Shotline Diving

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Eliza R. Turner US 8191

Explore the wreck of the Eliza R. Turner, a wooden schooner lost in a storm on Lake Erie in 1877, with a tragic history and uncertain wreck site.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Eliza R. Turner
  • Type: Wooden three-masted schooner (originally built as a barge)
  • Year Built: 1867
  • Builder: A. Turner, Trenton, Michigan
  • Dimensions: Length: 156 ft (47.5 m); Beam: 30 ft (9.1 m); Depth of hold: 12 ft (3.7 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 409 GT
  • Location: 9 miles west of the tip of Long Point, Lake Erie
  • Official Number: 8191
  • Original Owners: Cooley, Van Tussell, and Captain Gil Hearns (deceased), based in Cleveland, Ohio
  • Number of Masts: Three

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Eliza R. Turner was a wooden three-masted schooner, originally built as a barge in 1867 and converted in 1868.

Description

The Eliza R. Turner served as a Great Lakes bulk cargo carrier, primarily transporting grain, coal, and other bulk commodities between ports such as Detroit, Buffalo, and Cleveland. She underwent major repairs in 1877, just months before her final voyage.

History

On October 10, 1877, the Eliza R. Turner was bound from Detroit to Buffalo, carrying 27,000 bushels of wheat when she encountered a gale near Long Point, Lake Erie. The vessel was delayed in Detroit due to a grain shoveler’s work slowdown, causing her to pass Long Point at night instead of during daylight hours. Some newspaper reports suggested that the delay contributed to her wreck, as the navigator was unable to see the shoreline, leading her to go aground in the storm.

Significant Incidents

  • The captain and cook drowned, while the remaining crew survived.
  • The wreck was destroyed by waves and declared a total loss.

Final Disposition

  • Declared a total loss after grounding and breaking up.
  • No records of salvage efforts.
  • No confirmed modern discovery of wreckage.
  • No confirmed wreck site identified.
  • Any remains may be scattered along the Lake Erie shoreline near Long Point.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Long Point, Lake Erie, is a historically hazardous area, with numerous shipwrecks due to shifting sandbars and unpredictable storms. Schooners were commonly lost in sudden gales, as their large sails made them difficult to control in extreme weather.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”eliza-r-turner-us-8191″ title=”References & Links”]

The Eliza R. Turner was a workhorse schooner of the Great Lakes, operating in the grain trade between Detroit and Buffalo. Her loss in 1877 off Long Point highlights the dangers of late-season sailing on Lake Erie, where storms and navigational challenges led to numerous wrecks. Though her wreckage has never been confirmed, she remains one of many vessels claimed by the treacherous waters of Long Point.

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.

Schooner Eliza R. Turner (1867–1877)

Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Eliza R. Turner
  • Other Names: None
  • Official Number: 8191
  • Vessel Type at Loss: Wooden three-masted schooner (originally built as a barge)
  • Builder: A. Turner, Trenton, Michigan
  • Year Built & Launched: 1867
  • Specifications: Length: 156 ft (47.5 m) Beam: 30 ft (9.1 m) Depth: 12 ft (3.7 m)
  • Gross Tonnage: 409 GT
  • Date Lost: October 10, 1877 (sometimes mistakenly given as October 3, but the vessel left Detroit on the 9th)
  • Location of Loss: 9 miles west of the tip of Long Point, Lake Erie
  • Cause of Loss: Storm, ran aground and wrecked
  • Loss of Life: 2 of 10 crew members (Captain and cook drowned)
  • Cargo at Time of Loss: 27,000 bushels of wheat

Vessel Description & Service History

The Eliza R. Turner was originally built as a barge in 1867, but was converted into a three-masted schooner in 1868. She served as a Great Lakes bulk cargo carrier, primarily transporting grain, coal, and other bulk commodities between ports such as Detroit, Buffalo, and Cleveland. Underwent major repairs in 1877, just months before her final voyage. Owned by Cooley, Van Tussell, and Captain Gil Hearns (deceased), based in Cleveland, Ohio.

Final Voyage & Loss

On October 10, 1877, Eliza R. Turner was bound from Detroit to Buffalo, carrying 27,000 bushels of wheat when she encountered a gale near Long Point, Lake Erie. The vessel was delayed in Detroit due to a grain shoveler’s work slowdown, causing her to pass Long Point at nightinstead of during daylight hours. Some newspaper reports blamed the delay for her wreck, suggesting that her navigator was unable to see the shoreline, leading her to go aground in the storm.

  • The captain and cook drowned, while the remaining crew survived.
  • The wreck was destroyed by waves and declared a total loss.

Final Disposition & Salvage

  • Declared a total loss after grounding and breaking up.
  • No records of salvage efforts.
  • No confirmed modern discovery of wreckage.
  • No confirmed wreck site identified.
  • Any remains may be scattered along the Lake Erie shoreline near Long Point.

Notmars & Advisories

Long Point, Lake Erie, is a historically hazardous area, with numerous shipwrecks due to shifting sandbars and unpredictable storms. Schooners were commonly lost in sudden gales, as their large sails made them difficult to control in extreme weather.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The Eliza R. Turner was a workhorse schooner of the Great Lakes, operating in the grain trade between Detroit and Buffalo. Her loss in 1877 off Long Point highlights the dangers of late-season sailing on Lake Erie, where storms and navigational challenges led to numerous wrecks. Though her wreckage has never been confirmed, she remains one of many vessels claimed by the treacherous waters of Long Point.

eliza-r-turner-us-8191 1877-10-10 07:55:00