Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: E.J. Peters
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1875
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Toronto Harbor, Ontario, Canada
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden schooner built circa 1875, used primarily for coal carriage.
Description
The E.J. Peters was a wooden schooner customarily employed in bulk coal transport. At the time of her loss, she was bound from Cleveland to Toronto carrying coal.
History
The E.J. Peters was built in 1875 and primarily served in the coal transport industry. On November 17, 1877, while under tow and approaching Toronto harbor, the vessel lost her towline during a late-November gale on Lake Erie.
Significant Incidents
- Loss of towline during a gale led to the vessel drifting uncontrolled and ultimately stranding on the shoreline.
- No fatalities were recorded; the crew reportedly survived the incident.
Final Disposition
After drifting ashore due to the towline failure, the E.J. Peters was abandoned and subsequently pounded to pieces by waves, resulting in total loss.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No records of modern relocation, dive exploration, or archaeological surveying exist for the E.J. Peters. The wreck is not listed in major databases such as NOAA or 3DShipwrecks.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”e-j-peters-1877″ title=”References & Links”]
The loss of the E.J. Peters highlights the dangers of navigating Lake Erie in late-season gales. The lack of registry numbers and crew records presents challenges in determining ownership and the exact wreck location, necessitating further archival research and potential site surveys.
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: E. J. Peters, wooden schooner (specific official number not located in available indexes)
- Year built: 1875 (Customarily employed in bulk coal transport)
- Loss date: November 17, 1877
- Route/Voyage: Bound from Cleveland (Outbound) to Toronto, carrying coal
- Tow arrangement: Under tow when entering harbor; towline broke during storm conditions
Circumstances of Loss
- While approaching Toronto harbor in a late-November gale on Lake Erie, E. J. Peters lost her towline. The vessel drifted uncontrolled, stranded, and was pounded to pieces on the shoreline—resulting in total loss.
- No fatalities were recorded; the crew reportedly survived. (“coal, none [fatalities]”)
Vessel Type & Cargo
- Vessel type: Wooden schooner built circa 1875, used primarily for coal carriage.
- Cargo at loss: Coal
Final Disposition
- The vessel drifted ashore after towline failure and was abandoned; subsequent pounding by waves destroyed the hull and structure.
Located & Survey Status
- No records of modern relocation, dive exploration, or archaeological surveying exist for E. J. Peters. The wreck is not listed in major databases (NOAA, 3DShipwrecks, etc.).
Notmars & Official Advisories
- No Notices to Mariners or hazard bulletins historically noted E. J. Peters as a navigational hazard.
Resources & References
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files summary entry under the “P” section documents date, cargo, route, towline failure, and outcome. (internal archival source)
Summary Table
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | E. J. Peters |
| Built | circa 1875 (wooden schooner) |
| Vessel Type | Coal schooner |
| Cargo | Coal |
| Loss Date | November 17, 1877 |
| Route | Cleveland → Toronto |
| Cause of Loss | Towline parted during gale; grounded |
| Crew & Casualties | Crew survived; no fatalities |
| Final Condition | Pounded to pieces onshore |
| Wreck Located | Not documented/surveyed |
Research Gaps & Recommendations
The archival trail for E. J. Peters is brief and leaves several gaps:
- Official documentation: No registry number or shipbuilder details identified—access to Canadian or U.S. vessel enrollment files (circa 1875) may clarify her origin and owner.
- Crew and master identity: No captain or crew names recorded. Examination of period newspapers (Toronto, Cleveland, Nov 1877) could yield rescue reports.
- Insurance, logging files: Tug logs (if she was in tow), towboat operator records, or marine casualty files may offer precise sequence of events and compensation claims.
- Salvage or wreck reporting: Local harbor authority or insurance survey reports may contain status of wreck post–grounding.
- Physical site survey: A geophysical survey along the shoreline near the probable approach zone to Toronto harbor in 1877 could reveal remnant hull material or debris field if not removed or buried.
Conclusion
Although E. J. Peters was described as seaworthy, her loss under tow during harbor entry in a gale underscores the hazards of late-season Lake Erie navigation. The absence of registry numbers and crew records leaves uncertainties about ownership and exact wreck location. It would require targeted archival research and potentially a site survey to fill these gaps.
e-j-peters-1877 1877-11-17 19:00:00