Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: FORTUNE
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1876
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: Not recorded (typical schooner of the era likely 100–300 tons)
- Location: Shore of Lake Erie (near Buffalo, NY area)
- Number of Masts: 2–3 (standard for schooners of that trade, but not explicitly recorded)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type Description
FORTUNE was a typical wooden schooner engaged in the lakes lumber and forest products trade. “Elm bolts” were a common cargo on the lakes, as these cut-to-length timber billets were shipped to cooperages for barrel staves or furniture making. Schooners like FORTUNE were the backbone of regional bulk trade, particularly before the spread of steel bulk carriers.
Description
History
FORTUNE was launched in 1876 and served for eight years in the cross-lake timber trade. On October 23, 1884, while bound for Buffalo, she encountered a severe storm on Lake Erie. Driven ashore and grounded, she quickly broke up into three pieces under wave action. Her owners abandoned the wreck to insurers as a constructive total loss, with no reported fatalities.
History
Final Disposition
Wrecked, broken up, and abandoned on Lake Erie on October 23, 1884.
Significant Incidents
- Wrecked during a storm on October 23, 1884.
- Abandoned as a total loss by her insurers.
Final Disposition
Wrecked, broken up, and abandoned on Lake Erie on October 23, 1884.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No known wreckage remains, given its total breakup and abandonment in 1884.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”fortune-1876″ title=”References & Links”]
FORTUNE’s loss illustrates the vulnerability of the wooden schooner fleet to sudden storms on Lake Erie, especially when heavily laden with timber cargo. Such wrecks are part of the broader history of timber commerce on the Great Lakes in the late 19th century.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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