The Tragic Loss of the Nellie A. Duff (1895)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: Nellie A. Duff
• Official Number: 130334
• Vessel Type: Schooner, wood
• Hull Material: Wood
• Number of Masts: 2
• Built By: Unknown shipbuilder
• Year Built: 1885
• Built At: Port Clinton, Ohio
• Registry: United States
• Measurements Length: 77 ft (23.5 m) Beam: 20 ft (6.1 m) Depth: 6 ft (1.8 m)
• Tonnage: 54 Gross Tonnage, 51 Net Tonnage

Vessel Type & Description

The Nellie A. Duff was a small two-masted wooden schooner, built for coastal and short-haul cargo transport on Lake Erie. Owned by Captain Peterson of Detroit, she was primarily engaged in hauling bulk cargo, like gravel, stone, and other aggregates between ports.

She was one of several schooners owned by the Duff family, alongside the C.B. Benson and the Kate Winslow, both of which were also lost on October 14 in different years, making this date a tragic one in the family’s maritime history.

Final Voyage & Disaster

• Date of Loss: October 14, 1895
• Location: Two miles off Lorain, Ohio, Lake Erie
• Cause of Loss: Storm
• Loss of Life: 3 of 4 crew members perished
• Cargo: Gravel
• Intended Route: Pelee Island, Ontario → Cleveland, Ohio

The Gale & Capsizing

The Nellie A. Duff was nearing port at Lorain, Ohio, battling fierce winds and high waves as she tried to reach safety. As the Schooner fought through the storm, her heavy cargo of gravel suddenly shifted, causing the vessel to list dangerously.

To make matters worse, another vessel in distress appeared ahead, and the Nellie A. Duff turned aside to give way, forcing her into an even more perilous position amid the turbulent waters. The sudden change in course, combined with the shifting weight of the gravel, proved to be too much for the small Schooner. With little warning, she sank beneath the waves.

Rescue Attempts & Aftermath

Of the four crew members aboard, only one survived. The other three sailors perished in the frigid, storm-tossed waters.

Despite salvage efforts, the wreck had completely disappeared by the end of the year, swallowed by the depths of Lake Erie.

Legacy & Historical Significance

The loss of the Nellie A. Duff highlights the dangers faced by small cargo schooners on the Great Lakes, especially in unpredictable fall storms.

🔥 Key Takeaways from the Disaster:

• The danger of shifting cargo—many sailing ships of the era Foundered when unsecured loads moved suddenly in rough seas.
• The perils of autumn storms—mid-October gales often brought violent and sudden weather shifts that overwhelmed smaller wooden schooners.
• The unfortunate fate of the Duff family fleet, as three of their schooners were all lost on October 14 in different years.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes Database
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• NOAA Great Lakes Wreck Database

Conclusion

The Nellie A. Duff is one of many schooners lost in the unpredictable waters of Lake Erie, her final moments marked by the struggle against fierce winds, shifting cargo, and an attempt to avoid another vessel in distress. Though her wreck remains undiscovered, her story endures as a reminder of the harsh realities of Great Lakes navigation in the 19th century.

Keywords & Categories ⛵ Nellie A. Duff shipwreck 🌊 Lake Erie schooners ⚓ Great Lakes maritime disasters 🌩 Schooner lost in storm 🛶 19th-century shipwrecks 💀 Lost with all hands