D.L. Couch (Acorn)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: D.L. Couch (formerly Acorn)
• Type: Wooden schooner
• Year Built: 1855
• Builder: Oswego, New York (A. Miller / Walter Scott / Miller)
• Dimensions: Approx. 85 ft (25.9 m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage: ~119 tons
• Depth at Wreck Site: 37 m / 120 ft
• Location: ~10 miles off Long Point, Lake Erie
• Coordinates: Unknown / not recorded
• Official Number: 6503
• Original Owners: James Riley (Detroit) at time of loss
• Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The D.L. Couch was a mid-19th century wooden schooner featuring two masts and a single deck. The hull incorporated the remains of an earlier schooner, the Acorn, effectively recycling structural timbers.

Description

The D.L. Couch likely had typical frame-and-plank construction of the period, with edge-fastened planking, floor timbers, futtocks, and deck beams. The vessel was propelled by sail, with rigging suited for standard Great Lakes trade. The cargo holds were arranged for bulk commodities, notably coal.

History

The vessel’s early life is intertwined with the Acorn‘s remains. The Acorn was originally built circa 1842 at Black River, near Charleston, Ohio (T.H. Cobb) with dimensions of 84×20×8 ft and approximately 125 tons. At some point, the Acorn hull was deemed unseaworthy or abandoned, and portions were reused in constructing the D.L. Couch in 1855 at Oswego, NY. Secondary listings indicate the D.L. Couch was built by A. Miller in Oswego.

In her early voyages, she operated in Great Lakes trade routes, hauling plaster, merchandise, and later coal. Ownership changed over her lifetime: she was initially owned by John E. Mulford, then sold to Gross, Pulver & Co. (Oswego), later to J.C. Maddock (Gananoque, Ontario), then to New Baltimore, Michigan interests, and finally to James Riley (Detroit) as a Canadian-registered vessel circa 1871.

Significant Incidents

• On 17 July 1872 (some records mark 18 July), while bound with a coal cargo and navigating Lake Erie toward Detroit, the D.L. Couch sprang a leak in heavy weather off Long Point.
• The crew battled flooding for several hours but were unable to save her.
• They were taken off by the passing schooner Citizen, after which the D.L. Couch foundered and sank in roughly 20 fathoms of water (approximately 120 ft).

Final Disposition

The leak presumably overwhelmed bilge pumps and structural integrity. The sinking was not due to collision or grounding but rather progressive flooding under storm conditions. The vessel was lost entirely beneath the waves, though some structural elements may remain relatively intact on the bottom. The absence of official survey or salvage records suggests she was a total loss.

Current Condition & Accessibility

There is no documented modern discovery of the D.L. Couch. The wreck’s exact location and coordinates appear not to have been preserved in archival sources. Secondary sources list her as ‘lost’ in 1874 merchant vessel registers. References to her are mostly via casualty registers and newspaper accounts rather than underwater survey logs.

Divers should exercise caution due to depth, possible debris, and uncertain structural stability. In the absence of official advisory, treat as a deep wreck in open water.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”d-l-couch-acorn” title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]

Access to the wreck site is by boat only, with no shore access available. Divers are encouraged to follow ethical practices, leaving only bubbles and taking only memories. Remember to check provincial/state regulations for underwater heritage in Ontario and U.S. jurisdictions.