying coal en-route from Newport News to Providence. She
was being towed by the Walter A. Luckenbach and had parted her tow
line. Four crew were lost in the accident. Surprisingly the tug that
was towing her and the barge that was in tow behind her not only
survived the rough weather but neither had even witnessed the
Yonkers go down. According to the New York Times " Capt Willen of
the Luckenbach reported that he had encountered heavy seas
throughout Saturday night, and that at 6 o'clock on Sunday morning
he observed that the tug was making better headway. Upon going
astern he felt the tow line slack with nothing attached to it. he at
once put about to ascertain the nature of the trouble, and his
vessel narrowly escaped collision with the Halycon, which had been
the rear barge." Capt Black of the steamer Holgarth which was close
by reported seeing a vessels pilot house drifting in the heavy sea.
He also claims to have spotted a man on top of the floating debris
but before he could get a boat to the survivor he had been washed
overboard.
The Yonkers, better know to fishermen as the Tennyson, now sits in
150 feet of water, 27.5 miles from Moriches Inlet NY. The wreck is
broken down and low lying. In 1967 diver John Dudas recovered her
bell which
identified the
wreck. The bell had the vessels 2nd name
Tennyson embossed on it. According to diver Jim Fazolarie this wreck
has a huge winch, two big fluted anchors and two piles of anchor
chain. The wreck appears to be the remains of a wooden schooner.
Divers can also find an occasional brass spike on the site. This is
an excellent
lobster dive.
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Originally built as a three masted sailing ship in 1864. The Yonkers
was 187 feet long had a 38 foot beam and displaced 1,265 gross tons.
She was originally built as the Ocean Signal. She was sold and
renamed the Tennyson. In 1877 she was sold again this time being
re-named Deutschland. In 1877 the Deutschland ran aground. The ship
was damaged and at that time was converted into a barge and re-named
once again Yonkers. 