Steamer Young Zion

Identification & Site Information

• Name: Young Zion
• Other Names: Unknown
• Official Number: Unknown
• Vessel Type at Loss: Steamer
• Builder: Unknown
• Year Built & Launched: Unknown
• Specifications: Unknown
• Date Lost: June 13, 1881
• Location of Loss: Off Walnut Creek, east of Dunkirk, New York, Lake Erie
• Cause of Loss: Storm, Foundered
• Loss of Life: Unknown
• Cargo at Time of Loss: Railroad Iron, cash

Vessel Description & History

Little is known about the Young Zion, other than that she was a Steamer operating on Lake Erie in the late 19th century. Steamboats of this period were commonly used for freight and passenger transport, and it is unclear if she was a dedicated cargo vessel, Packet Steamer, or Tug.

Her reported cargo—Railroad Iron and cash—suggests she may have been involved in industrial supply transport, possibly supporting railroad expansion in the Great Lakes region. The inclusion of cash in her manifest is unusual, and may indicate she was transporting payroll funds or business transactions between ports.

Final Voyage & Loss

On June 13, 1881, the Young Zion was sailing off Walnut Creek, New York, just east of Dunkirk, New York, when she encountered a storm and Foundered approximately two miles offshore.

Details on the sinking are scarce, including:  The number of crew or passengers on board,  Whether there were any survivors or casualties,  If there were salvage attempts for her cargo, including the cash Given the lack of contemporary records, it is possible that the wreck was not well-documented, or that her loss was overshadowed by other maritime incidents at the time.

Final Disposition

• Reported as Foundered and lost.
• No known salvage efforts recorded, despite the valuable cargo.
• Not listed in 1869 marine registers, suggesting she may have been a lesser-known or short-lived vessel.

Located By & Date Found

No confirmed discovery of the wreck.  Given Lake Erie’s cold water preservation conditions, her wreckage could still exist, but no surveys or recorded finds have been made.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No modern navigational hazards related to this vessel are documented. Lake Erie’s shallow, storm-prone waters have claimed many vessels, particularly in the Dunkirk area, which has a long history of maritime disasters.

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 Young Zion remains one of the more mysterious shipwrecks of Lake Erie, with very few details on her construction, ownership, or final moments. Her reported cargo of Railroad Iron and cash raises questions about salvage efforts, yet no documented attempts were made. With no confirmed wreck discovery, she remains one of the many “lost steamers” of the Great Lakes.