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The Lillie Parsons is a favorite wreck in the Morristown, NY area. Downstream from Alexandria Bay and just west of Brockville, Ontario, lying on the north side of Sparrow Island in Canadian waters. She lies in 60 yo 80 feet of water with a moderate current of 2-3 knots. The current can vary widely, depending on the amount of water going through the Hydroelectric dam at Massena. Boat traffic must be a consideration as she lies in the channel. It’s unlikely that a freighter will pass directly overhead, but small boat traffic can be frequent and unpredictable.
The Lillie Parsons was a fore and aft cabin, two masted centerboard schooner, 131 feet long with a 26 foot beam. Launched on September 14, 1868 by Parsons and Humboldt of Tonawanda, NY (Buffalo, NY), she was named after Parson’s young daughter. She held a number of speed records including the fastest round trip between Oswego and Chicago of 25 days and Milwaukee to Oswego in just 7 days.
 She lived a fast, furious and short life of only 9 years, when she found her final resting place during a storm on August 5, 1877. The captain was not intimidated by the brewing storm and subsequent squall as he made his way towards Brockville with his load of coal. A sudden blow put her over on her bean ends, causing her cargo of coal to dangerously shift. She then struck a rock and began to take on water and drifted onto a 18 foot shoal just off the north corner of Sparrow Island. Fortunately there was no loss of life. Salvage was considered, but within a few weeks, she was washed from the shoal and settled upside down on the north side of Sparrow Island. An anchor and chain placed by Save Ontario Shipwrecks (S.O.S.) on Sparrow Island attached to her stern. The bow is pointed downstream.
As with most wrecks there are at least a couple of ways to dive it. One is by land, two is by drift. If you choose to drift dive it, don’t dally too long on the wreck itself or you won’t have enough air to complete the drift.
 The shore dive requires that docking the boat on the downstream or east end of Sparrow Island and walk across the small island to the west end of the island where you will find the anchor and a generally a picnic table. Divers must stay on the chain and on the wreck when doing a shore dive at all times, otherwise it quickly becomes a drift dive. Ascents directly to the surface as strongly discouraged due to the current and boat traffic. The Lillie can be explored provided a diver uses discipline as to current and entry/exit procedures.  The impressive rudder along with the masts, sail rings, centerboard pocket, and ship’s stove make for an interesting dive. Much of her hardware remains intact through the conscientious efforts of every diver that visits. Her coal is spilled out all around the wreck. Sometimes it difficult to distinguish it from the rubble, until you pick it up. The coal will be noticeably lighter. If you choose to camp on the island and burn the coal, your nose will let you know what “high sulfur content coal” really means.
As a drift dive, the number one rule with drift dives in the St. Lawrence applies: always dive it with someone familiar with the drift. The currents in the St. Lawrence move vertically as well as horizontally. They don’t always go in the same direction as one would expect.
As a drift dive the boat will drop you near the shoal that Lillie sunk on allowing you to drift into her stern at 40 feet. Briefly explore the wreck as you fly over her  centerboard. Collect your party in the slipstream at the bow before proceeding with the drift. Enjoy the drift and keep your party together below 40 feet. There is a rip current near the surface that will carry you between Sparrow and Stovin Island which at best will put you on the south side of Stovin Island, or perhaps backwash you to Sparrow Island, or carry you downstream to some other yet to be determined  destination. Once you’ve cleared the rip current you can begin your ascent, enjoying the geologic formations. and the monster walleyes that often hang out in the shadows. On a nice sunny day, you may even see the kids jumping off the channel marker into the water above.
As you continue the drift, keeping the 100’ granite wall and rock formations to your right, as you ascend you will see the overhead shelf and the current will begin to bring you around the lee side of Stovin island where you will find a convenient 3 foot deep shelf to stand on for the boat to pick you up.
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