Identification & Site Information

• Name: SARAH E. HUDSON
• Other Names: Also known as S. E. HUDSON and E. K. HUDSON
• Official Number: None assigned
• Date Built and Launched: 1862
• Builder: Detroit, Michigan
• Measurements:
• Tonnage: 362 tons
• Date Lost: October 18, 1863
• Place of Loss: Off Point Abino, Lake Erie
• Lake: Erie

Vessel Type

Wooden schooner, designed for bulk cargo transport on the Great Lakes, particularly grain shipments from the Midwest to eastern markets.

Description

The SARAH E. HUDSON was built in 1862 in Detroit, Michigan, during a time when schooners were the primary workhorses of the Great Lakes shipping industry. At 362 tons, the vessel was a substantial Schooner designed to carry large cargoes of grain, lumber, and other bulk goods across the lakes.

Owned by Elon W. Hudson of Detroit, the vessel was engaged in the grain trade, transporting wheat from Milwaukee to Buffalo and other key ports on the Great Lakes. The Schooner was under the command of Captain James Harvie at the time of its loss.

History

The SARAH E. HUDSON had a brief operational history, serving for just over a year before its untimely demise. Like many schooners of its time, the vessel was primarily involved in transporting wheat and other agricultural products from the fertile Midwest to markets in the East, using the Great Lakes as a critical transportation route.

Final Disposition

On October 18, 1863, while en route from Milwaukee to Buffalo carrying 18,000 bushels of wheat, the SARAH E. HUDSON collided with the Propeller Steamer ECLIPSE at around 4 or 5 a.m. off Point Abino, Lake Erie. The collision caused the Schooner to sink rapidly in 18 fathoms (108 feet / 32.9 meters) of water.

The incident resulted in the loss of one life, though details regarding the victim are not specified in historical records. The remaining crew members managed to escape the sinking vessel.

Following the sinking, preparations were made to raise the Schooner, but a storm thwarted these efforts, and the wreck was left submerged for the winter. In the summer of 1871, the Coast Wrecking Co. Tug RESCUE visited the site to evaluate the possibility of salvaging the vessel. However, there is no record indicating that the Schooner was ever successfully recovered.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return. There are no confirmed reports of the SARAH E. HUDSON‘s wreck being located off Point Abino. The vessel remains a lost shipwreck in the waters of Lake Erie, though its depth and location makes it a candidate for future underwater exploration.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil return. No current navigational hazards related to this wreck are reported near Point Abino.

Resources & Links

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

Conclusion

The SARAH E. HUDSON‘s brief but significant history reflects the dangers of maritime navigation on the Great Lakes during the mid-19th century. The vessel’s collision with the ECLIPSE highlights the risks posed by dense fog, navigational errors, or the crowded shipping lanes of Lake Erie. Despite efforts to salvage the Schooner, the wreck remains undiscovered, adding it to the long list of Great Lakes maritime mysteries. The loss of life in the incident also underscores the perilous conditions faced by mariners during this era of expanding commerce.