Identification & Site Information

• Name: ECLIPSE
• Other Names: None reported
• Official Number: 7231
• Date Built and Launched: 1857
• Builder: Francis Nelson Jones, Buffalo, New York
• Original Owner: Dean Richmond, New York Central Railroad, Batavia, NY
• Vessel Type: Propeller (Steam-powered cargo and passenger vessel)
• Hull Materials: Wood
• Number of Decks: 1 (originally), later modifications added a second Deck, then removed again
• Power:
• Number of Masts: 1
• Propulsion: Screw (single propeller)
• Engine Type: high-pressure steam engine
• Measurements: Length: 184 ft (56.08 m) Beam: 31 ft (9.45 m) Depth: 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m)
• Tonnage (Old Style): 620 65/95 tons (later remeasured to 887.42 gross tons in 1865, then reduced to 469.5 gross tons after modifications)

Vessel Type

The Eclipse was a wooden-hulled propeller-driven Steamship built primarily for package freight and passenger transport on the Great Lakes. It was part of a class of vessels that included its sister ships: COMET, ROCKET, SUN, EQUATOR, and EQUINOX. These vessels were essential to the mid-19th-century shipping industry, facilitating the movement of goods and people across Lake Erie and other Great Lakes routes.

Description

Constructed in 1857 by Francis Nelson Jones in Buffalo, New York, the ECLIPSE was designed to operate on the Buffalo-Sandusky-Toledo route. The vessel featured a high-pressure steam engine, which powered a single screw propeller—a relatively new technology at the time, offering greater efficiency compared to traditional paddle wheel steamers.

The ECLIPSE was originally owned by Dean Richmond of the New York Central Railroad, reflecting the close relationship between rail and maritime transport during this period. The vessel was used to move passengers and package freight along key trade routes connecting the Midwest to Eastern markets.

History

The ECLIPSE had a long and eventful career on the Great Lakes, marked by numerous collisions, groundings, and mechanical failures. Despite these setbacks, the vessel was repeatedly repaired and reconstructed, reflecting the value placed on Great Lakes freighters during the height of 19th-century maritime commerce.

Key Events in the Vessel’s History:

• 1857, May 12: The ECLIPSE was enrolled in Buffalo, NY, and began operations on the Buffalo-Sandusky-Toledo route.
• 1861, October: The vessel collided with the Schooner SCOTLAND in Buffalo Harbor and was subsequently Rebuilt with new arches.
• 1862, August 30: The ECLIPSE ran aground near West Sister Island in Lake Erie but was successfully released.
• 1863, October 14: The vessel was involved in a collision with the Schooner SARAH E. HUDSON on Lake Erie, causing the Schooner to sink with the loss of one life. This was one of the most significant incidents in the ECLIPSE‘s operational history.
• 1865, September 13: The vessel was remeasured to 887.42 gross tons after the addition of a second Deck.
• 1866, November: The vessel broke machinery in the Detroit River and was repaired shortly after.
• 1869, June 1: The ECLIPSE went ashore at Point Abino in a fog but was released without major damage.
• 1869, August: The vessel was damaged in a collision with the Schooner DASHING WAVE on Lake Erie.
• 1870: The ECLIPSE ran routes between Buffalo, Detroit, Toledo, and Saginaw, often transporting salt and other bulk goods.

Final Disposition

By the early 1870s, the ECLIPSE was showing signs of age and wear. The vessel underwent extensive modifications, including the removal of its Deck in 1872, which reduced its tonnage to 469.5 gross tons. It was converted into a Barge by 1874, marking the end of its life as a powered Steamship.

On October 30, 1874, while **in tow of the steambarge *YOSEMITE, the ECLIPSE *Foundered and stranded* near the Black River at Lorain, Ohio. The vessel was considered a Total Loss. However, in November 1875, the **wrecking Tug *MONITOR recovered the vessel’s *boiler*, salvaging one of its most valuable components.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return. There are no confirmed reports of the ECLIPSE‘s wreck being located near Black River (Lorain), Ohio. Given that the boiler was recovered and the vessel was largely stripped of valuable parts, any remaining portions of the wreck may have deteriorated or been dispersed over time.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil return. No current navigational hazards related to this wreck are reported in the Black River or Lorain, Ohio.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Great Lakes Shipwreck File
• Edward J. Dowling Collection, University of Detroit Mercy
• H.G. Runge Collection, Milwaukee Public Library

Conclusion

The ECLIPSE‘s nearly two-decade-long career reflects the dynamic nature of Great Lakes shipping during the mid-19th century. As a propeller-driven Steamship, it was part of a new wave of vessels that transformed maritime commerce on the Great Lakes, offering faster and more reliable transport of goods and passengers. Despite its multiple accidents, mechanical failures, and eventual Conversion into a Barge, the vessel’s persistent service illustrates the economic importance of these ships in an era of rapid industrial and urban growth. Its involvement in significant incidents, such as the sinking of the SARAH E. HUDSON, further cements its place in the maritime history of Lake Erie.

If you’re interested in more about sister ships like the COMET, ROCKET, or EQUINOX, or want to learn more about propeller steamers of the era, let me know!