COURTLANDT (1867, Bark)

Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: COURTLANDT
• Year of Build: 1867
• Official Number: 5397

Construction and Ownership

• Built At: Sheboygan, Wisconsin
• Vessel Type: Bark (Bulk Freight Carrier)
• Hull Material: Wood
• Number of Decks: 1
• Builder Name: A.G. Huntley (sometimes listed as Hunter)
• Original Owner: A.P. Lyman, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
• Power Number of Masts: 3
• Hull Dimensions Length: 59.44 metres (195 feet)  Beam: 10.52 metres (34 feet 6 inches)  Depth: 4.11 metres (13 feet 6 inches)
• Gross Tonnage: 676.13

Final Disposition

• Final Location: Off Lorain, Ohio, in Lake Erie.
• Date of Loss: 21 June 1868
• Cause: Collision with the sidewheeler MORNING STAR, causing the COURTLANDT to sink.
• Final Cargo: Iron ore or corn (sources conflict).
• Route: Bound from Escanaba, Michigan, to Cleveland, Ohio.
• Survivors: Rescued by the Steamer R. N. RICE, though several lives were lost.

History

Launch Date: 21 August 1867.

Sinking: Less than a year after launch, the COURTLANDT was struck by the MORNING STAR in a devastating collision. The wreck marked a tragic event in the busy shipping lanes of Lake Erie.

Repair Attempt: In November 1871, reports indicate that efforts to repair the vessel were made in Detroit, Michigan, though the details suggest this was more likely associated with salvaged elements or another ship.

Significance

The COURTLANDT highlights the perilous nature of early Great Lakes shipping, where busy routes and frequent traffic led to collisions. The collision with the MORNING STAR underscores the vulnerability of wooden vessels in an era of increasing maritime activity.

Located By & Date Found

No definitive record of the wreck’s exact location or recovery effort exists. The site remains undocumented for modern exploration.

Notes & Advisories

Navigational Hazards: There are no known hazards or markers indicating the wreck’s position. Its condition remains speculative due to a lack of recovery or detailed records.

Historical Preservation: The wreck has not been explored extensively, likely due to sedimentation and the passage of time obscuring its location.

Resources & Links

For additional information or potential updates, consider consulting:

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Vessels Online Index
• David Swayze’s Shipwreck Files: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Digital Collections
• Great Lakes Ships
• Ohio Shipwrecks

Conclusion

The COURTLANDT’s brief service life and tragic sinking near Lorain, Ohio, stand as a reminder of the challenges faced by Great Lakes sailors in the 19th century. While details of its final resting place remain scarce, the ship’s story continues to provide insight into the era’s maritime practices and risks.