Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Cordelia
- Type: Scow Schooner
- Year Built: 1865
- Builder: Demors
- Dimensions: Length 58 ft (17.7 m); Beam 16 ft (4.9 m); Depth of hold 3 ft (0.9 m)
- Registered Tonnage: Gross: 31 tons; Net: 29 tons
- Location: Sandusky, Ohio (Lake Erie vicinity)
- Official Number: 5056
- Number of Masts: Two-masted
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
- Type: Scow Schooner
- Purpose: Likely used for short-haul cargo work in protected waters
- Construction: Wood-hulled, flat-bottomed scow-type schooner
- Rigging: Two-masted
Description
The Cordelia was a small, single-deck scow schooner, typical of the utilitarian lake trade vessels operating in the mid-19th century. These vessels were prized for their ability to navigate shallow waters and haul bulk materials like stone, lumber, or coal.
- Length: 17.7 m (58 ft)
- Beam: 4.9 m (16 ft)
- Depth: 0.9 m (3 ft)
- Tonnage (Gross): 31 tons
- Tonnage (Net): 29 tons
History
- 1865: Built in Sandusky, Ohio by a shipbuilder named Demors.
- 1882, June: While manoeuvring at Sandusky’s Lake Shore & Michigan Southern dock, the Cordelia suffered a catastrophic collision. The hull split in two lengthwise — an uncommon and terminal type of structural failure. She was declared a probable total loss at the time.
No further documentation suggests that the vessel was salvaged or returned to service following this incident.
Significant Incidents
- 1882: Collision with dock resulting in catastrophic hull failure.
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss in June 1882 after splitting open at the dock in Sandusky, Ohio. While not technically wrecked at sea, the severity of the structural damage would have rendered her unseaworthy.
Current Condition & Accessibility
- Status: Wreck not known to be located or preserved.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”cordelia-us-5056″ title=”References & Links”]
The Cordelia was a small but functional example of the scow schooner class — integral to the economy of shoreline communities on Lake Erie during the 19th century. Her abrupt end in port exemplifies the hazards even stationary vessels could face. Her loss underscores the fragility of small wooden vessels operating without the benefit of modern navigation or construction standards.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Cordelia
- Official Number: 5056
- Year Built: 1865
- Built at: Sandusky, Ohio
- Final Disposition: Severely damaged in 1882 incident; presumed total loss
- Final Location: Sandusky, Ohio (Lake Erie vicinity)
- Cause: Collision with dock; split lengthwise
Vessel Type
- Type: Scow Schooner
- Purpose: Likely used for short-haul cargo work in protected waters
- Construction: Wood-hulled, flat-bottomed scow-type schooner
- Rigging: Two-masted
Description
The Cordelia was a small, single-deck scow schooner, typical of the utilitarian lake trade vessels operating in the mid-19th century. These vessels were prized for their ability to navigate shallow waters and haul bulk materials like stone, lumber, or coal.
- Length: 17.7 m (58 ft)
- Beam: 4.9 m (16 ft)
- Depth: 0.9 m (3 ft)
- Tonnage (Gross): 31 tons
- Tonnage (Net): 29 tons
History
- 1865: Built in Sandusky, Ohio by a shipbuilder named Demors.
- 1882, June: While manoeuvring at Sandusky’s Lake Shore & Michigan Southern dock, the Cordelia suffered a catastrophic collision. The hull split in two lengthwise — an uncommon and terminal type of structural failure. She was declared a probable total loss at the time.
No further documentation suggests that the vessel was salvaged or returned to service following this incident.
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss in June 1882 after splitting open at the dock in Sandusky, Ohio. While not technically wrecked at sea, the severity of the structural damage would have rendered her unseaworthy.
Located By & Date Found
- Status: Wreck not known to be located or preserved.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted.
Resources & Links
- C. Patrick Labadie Collection
- Steamboat Era in the Muskokas by Richard Tatley
Conclusion
The Cordelia was a small but functional example of the scow schooner class — integral to the economy of shoreline communities on Lake Erie during the 19th century. Her abrupt end in port exemplifies the hazards even stationary vessels could face. Her loss underscores the fragility of small wooden vessels operating without the benefit of modern navigation or construction standards.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
Scow schooner, Lake Erie, wooden hull, Sandusky, cargo vessel, dock collision, 19th century Great Lakes, small schooners, local freight vessels.
cordelia-us-5056 1882-06-14 02:42:00