Schooner Eliza R. Turner (1867–1877)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: Eliza R. Turner
• Other Names: None
• Official Number: 8191
• Vessel Type at Loss: Wooden three-masted Schooner (originally built as a Barge)
• Builder: A. Turner, Trenton, Michigan
• Year Built & Launched: 1867
• Specifications: Length: 156 ft (47.5 m) Beam: 30 ft (9.1 m) Depth: 12 ft (3.7 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 409 GT
• Date Lost: October 10, 1877 (sometimes mistakenly given as October 3, but the vessel left Detroit on the 9th)
• Location of Loss: 9 miles west of the tip of Long Point, Lake Erie
• Cause of Loss: Storm, ran aground and wrecked
• Loss of Life: 2 of 10 crew members (Captain and cook drowned)
• Cargo at Time of Loss: 27,000 bushels of wheat

Vessel Description & Service History

The Eliza R. Turner was originally built as a Barge in 1867, but was converted into a three-masted Schooner in 1868. She served as a Great Lakes bulk cargo carrier, primarily transporting grain, coal, and other bulk commodities between ports such as Detroit, Buffalo, and Cleveland.  Underwent major repairs in 1877, just months before her final voyage. Owned by Cooley, Van Tussell, and Captain Gil Hearns (deceased), based in Cleveland, Ohio.

Final Voyage & Loss

On October 10, 1877, Eliza R. Turner was bound from Detroit to Buffalo, carrying 27,000 bushels of wheat when she encountered a gale near Long Point, Lake Erie.  The vessel was delayed in Detroit due to a grain shoveler’s work slowdown, causing her to pass Long Point at nightinstead of during daylight hours.  Some newspaper reports blamed the delay for her wreck, suggesting that her navigator was unable to see the shoreline, leading her to go aground in the storm.

• The captain and cook drowned, while the remaining crew survived.
• The wreck was destroyed by waves and declared a Total Loss.

Final Disposition & Salvage

• Declared a Total Loss after grounding and breaking up.
• No records of salvage efforts.
• No confirmed modern discovery of wreckage.
• No confirmed wreck site identified.
• Any remains may be scattered along the Lake Erie shoreline near Long Point.

NOTMARs & Advisories

 Long Point, Lake Erie, is a historically hazardous area, with numerous shipwrecks due to shifting sandbars and unpredictable storms.  Schooners were commonly lost in sudden gales, as their large sails made them difficult to control in extreme weather.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
• Great Lakes Maritime Database (GLMD): https://greatlakeships.org
• David Swayze Shipwreck File: https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org
• Great Lakes Vessel Database (BGSU): https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/vessels

Conclusion

The Eliza R. Turner was a workhorse Schooner of the Great Lakes, operating in the grain trade between Detroit and Buffalo. Her loss in 1877 off Long Point highlights the dangers of late-season sailing on Lake Erie, where storms and navigational challenges led to numerous wrecks. Though her wreckage has never been confirmed, she remains one of many vessels claimed by the treacherous waters of Long Point.