Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: E. W. Rathbun
- Type: Wooden cargo schooner
- Year Built: 1866
- Builder: Pending further archival search
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Lake Huron
- Official Number: 206179
- Original Owners: Registered out of Montreal
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Overview
- Name: E. W. Rathbun
- Built: 1866 (shipyard details pending further archival search)
- Type: Wooden cargo schooner
- Official Number: 206179
- Cargo (at loss): Coal
- Master: Captain John Pugh; vessel registered out of Montreal
Description
Wreck and Aftermath
- Remarks: The crew was later brought to safety by the White Lake Lifesaving Service and the Canadian CSS Glenellah
- Wreck Condition: The hull broke up upon grounding; remnants likely scattered along shallow shoreline. No formal archaeological survey or notices to mariners recorded.
History
Final Voyage & Storm Incident
- Date of Loss: October 19, 1886
- Location: Lake Huron
- Incident Summary: Caught in a powerful westerly gale, E.W. Rathbun foundered while riding out the storm. Her sails were torn off, and she was driven toward shore until she capsized and broke apart near the beach.
- Crew Rescue:
- Four crew members were saved by the tug Mollie Spencer.
- Three others clung to a hatch-cover raft and were rescued onshore by civilians.
- No fatalities occurred—a complete crew survival.
Significant Incidents
Significant Incidents
- October 19, 1886: Foundered in a storm on Lake Huron.
- Rescue operations involved the tug Mollie Spencer and local civilians.
Final Disposition
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the E. W. Rathbun is un-surveyed, with remnants likely scattered along the shoreline. No formal archaeological assessments have been conducted.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Historical & Archaeological Significance
E. W. Rathbun exemplifies the resilience of mid-19th-century wooden schooners—but also their vulnerability to sudden, intense storms. The total survival of her crew, facilitated by coordinated efforts of steam tugs, lifeboat crews, and shore rescuers, provides a compelling case study in Great Lakes maritime safety. Although her wreckage is un-surveyed, locating and documenting it would contribute valuable insight into storm-response adaptations and small-craft cargo transport of the era.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”e-w-rathbun-us-206179″ title=”References & Links”]
Research Gaps & Proposed Next Steps
| Focus Area | Recommended Action |
|---|---|
| Build Details & Specs | Search 1866 shipbuilding accounts and L. R. vessel registries for dimensions and yard information |
| Crew & Ownership | Examine Montreal registry and local news (Whitehall, MI; Port Washington, ON) for crew manifests and ownership logs |
| Storm Conditions | Access Canadian and NOAA weather archives for October 1886 storm data |
| Site & Archaeology | Conduct shoreline and nearshore sonar scans near the reported wreck zone; diver mapping of debris field |
| Lifesaving Service Logs | Retrieve Canadian and U.S. lifesaving service logs detailing rescue timing, personnel, and equipment used |
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.
Vessel Overview
- Name: E. W. Rathbun
- Built: 1866 (shipyard details pending further archival search)
- Type: Wooden cargo schooner
- Official Number: 206179
- Cargo (at loss): Coal
- Master: Captain John Pugh; vessel registered out of Montreal
Final Voyage & Storm Incident
- Date of Loss: October 19, 1886
- Location: Lake Huron
- Incident Summary: Caught in a powerful westerly gale, E.W. Rathbun foundered while riding out the storm. Her sails were torn off, and she was driven toward shore until she capsized and broke apart near the beach
- Crew Rescue:
- Four crew members were saved by the tug Mollie Spencer.
- Three others clung to a hatch-cover raft and were rescued onshore by civilians
- No fatalities occurred—a complete crew survival.
Wreck and Aftermath
- Remarks: The crew was later brought to safety by the White Lake Lifesaving Service and the Canadian CSS Glenellah
- Wreck Condition: The hull broke up upon grounding; remnants likely scattered along shallow shoreline. No formal archaeological survey or notices to mariners recorded.
Sources & Citations
- Detailed incident narrative and crew rescue reported in archival shipwreck files (“R” section)
- Master’s registry and rescue references corroborated via maritime records
Research Gaps & Proposed Next Steps
| Focus Area | Recommended Action |
|---|---|
| Build Details & Specs | Search 1866 shipbuilding accounts and L. R. vessel registries for dimensions and yard information |
| Crew & Ownership | Examine Montreal registry and local news (Whitehall, MI; Port Washington, ON) for crew manifests and ownership logs |
| Storm Conditions | Access Canadian and NOAA weather archives for October 1886 storm data |
| Site & Archaeology | Conduct shoreline and nearshore sonar scans near the reported wreck zone; diver mapping of debris field |
| Lifesaving Service Logs | Retrieve Canadian and U.S. lifesaving service logs detailing rescue timing, personnel, and equipment used |
Historical & Archaeological Significance
E. W. Rathbun exemplifies the resilience of mid-19th-century wooden schooners—but also their vulnerability to sudden, intense storms. The total survival of her crew, facilitated by coordinated efforts of steam tugs, lifeboat crews, and shore rescuers, provides a compelling case study in Great Lakes maritime safety. Although her wreckage is un-surveyed, locating and documenting it would contribute valuable insight into storm-response adaptations and small-craft cargo transport of the era.
e-w-rathbun-us-206179 1886-10-19 15:22:00