Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: General Burnside
- Type: Wooden propeller steam tug
- Year Built: 1863
- Builder: J. Monk, Sandusky, OH
- Dimensions: Approximately 90 ft (27.43 m) length × 17 ft beam × 9 ft depth; ~123 gross tons
- Registered Tonnage: 123 GT
- Location: Off Cleveland, Lake Erie
- Official Number: 10234
- Original Owners: Beck & Rohr, Cleveland
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The General Burnside was a wooden propeller steam tug, primarily used for towing barges across the Great Lakes.
Description
Built in 1863 by J. Monk in Sandusky, Ohio, the General Burnside measured approximately 90 feet in length, 17 feet in beam, and 9 feet in depth. It had a registered tonnage of about 123 gross tons.
History
The General Burnside served as a harbor and tow tug on Lake Erie and Lake Huron, primarily towing coal-laden barges. Its operational history reflects the challenges faced by tugs in adverse weather conditions during the late 19th century.
Significant Incidents
- Date: 16 July 1892
- Location: Off Cleveland, Lake Erie
- Cargo: Coal (towing coal-laden barges)
- Incident: Caught in a sudden summer storm while making for Cleveland piers
- Outcome: Foundered—presumably taking on water and sinking; crew abandoned in storm conditions
- Casualties: None reported
- Wreck Site: Deep water off Cleveland; likely broken up soon after
Final Disposition
The General Burnside was lost in gale-force weather while attempting to reach safe harbor after being abandoned. The tug’s loss highlights the risks involved in towage and near-harbor navigation during storms.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck is presumed to be a deep-water wreck, likely broken up shortly after sinking. Its location may have posed a navigational hazard until it was removed or disintegrated.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”general-burnside-us-10234″ title=”References & Links”]
The wreck of the General Burnside serves as a reminder of the operational hazards faced by tugs in the Great Lakes during the late 19th century, particularly during adverse weather conditions.
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.
Identification & Vessel Details
- Name: General Burnside
- Official Number: 10234
- Type: Wooden propeller steam tug
- Built: 1863, by J. Monk, Sandusky, OH
- Dimensions: Approximately 90 ft length × 17 ft beam × 9 ft depth; ~123 gross tons (turn0search5)
- Owner: Beck & Rohr, Cleveland
Operational History
- Served as a harbor and tow tug on Lake Erie and Lake Huron
- Primary function: towing barges (often laden with coal) across the Great Lakes
Final Voyage & Loss
- Date: 16 July 1892
- Location: Off Cleveland, Lake Erie
- Cargo: Coal (towing coal-laden barges)
- Incident: Caught in a sudden summer storm while making for Cleveland piers
- Outcome: Foundered—presumably taking on water and sinking; crew abandoned in storm conditions
- Casualties: None reported
- Wreck Site: Deep water off Cleveland; likely broken up soon after
The tug was lost in gale-force weather while attempting to reach safe harbor after being abandoned, indicating structural or flooding failure aggravated by the storm (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, alcheminc.com, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
Summary Table
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Built | 1863, Sandusky, OH |
| Type | Wooden steam tug (123 GT) |
| Final Voyage | 16 July 1892, Cleveland harbor |
| Cargo | Coal-laden barges |
| Cause of Loss | Foundered in summer storm |
| Casualties | None reported |
| Wreck Status | Likely deep-water wreck, hull break-up probable shortly after sinking |
Significance
- Reflects operational hazards faced by late-19th-century tugs during adverse weather
- The loss—though non-fatal—highlights the risks involved in towage and near-harbor navigation during storms
- Its wreck likely served as a navigational hazard until removed or broken apart
Sources
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (General Burnside entry): documented build, final voyage, storm loss, and crew survival (alcheminc.com, linkstothepast.com, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Amherstburg Echo note (July 1892): reported foundering of a coal-laden tow tug near Cleveland (marshcollection.org)
Recommended Further Research
- Local Newspaper Archives (July 1892): Cleveland Plain Dealer, Cleveland Press—likely covered sinking and rescue
- U.S. Coast Guard / Lifesaving Service Records: Logs may record storm events, rescue actions, and wreck details
- Port Authority Logs: Records of salvage efforts or mooring notices following the sinking