Shipwreck Report: Ralph Campbell

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

• Name: Ralph Campbell
• Type: Wooden Schooner
• Official Number: 21179
• Dimensions: Length: 104 feet 6.12 inches Beam: 25 feet 9.24 inches Depth: 9 feet 8 inches
• Tonnage: 233 32/95 tonnage (Old Style)
• Builder: Peck & Masters, Cleveland, Ohio
• Year Built: 1855
• Final Location: Near Long Point, Lake Erie
• Depth: Shallow water near the shoreline

VESSEL HISTORY

• Ownership History:

• 1855: Owned by Ralph Campbell of Sheffield, Ohio
• 1860: B.S. Sheppard of Chicago, Illinois
• 1863: Wm. Egan of Chicago
• 1866: Elkins & Merrill of Chicago
• 1876: Thompson & Others of Chicago

Service:

The Ralph Campbell was a hardworking Schooner engaged in the transport of lumber across the Great Lakes, primarily to Chicago. Over its 54-year career, it was responsible for transporting enough lumber to build what was described as a “small-sized city.”

NOTABLE INCIDENTS

• 1855: Struck White Shoal in Lake Michigan while en route from Buffalo to Chicago. To lighten the vessel, 2,000 bushels of wheat were jettisoned. The Schooner was freed but leaking.
• 1858: Ran ashore on Middle Island in Lake Huron while carrying lumber. Successfully freed.
• 1859: Stranded on Hog Island Reef, Lake Michigan. Freed and repaired in Milwaukee by the Schooner Leviathon.
• 1861: Ran ashore in Hamilton, Ontario, Lake Ontario, in November.
• 1862: Underwent significant rebuilding.
• 1883: Collided with the Tug Brothers on the Chicago River, sustaining repairable damage.
• 1909: On October 14, 1909, the Schooner was swamped by a storm near Long Point, Lake Erie. Drifted ashore and was broken apart by waves. Intended to be converted into a houseboat around the harbor after being condemned in 1905.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The wreckage of the Ralph Campbell lies near Long Point in Lake Erie. The vessel was destroyed by wave action after being swamped during a storm. No information on loss of life or cargo during its final voyage has been recorded.

The Ralph Campbell’s long service history highlights the importance of wooden schooners in the Great Lakes’ lumber trade during the 19th century. It is a testament to the resilience of these vessels and the challenges faced by sailors navigating these waters. Its wreck remains a reminder of the perils inherent in early maritime trade.

RESOURCES & LINKS

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