Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: E. M. Lyon
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: Before 1849 (likely early 1850s)
- Builder:
- Dimensions: ~114 gross tons
- Registered Tonnage: ~114 gross tons
- Location: About 15 miles west of Cleveland, Ohio
- Official Number: Not recorded
- Original Owners: R. T. Lyon of Cleveland, Ohio
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden schooner
Description
The E.M. Lyon was a mid-century wooden schooner primarily used for transporting cargo, specifically coal, from Cleveland to Toledo.
History
The vessel was owned by R. T. Lyon of Cleveland, Ohio. It was built before 1849, likely in the early 1850s, and had a registered tonnage of approximately 114 gross tons.
Significant Incidents
- Date of Loss: 12 June 1855
- Incident: Collided with the propeller Delaware, about 15 miles west of Cleveland, at approximately 2:30 a.m. The schooner was carrying about 140 tons of coal on a run to Toledo.
- Cause & Circumstances: The Delaware‘s wheelsman mistook E.M. Lyon’s masthead light for a lighthouse, leading to a fatal navigation error and collision.
- Loss: Declared a total loss with damage estimated at $4,000; fortunately, no lives were lost.
Final Disposition
The schooner sank and was deemed beyond salvage, with all hull and cargo lost. Her remains were likely absorbed by the lakebed and remain unlocated.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No records describe any post-incident discovery or survey of the wreck. The precise sinking location remains undocumented.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”e-m-lyon-1849″ title=”References & Links”]
The E.M. Lyon was a mid-century wooden schooner carrying coal from Cleveland to Toledo when it collided with the steamer Delaware on 12 June 1855, due to a mistaken light signal. The schooner was a complete loss, valued at $4,000, with no casualties. The wreck’s fate is undocumented, and its location remains unknown.
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. M. Lyon (sometimes spelled Lyons or Ellen M. Lyons)
- Vessel Type: Wooden schooner
- Built: Before 1849 (likely early 1850s)
- Official Number: Not recorded (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Owner & Homeport: R. T. Lyon of Cleveland, Ohio (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Dimensions/Tonnage: ~114 gross tons (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Final Voyage & Loss
- Date of Loss: 12 June 1855 (law.resource.org)
- Incident: Collided with the propeller Delaware, about 15 miles west of Cleveland, at approximately 2:30 a.m. The schooner was carrying about 140 tons of coal on a run to Toledo (law.resource.org).
- Cause & Circumstances: The Delaware‘s wheelsman mistook E. M. Lyon‘s masthead light for a lighthouse, leading to a fatal navigation error and collision (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
- Loss: Declared a total loss with damage estimated at $4,000; fortunately, no lives were lost .
Final Disposition
The schooner sank and was deemed beyond salvage, with all hull and cargo lost. Her remains were likely absorbed by the lakebed and remain unlocated.
Located By & Date Found
No records describe any post-incident discovery or survey of the wreck. The precise sinking location remains undocumented.
Notations & Advisories
- No modern charts or hazard markers note this wreck site.
- The improved lighting and navigation standards following this collision likely enhanced maritime safety on Lake Erie.
Conclusion
E. M. Lyon was a mid-century wooden schooner carrying coal from Cleveland to Toledo when it collided with the steamer Delaware on 12 June 1855, due to a mistaken light signal. The schooner was a complete loss, valued at $4,000, with no casualties. The wreck’s fate is undocumented, and its location remains unknown.
Suggested Research Steps
- Period Newspapers: Search Cleveland and Toledo newspapers (June 1855) for collision reports and rescue or salvage details.
- Court Records: U.S. district court documents detailing legal proceedings on fault in the collision.
- Insurance Files: Potential claim documentation via Cleveland underwriters may offer hull specifications and damage assessments.
- Maritime Safety Reports: Review lake-steam collision safety analyses from 1855 for policy impact of this incident.