IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION: #
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION
The CERES was a schooner, a type of sailing vessel commonly used on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. Schooners were equipped with two or more masts and were favored for their speed and cargo-carrying capacity. The CERES, like many schooners of her time, was involved in the transportation of various goods across the Great Lakes, serving the growing industrial and commercial needs of the region.
HISTORY
On the fateful day of its loss, the CERES was en route from Oswego, New York, to Cleveland, Ohio, carrying a diverse cargo that included pig iron, 300 barrels of salt, and various merchandise. As the schooner sailed across Lake Erie, it encountered a sudden squall, a common but dangerous weather phenomenon on the Great Lakes, particularly during the fall months. The squall proved too powerful for the vessel to withstand, and it sank approximately 4-5 miles off the Chagrin River in Lake Erie, in about 60 feet of water.
Tragically, all five crew members aboard the CERES perished in the incident. The loss of life underscores the severe risks faced by mariners on the Great Lakes, where sudden storms could quickly turn routine voyages into disasters.
Following the sinking, efforts were made to recover the wreck of the CERES. The schooner was owned by Lansing & Weed of Oswego, with Captain L. Morris serving as her master. Reports from the time mentioned attempts to raise the wreck, but it is unclear whether these efforts were successful.
In the aftermath of the disaster, news reports described the discovery of bodies along the shore. Three bodies were found and partially identified. One of the deceased was identified through a receipted bill made out to Isaac Coolidge by Robinson, White & Williams, found on the body. Another body bore the letters “W. S. B.” inked on the right wrist and an anchor tattooed on the left hand. The third body was that of a young boy, approximately 16 years old, whose identity remains unknown.
Interestingly, some reports referred to the CERES as the “Gen. Houston,” though there is no vessel by that name listed in contemporary ship records. This discrepancy could be due to misreporting or confusion in the aftermath of the wreck.
FINAL DISPOSITION
The CERES was lost in a severe storm, emphasizing the dangers of maritime travel on Lake Erie during the 19th century. The vessel now lies at the bottom of the lake, approximately 4-5 miles off the Chagrin River, in about 60 feet of water. Given the depth and the technology available at the time, it is unclear whether the wreck was ever successfully recovered.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES:
There are no currently active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the wreck site of the CERES. The wreck’s location, while generally known, is not frequently visited or marked by modern navigational aids.
LOCATED BY & DATE:
The wreck of the CERES was known to be located approximately 4-5 miles off the Chagrin River in Lake Erie, in about 60 feet of water, following the storm that sank her. Specific GPS coordinates or modern survey data are not readily available, though the general area is known to local historians and divers.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Ships
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
- Historical Newspapers Archive – Search for contemporary reports on the CERES’s sinking and related recoveries.
CONCLUSION
The sinking of the schooner CERES was a tragic reminder of the perils faced by mariners on the Great Lakes. The suddenness of the storm and the loss of all crew members aboard highlight the dangers inherent in 19th-century shipping, where even well-built vessels like the CERES could be overwhelmed by nature’s fury. Though the CERES is now lost to the depths of Lake Erie, her story serves as a testament to the courage and determination of those who sailed the Great Lakes in pursuit of commerce and livelihood.
Keywords:
Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Maritime History, Schooner, Lake Erie, 19th Century Shipping, Pig Iron, Chagrin River, Lansing & Weed, Captain L. Morris, Shipwreck Resilience
