Caroline A. Bemis

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Caroline A. Bemis (C. A. Bemis)
• Type: Wooden Brig
• Year Built: 1849
• Builder: Irving, New York
• Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage: 207 tons
• Depth at Wreck Site: 23 m / 75 ft
• Location: Lake Erie, near Black River, Ohio
• Coordinates: Approximate location near Black River, Ohio
• Original Owners: E.K. Bruce and Captain Ferris
• Number of Masts: Visible above waterline shortly after sinking

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Caroline A. Bemis was a wooden brig built in 1849, designed for general cargo transport. With a tonnage of 207 tons, it was a medium-sized vessel for its era, serving the busy trade routes of the Great Lakes. It was equipped for the rigors of Great Lakes navigation but was vulnerable to accidents like many wooden vessels of its time.

Description

The Caroline A. Bemis had a relatively short but active operational life. It was initially enrolled in Buffalo, New York, from 1849 to 1852, transferred to Sandusky, Ohio, in 1852, and then returned to Buffalo for enrollment in 1853-1854. Owned by E.K. Bruce and Captain Ferris, both of Buffalo, the vessel was used to transport various goods across Lake Erie and other parts of the Great Lakes.

History

The Caroline A. Bemis was involved in a collision on September 30, 1854, while en route from Cleveland to Chicago carrying 200 tons of coal. It collided with another brig, the Caroline, which was sailing from Chicago to Buffalo with a cargo of corn. The collision occurred around midnight near Black River, Ohio. The Caroline A. Bemis sustained catastrophic damage forward of the fore chains, nearly to the waterline, and sank within ten minutes in deep water.

Significant Incidents

• Casualties: None. Crew members either boarded the Caroline or escaped in the Bemis’s small boat.
• Vessel Damage: Total loss, with the wreck settling at approximately 75 ft (23 m).
• Cargo Loss: 200 tons of coal.
• Property Loss: Estimated at $7,000 (uncertain if this includes both vessels).

Final Disposition

The Caroline A. Bemis was declared a total loss following the collision and sinking in 1854. Its remains lie in deep water in Lake Erie, near Black River, Ohio. The wreck has not been recovered or fully documented.

Current Condition & Accessibility

There are no specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the wreck site. Divers and maritime enthusiasts should note that the exact condition and location of the wreck remain uncertain.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”caroline-a-bemis” title=”References & Links”]

The wreck of the Caroline A. Bemis serves as a reminder of the maritime risks faced by wooden vessels in the Great Lakes during the mid-19th century, particularly the dangers of nighttime navigation.