Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: British Lion
- Type: Scow Schooner
- Year Built: 1883
- Builder: Pike Creek, Ontario
- Dimensions: Length: 84.6 ft (25.8 m); Beam: 22.6 ft (6.9 m); Depth of hold: 5.5 ft (1.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 80 tons
- Location: Half a mile off Erie, Pennsylvania
- Official Number: C 80577
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The British Lion was a wooden scow schooner, a type of vessel designed for shallow waters, making it well-suited for the Great Lakes.
Description
The British Lion was built in 1883 in Pike Creek, Ontario, measuring 84.6 feet in length, with a beam of 22.6 feet and a depth of 5.5 feet. It had a gross tonnage of 80 tons and was primarily used to transport cargoes such as stave bolts, essential for barrel production during its operational years.
History
The British Lion was initially registered in Windsor, Ontario, and became a familiar sight on Lake Erie, engaging in the region’s maritime trade. On October 27, 1891, while on a voyage from Romney, Ontario, to Erie, Pennsylvania, the vessel encountered a severe storm that led to its capsizing and foundering half a mile off the coast of Erie.
Significant Incidents
- In May 1884, the British Lion went ashore 15 miles above Sarnia, Ontario, and was feared to be a total loss, but it returned to service afterward.
Final Disposition
The wreck of the British Lion was eventually driven onto the rocks near Erie, where it broke apart and was declared a total loss. The vessel’s wreckage remains submerged and in pieces near the shore of Erie, Pennsylvania.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck likely remains submerged and in pieces, contributing to the underwater landscape of Lake Erie.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”british-lion-c-80577″ title=”References & Links”]
The story of the British Lion serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by sailors on the Great Lakes, where sudden storms could turn routine voyages into life-threatening situations. Its legacy continues through historical records and the accounts of those who survived its tragic sinking.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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