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IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

•Ship Name: Abyssinia

•Coordinates: 42.821667, -79.715

•Cargo: Wheat

•Human Loss: None

•Year Built: 1896

•Year of Wreck: 1917

•Owner: Hutchinson & Co.

•Cause of Wreck: Struck Shoal

•Vessel Type: Schooner-Barge

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The Abyssinia was a Schooner-Barge, a hybrid vessel designed to transport large cargoes with the versatility of sails and the utility of a Barge. Equipped with four masts and two decks, the wooden vessel could navigate independently or be towed by a Steamer, making it an essential part of Great Lakes commerce during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

HISTORY

The Abyssinia was built in 1896 by James Davidson & Co. in West Bay City, Michigan. It was a substantial vessel with dimensions of 288.6 feet in length, a beam of 44.6 feet, and a depth of 19.1 feet, with a Gross Tonnage of 2037 and a Net Tonnage of 1916. These specifications highlight its capacity for carrying large bulk cargoes such as grain and other commodities.

Throughout its operational life, the Abyssinia was involved in various towing operations. Notable incidents included damage during a storm in 1900 and tows by the City of Glasgow (1901) and E.M. Peck (1912). Despite challenges, the vessel remained active until its final voyage.

On October 18, 1917, while carrying a cargo of wheat, the Abyssinia struck Tecumseh Reef, a submerged hazard 3 miles west of Buffalo, New York, in Lake Erie. All eight crew members survived, but the vessel was declared a Total Loss and Abandoned.

The wreck was rediscovered in 1962, providing insights into early 20th-century maritime commerce and vessel construction.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The Abyssinia was Abandoned on October 18, 1917, after running aground on Tecumseh Reef. The wreck remains a historical site at the specified coordinates.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES

•Current Notices: Mariners should exercise caution when navigating near Tecumseh Reef and the wreck site. The shoal remains a hazard in the area.

LOCATED BY & DATE

The wreck of the Abyssinia was discovered in 1962.

RESOURCES & LINKS

•Great Lakes Ships Database

•Maritime History of the Great Lakes

•David Swayze Shipwreck File

•Bowling Green State University

•Erie Wrecks – East (book)

•US Markers and historical archives

KEYWORDS

•Abyssinia

•Schooner-Barge

•Shipwreck

•Lake Erie

•Tecumseh Reef

•Great Lakes Maritime History

•Wheat Cargo

CONCLUSION

The loss of the Abyssinia on October 18, 1917, is a testament to the challenges faced by Schooner-barges navigating the Great Lakes. Its role in transporting bulk cargo highlights the vital contribution of vessels like the Abyssinia to regional commerce. Though declared a Total Loss after striking Tecumseh Reef, the discovery of its wreck in 1962 provides a valuable window into the maritime history of Lake Erie and the broader Great Lakes region.