Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Carrie H. Blood
- Type: Wooden propeller-driven passenger & freight steamer
- Year Built: 1871
- Builder: Lester
- Dimensions: ~96 GRT (specific length/beam/depth not documented)
- Registered Tonnage: 96 GRT
- Location: Gibraltar, Ontario, Lake Erie
- Official Number: 125126
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type: Wooden propeller-driven passenger & freight steamer
Description
The Carrie H. Blood was a wooden steamer built in 1871, primarily used for transporting freight and passengers between Gibraltar (Lake Erie) and Detroit.
History
Built in 1871, Carrie H. Blood served regional routes on Lake Erie. On November 28, 1882, she was moored at her Gibraltar wharf, with crew having dinner onboard. A fire suddenly erupted (likely from a lantern or stove) and quickly spread through the wooden structure, burning her to the waterline. The crew managed to escape unharmed, but the vessel was destroyed.
Significant Incidents
- November 28, 1882: Fire broke out below decks while the crew was dining, leading to the vessel being consumed by flames.
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss. The burned-out hull settled at her dock. There were no salvage efforts, and she remained destroyed in place.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Loss was noted immediately during the incident at Gibraltar wharf. No coordinate recording or later surveying took place due to her location in shallow harbor and complete destruction. No navigational hazards or wreck markers exist. Gibraltar harbor has since modernized; the site holds no present-day navigational risk.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”carrie-h-blood-us-125126″ title=”References & Links”]
The Carrie H. Blood, a wooden passenger/freight steamer launched in 1871, was destroyed by an onboard fire at her Gibraltar wharf on 28 November 1882. The vessel was completely lost, but fortunately no lives were harmed. Her wreck remains a burned stump against Lake Erie’s dock history.
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.
Identification & Site Information
Name: Carrie H. Blood
Built: 1871 at Marine City, Michigan by builder Lester
Vessel Type: Wooden propeller-driven passenger & freight steamer
Official Number: 125126
Dimensions: ~96 GRT (specific length/beam/depth not documented)
Usage: Operated between Gibraltar (Lake Erie) and Detroit, carrying freight and passengers
Final Loss Details
Date Lost: November 28, 1882
Location: At the wharf in Gibraltar, Ontario, Lake Erie
Cause: Fire broke out below decks (crew were dining), spread rapidly, consumed vessel to the waterline
Crew & Casualties: None reported; fire extinguished before crew returned, no loss of life
History & Final Voyage
Built in 1871, Carrie H. Blood served regional routes on Lake Erie. On November 28, 1882, she was moored at her Gibraltar wharf, with crew having dinner onboard. A fire suddenly erupted (likely from a lantern or stove) and quickly spread through the wooden structure, burning her to the waterline. The crew managed to escape unharmed, but the vessel was destroyed.
(greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, shotlinediving.com)
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss. The burned-out hull settled at her dock. There were no salvage efforts, and she remained destroyed in place.
Located By & Date Found
Loss was noted immediately during the incident at Gibraltar wharf. No coordinate recording or later surveying took place due to her location in shallow harbor and complete destruction.
Notmars & Advisories
No navigational hazards or wreck markers exist. Gibraltar harbor has since modernized; the site holds no present-day navigational risk.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files entry—build details, fire incident, crew survival (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Conclusion
The Carrie H. Blood, a wooden passenger/ freight steamer launched in 1871, was destroyed by an onboard fire at her Gibraltar wharf on 28 November 1882. The vessel was completely lost, but fortunately no lives were harmed. Her wreck remains a burned stump against Lake Erie’s dock history.