Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Fair Play
- Type: schooner
- Year Built: 1817 or 1818
- Builder: Erie, Pennsylvania
- Dimensions: Length 47 ft (14.3 m); Beam 15 ft (4.6 m); Depth of hold 6 ft (1.8 m)
- Registered Tonnage: ~32 tons
- Location: Anchored at Erie, PA, likely beached near Cattaraugus Creek, New York
- Official Number: None recorded
- Original Owners: Capt. Harvey Fitch and Alvah Cable
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner, originally built as a revenue cutter, later in private ownership for coastal service in Lake Erie region.
Description
Wood construction, schooner rig; small – only ~32 tons, dimensions of approx. 47 ft by 15 ft, draught 6 ft. Built for revenue service circa 1817–18, later owned and commanded by Capt. Harvey Fitch and Alvah Cable, Buffalo registry by March 1823.
History
Originally commissioned as a revenue cutter, Fair Play was converted to private service by at least 1823. Her operational record between 1818 and 1829 is scant. Known owners include Capt. Harvey Fitch and Alvah Cable based in Buffalo. No details of voyages, cargoes, or prior incidents have been independently documented.
Significant Incidents
- Crew: Three crewmen aboard at time of loss.
- Casualties: None – crew survived.
Final Disposition
A sudden storm in late November 1829 dragged Fair Play from her anchorage at Erie, driving her eastward along the shore. She eventually grounded or beached near Cattaraugus Creek, NY, where she remained. Some accounts suggest she later floated free and drifted away, but ultimately was lost. Estimated value at loss: ~$1,000 (1829 USD).
Current Condition & Accessibility
There are no known archaeological finds or underwater remains attributed to Fair Play. Given that she was beached and expected to have broken up over winter ice or been salvaged, no wreck site is documented.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”fair-play-1818″ title=”References & Links”]
Fair Play was a small two-masted wooden schooner, originally built as a revenue cutter in Erie around 1817–18, later converted to private service out of Buffalo. In late November 1829, anchored at Erie, she was driven eastward by a storm and ultimately wrecked near Cattaraugus Creek, NY; her crew of three survived unscathed and she was valued at about $1,000. No physical remains are known, and historical documentation remains limited to registry summaries and wreck lists.
For a full profile: additional archival work in Erie/Buffalo newspapers, revenue cutter logs, and local port authority records is advised.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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