Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: C.R. Truax
- Type: Wooden scow-schooner
- Year Built: 1875
- Builder: Unknown, built in Trenton, Michigan
- Dimensions: Length: 62 ft (18.9 m); Beam: 19 ft (5.8 m); Depth: 3 ft (0.9 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 34 GT
- Location: Mouth of Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron
- Official Number: 125407
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The C.R. Truax was a small wooden scow-schooner, a common Great Lakes cargo vessel used in the late 19th century for short-haul transportation of lumber, coal, stone, and other bulk materials. Scow-schooners were designed for shallow waters, making them well-suited for smaller harbours and river transport.
Description
The C.R. Truax operated out of Sandusky, Ohio, making regular trips to ports along Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. By 1891, she was 16 years old and likely showing signs of wear, making her vulnerable in rough weather.
History
On November 12, 1891, the C.R. Truax departed Sand Beach (now Harbour Beach, Michigan) for Au Sable, Michigan.
- She was never seen again after departure.
- A storm struck the region around November 15, 1891, and she is presumed to have foundered in Saginaw Bay.
- No survivors were found.
- Two crew members were lost.
- Some of her cargo was later found washed ashore in Saginaw Bay, confirming her disappearance in the storm.
Significant Incidents
- Declared lost after disappearing in a storm.
- No known recovery efforts or wreckage found.
- Remains may still exist in Saginaw Bay but have not been located.
- No confirmed wreck site identified.
- Possible remains may exist at the bottom of Saginaw Bay but have not been surveyed or discovered.
Final Disposition
The C.R. Truax was declared lost after disappearing in a storm. No known recovery efforts or wreckage have been found, and her remains may still exist in Saginaw Bay but have not been located. No confirmed wreck site has been identified.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Saginaw Bay has claimed many ships due to sudden storms and shifting sandbars. Scow-schooners were particularly vulnerable in open water, as their shallow draft and flat-bottomed hulls made them less stable in heavy seas. The disappearance of C.R. Truax reflects a common fate of small sailing vessels in the unpredictable weather of the Great Lakes.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”c-r-truax-truax-us-125407″ title=”References & Links”]
The C.R. Truax was a small, aging scow-schooner that disappeared in a storm in 1891, with no survivors or wreckage found, except for some cargo washing ashore in Saginaw Bay. Her loss highlights the dangers faced by smaller sailing vessels, which were often overloaded, poorly maintained, and ill-equipped for sudden storms on the Great Lakes. Today, her wreckage remains undiscovered, another ghost ship of Saginaw Bay.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
Scow-Schooner C.R. Truax (1875–1891)
Identification & Site Information
- Name: C.R. Truax (often seen as just Truax)
- Official Number: 125407
- Vessel Type at Loss: Wooden scow-schooner (flat-bottomed sailing vessel)
- Builder: Unknown, built in Trenton, Michigan
- Year Built & Launched: 1875
- Specifications: Length: 62 ft (18.9 m) Beam: 19 ft (5.8 m) Depth: 3 ft (0.9 m)
- Gross Tonnage: 34 GT
- Net Tonnage: 32 NT
- Date Lost: November 15, 1891 (or shortly after November 12, 1891)
- Location of Loss: Mouth of Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron
- Cause of Loss: Storm, presumed foundered
- Loss of Life: 2 (entire crew)
- Cargo at Time of Loss: Unknown
Vessel Description & Service History
The C.R. Truax was a small wooden scow-schooner, a common Great Lakes cargo vessel used in the late 19th century for short-haul transportation of lumber, coal, stone, and other bulk materials. Scow-schooners were designed for shallow waters, making them well-suited for smaller harbours and river transport. The Truax operated out of Sandusky, Ohio, making regular trips to ports along Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. By 1891, she was 16 years old and likely showing signs of wear, making her vulnerable in rough weather.
Final Voyage & Loss
On November 12, 1891, the C.R. Truax departed Sand Beach (now Harbour Beach, Michigan) for Au Sable, Michigan.
- She was never seen again after departure.
- A storm struck the region around November 15, 1891, and she is presumed to have foundered in Saginaw Bay.
- No survivors were found.
- Two crew members were lost.
- Some of her cargo was later found washed ashore in Saginaw Bay, confirming her disappearance in the storm.
Final Disposition & Salvage
- Declared lost after disappearing in a storm.
- No known recovery efforts or wreckage found.
- Remains may still exist in Saginaw Bay but have not been located.
- No confirmed wreck site identified.
- Possible remains may exist at the bottom of Saginaw Bay but have not been surveyed or discovered.
Notmars & Advisories
Saginaw Bay has claimed many ships due to sudden storms and shifting sandbars. Scow-schooners were particularly vulnerable in open water, as their shallow draft and flat-bottomed hulls made them less stable in heavy seas. The disappearance of C.R. Truax reflects a common fate of small sailing vessels in the unpredictable weather of the Great Lakes.
Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes: http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
- Great Lakes Maritime Database (GLMD): https://greatlakeships.org
- David Swayze Shipwreck File: https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org
- Great Lakes Vessel Database (BGSU): https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/vessels
Conclusion
The C.R. Truax was a small, aging scow-schooner that disappeared in a storm in 1891, with no survivors or wreckage found, except for some cargo washing ashore in Saginaw Bay. Her loss highlights the dangers faced by smaller sailing vessels, which were often overloaded, poorly maintained, and ill-equipped for sudden storms on the Great Lakes. Today, her wreckage remains undiscovered, another ghost ship of Saginaw Bay.
c-r-truax-truax-us-125407 1891-11-15 07:55:00