Identification & Site Information

• Name: Eagle
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: 392
• Date Built and Launched: 1863
• Builder: G. A. Johnson, Dover, Ohio
• Vessel Type: Wooden Scow
• Hull Material: Wood
• Measurements:
• Gross Tonnage: 142 tons
• Date Lost: Late October or early November, 1871
• Place of Loss: West of the piers at Cleveland, Ohio
• Lake: Lake Erie
• Type of Loss: Stranded
• Loss of Life: None
• Cargo at Time of Loss: Unknown

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Vessel Type & Description

The Eagle was a wooden scow, built in 1863 by G.A. Johnson in Dover, Ohio. Scows were flat-bottomed vessels commonly used on the Great Lakes for transporting bulk cargo, such as stone, lumber, or coal. Their simple construction and shallow Draft made them ideal for navigating coastal waters and rivers, but they were also more vulnerable in rough weather due to their flat hulls.

With a Gross Tonnage of 142 tons, the Eagle was a moderately sized scow, likely used for short-haul transport between ports along Lake Erie, particularly around Cleveland, which was a major hub for shipping during the mid-19th century.

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History

The Eagle was owned by Fisher Brothers of Cleveland, a company involved in maritime shipping and cargo transport on Lake Erie. Throughout her career, the Eagle would have been engaged in regional trade, moving goods between Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York ports.

Scows like the Eagle were considered workhorse vessels, often overlooked in maritime history but essential to the construction and industrial supply chains of the Great Lakes region.

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Final Voyage & Loss

In late October or early November 1871, the Eagle went ashore west of the piers at Cleveland.

Details of the Incident:

• The vessel likely stranded during a storm, as autumn storms on Lake Erie are notorious for their sudden squalls and high winds.
• Despite extensive salvage efforts, the Eagle was listed as “lost” in the 1872 Merchant Vessels registry.
• The continued listing of the vessel as “lost” in 1874 suggests that any salvage attempts were ultimately unsuccessful, and she was Abandoned as a Total Loss.

Casualties:

• No lives were lost in the incident, which was a common outcome for shore strandings where the crew could escape safely.

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Final Disposition

The Eagle was stranded west of Cleveland’s piers and ultimately Abandoned after unsuccessful salvage efforts. The vessel remained listed as “lost” in maritime registries for several years following the incident.

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Located By & Date Found

There is no confirmed modern discovery of the Eagle’s wreck. Given the urban development along Cleveland’s shoreline, any remains of the vessel may have been buried or removed during harbor expansion projects.

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NOTMARs & Advisories

While the Eagle itself does not pose a modern navigational hazard, Cleveland’s harbor is a busy commercial area. Mariners should be aware of shifting sandbars and underwater debris from historical wrecks along the Lake Erie shoreline.

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Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Vessels Database – BGSU
• Cleveland Maritime History Collection
• Edward J. Dowling Collection, University of Detroit – Mercy

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Conclusion

The Eagle represents the often-overlooked scow vessels that were critical to the industrial and commercial growth of Lake Erie ports like Cleveland during the 19th century. Built in 1863 in Dover, Ohio, the Eagle served as a cargo transporter until her stranding in 1871. Despite salvage efforts, the vessel was Abandoned as a Total Loss, underscoring the challenges of recovering stranded vessels in the unpredictable weather of Lake Erie. While her wreck has not been located, the Eagle remains a part of the rich maritime history of Cleveland and the Great Lakes.

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Keywords: Eagle, Cleveland Shipwreck, Lake Erie Scow, Great Lakes Cargo Vessel, Fisher Brothers Cleveland

Categories: Great Lakes Scows, Lake Erie Shipwrecks, Maritime Storm Disasters

Glossary Terms: Scow, Stranding, Total Loss, Merchant Vessels Registry, Great Lakes Cargo Transport