C. Rich (1854)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: C. Rich
• Type: Wooden two-masted schooner scow
• Year Built: 1854
• Builder: Not specified
• Dimensions: 67 ft (20.4 m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage: Not specified
• Location: Near Marblehead, Ohio, Lake Erie
• Coordinates: Unknown
• Official Number: Not documented
• Original Owners: Not documented
• Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The C. Rich was a wooden two-masted schooner scow. Scows were especially popular in the mid-19th century for hauling bulk cargoes in shallow-draft environments. Their wide, flat bottoms allowed them to navigate difficult inland and near-shore waters like those found across the Great Lakes.

Description

Measuring 67 feet (20.4 metres) in length, the C. Rich was smaller than many deep-water schooners but well-suited to her trade. She would have featured squared ends and a relatively flat deck, a hallmark of scow construction. Her design allowed her to offload cargo directly onto beaches or wharves without significant draft.

History

Bound from Sandusky, Ohio, for Port Huron, Michigan, the C. Rich was underway across Lake Erie on November 19, 1879, when she encountered a severe early winter storm. As winds increased and seas built, the vessel was driven ashore near Marblehead, Ohio. Once grounded, she was exposed to continuous pounding by waves until she broke apart.

Despite the total loss of the ship, all three crew members survived and made it safely to shore.

Significant Incidents

• November 19, 1879: The C. Rich was driven ashore during a severe storm and subsequently destroyed.

Final Disposition

The C. Rich was completely destroyed in the storm. There is no record of salvage, and the remains likely disintegrated quickly given her wooden construction and the high energy environment around Marblehead.

Current Condition & Accessibility

There are no records of this wreck having been rediscovered or surveyed. The exact coordinates are unknown and no archaeological investigation has yet been published.

There are no current navigation warnings or hazard markings in connection with this wreck. It poses no known risk to present-day navigation.

Resources & Links

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The wreck of the C. Rich is a classic example of the hazards faced by smaller merchant vessels on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. Her loss to weather, without fatalities, is a testament to both the perils and resilience of working sailors in this era. Though little remains of her today, her story is one of hundreds echoing the often-overlooked but vital trade routes of Lake Erie.