The Shipwreck of Rio Grande (1877)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: Rio Grande
• Official Number: 21473
• Vessel Type: Schooner (later Rebuilt as a Brig in 1856)
• Hull Material: Wood
• Number of Decks: 1
• Number of Masts: 2
• Builder: A. Wilcox
• Year Built: 1846
• Built At: Point Peninsula, New York
• Registered Out of: Sacketts Harbor, New York
• Tonnage (Old Style): 252 tons
• Rebuilt (1856): 276 tons
• Dimensions After 1872 Rebuild: Length: 116.1 ft (35.4 m) Beam: 24.6 ft (7.5 m) Depth: 10.2 ft (3.1 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 203 tons

Vessel Type & Description

The Rio Grande was originally built as a two-masted schooner, one of the most common types of sailing vessels on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. Schooners were favored for their speed, maneuverability, and efficiency in carrying bulk cargo like grain, lumber, and coal.

⚓ In 1856, the vessel was Rebuilt as a Brig, meaning it was re-rigged with square sails on both masts, making it more suitable for oceanic and larger-lake navigation.

Throughout its long career, Rio Grande was repeatedly strengthened and Rebuilt, reflecting the frequent damage and wear endured by vessels operating on the Great Lakes.

Final Voyage & Disaster

• Date of Loss: September 6, 1877
• Location: Long Point, Ohio, Lake Erie
• Cause of Loss: Storm
• Loss of Life: None reported
• Cargo: Unknown at time of sinking

The Incident

On September 6, 1877, Rio Grande was part of a tow convoy led by the Tug Burnside, alongside the barges Dubuque, Danube, and Eliza. The convoy was making a routine journey across Lake Erie when a powerful storm struck.

🌊 Heavy winds and towering waves battered the vessels, making it impossible for the Tug to keep the convoy together. Burnside was forced to cut its tow loose in order to avoid capsizing itself.

⚓ With no means of propulsion, Rio Grande and Dubuque were left at the mercy of the storm.

• Both vessels were driven ashore on Long Point, Ohio, where they were wrecked and Abandoned.
• The other two barges, Danube and Eliza, managed to navigate their way to safety.

💀 While no lives were officially reported lost, the wreck of Rio Grande marked the end of a 31-year career—a long life for a wooden ship in the demanding Great Lakes trade.

Ownership & Notable Events in Service

• 1846: First enrolled at Sacketts Harbor, New York.
• 1856: Rebuilt as a Brig, increasing her size and capacity.
• 1859: Strengthened to handle rougher waters.
• 1863, Nov 27: Ran aground at Port Colborne, Ontario, Lake Erie. Successfully released and repaired.
• 1865-1871: Passed through multiple owners in Buffalo, Oswego, and Michigan.
• 1871, Late Nov: Ashore in a gale at Presque Isle, Pennsylvania; later salvaged.
• 1872: Owned by George Hartman of Gratiot, Michigan, and re-measured to 203 gross tons.
• 1874: Rebuilt once again in Port Huron, Michigan, in an attempt to extend her operational life.
• 1877, Sep 12: Official documents surrendered at Port Huron, confirming her as a Total Loss.

Aftermath & Legacy

• Following her wreck, Rio Grande was stripped of valuable materials and Abandoned.
• The loss of both Rio Grande and Dubuque in the same storm was a reminder of the Great Lakes’ treacherous and unpredictable conditions.
• Like many 19th-century shipwrecks, Rio Grande is likely broken apart and scattered along the lakebed, making it difficult to locate.

Resources & Links

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

Conclusion

The Rio Grande was one of many wooden schooners and brigs that defined commerce on the Great Lakes in the 19th century. Built in 1846, it survived three decades of storms, rebuilds, and ownership changes before finally succumbing to Lake Erie’s fury in 1877.

Its wreck stands as a testament to the endurance of Great Lakes mariners and the constant challenges they faced navigating the inland seas.

Keywords & Categories 🚢 Rio Grande shipwreck🌊 Lake Erie wrecks⚓ 19th-century schooners & brigs🌩 Great Lakes storm disasters📜 Shipwreck history🚨 Lost ships of the Great Lakes