Erie (1837)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Erie
• Type: Sidewheel Steamer
• Year Built: 1837
• Builder: Erie Steamboat Company, Erie, Pennsylvania
• Dimensions: 176 ft 8 in (53.85 m); Beam: 27 ft 4 in (8.33 m); Depth of hold: 10 ft 8 in (3.25 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 497 gross register tons
• Location: Approximately 6 miles offshore from Silver Creek, New York
• Official Number: None
• Original Owners: Charles Manning Reed
• Number of Masts: None

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Sidewheel steamer – wooden-hulled, designed for passenger and package freight transport.

Description

The Erie was a wooden sidewheel steamer constructed in 1837 by the Erie Steamboat Company in Erie, Pennsylvania. Measuring nearly 177 feet in length and boasting a gross register tonnage of 497, she was among the more elegant and swift vessels operating on the Great Lakes during that period. The steamer featured well-appointed passenger cabins capable of accommodating up to 250 individuals, including 12 state rooms, and was equipped with three lifeboats and between 60 to 100 life preservers. Her propulsion was provided by side-mounted paddle wheels, enabling speeds up to 16 mph (26 km/h).

History

Commissioned in 1837, the Erie was primarily engaged in ferrying passengers and freight between Buffalo, New York, and Chicago, Illinois, with stops at various Lake Michigan ports. Owned exclusively by Charles Manning Reed—a prominent Pennsylvania state legislator and businessman—the vessel was under the command of Captain Thomas Jefferson “T.J.” Titus, a seasoned mariner with a 16-year career on the Great Lakes.

The Erie embarked on her maiden voyage in May 1838, though it was marred by an engine failure requiring a tow into Cleveland harbor. Despite this initial setback, she quickly gained a reputation for speed and reliability, notably completing the Erie-to-Buffalo route in just over five hours—a record at the time.

Significant Incidents

On the evening of August 9, 1841, the Erie departed Buffalo bound for Chicago, carrying approximately 343 passengers and crew. Among them were numerous Swiss and German immigrants seeking new lives in the American Midwest. Also aboard were a team of painters transporting large quantities of flammable materials, including turpentine and varnish, which were stored near the boiler’s ventilation pipe—a hazardous proximity.

Approximately an hour into the voyage, an explosion occurred, likely due to the ignition of the turpentine vapors by the boiler’s heat. The resulting fire rapidly engulfed the vessel’s freshly varnished surfaces. Despite efforts to steer toward shore, the Erie was consumed by flames and sank about six miles offshore from Silver Creek, New York. The disaster resulted in the loss of an estimated 100 to 175 lives, making it one of the deadliest maritime tragedies on the Great Lakes up to that time. Survivors were rescued by nearby vessels, including the steamers DeWitt Clinton and Lady.

Final Disposition

Nil return. The wreck of the Erie has not been conclusively located or identified in modern times.

Current Condition & Accessibility

None reported. There are no current navigational hazards or advisories associated with this wreck site.

Resources & Links

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The tragic loss of the Erie underscores the perils of early steamship travel on the Great Lakes, particularly concerning the transport and storage of flammable materials. The disaster prompted increased scrutiny of maritime safety practices and remains a somber chapter in the region’s nautical history.