Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: General Harrison
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: Early 1850s
- Builder: Likely in the Buffalo–Erie region
- Dimensions: ~77 × 20 × 8 ft; ~115 gross tons
- Registered Tonnage: ~115 gt
- Location: Barcelona, New York
- Official Number: Not specified in surviving summary entry
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden two-masted schooner, a type of vessel commonly used for regional freight transport in the mid-19th century.
Description
The General Harrison was a wooden schooner built in the early 1850s, measuring approximately 77 feet in length, 20 feet in beam, and 8 feet in depth. It had an estimated gross tonnage of around 115 tons. The vessel was primarily used for transporting staves, a type of wooden plank used in barrel making.
History
The General Harrison was constructed in the Buffalo–Erie region and was part of the mid-19th-century small schooner trade. These vessels were often susceptible to structural failure, particularly when overloaded with cargo such as staves, which could compromise their seaworthiness.
Significant Incidents
- Loss Date: Saturday before October 17, 1854 (October 14 or 15).
- Route: Departed from Erie, Pennsylvania, bound for Tonawanda, New York, laden with approximately 35,000 staves.
- Incident: Encountered a sudden gale shortly after departure on Lake Erie, leading to heavy leaking beyond the vessel’s pump capacity.
- Rescue Efforts: The crew issued distress signals and were rescued by the passing schooner Roscoe just before the General Harrison capsized.
- Outcome: The wreckage drifted ashore near Barcelona, New York, and the vessel was considered a total loss.
- Fatalities: None; all crew members survived.
Final Disposition
The General Harrison ultimately drifted ashore at Barcelona, New York, where it was wrecked. The vessel was deemed a total loss following the incident.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The current condition of the wreck is not documented, and it is unclear if any remnants of the General Harrison remain visible or accessible.
Resources & Links
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The case of the General Harrison illustrates the vulnerabilities of mid-19th-century schooners, particularly when overloaded. The timely rescue of the crew highlights the dangers of lake shipping during this era, as well as the importance of seamanship in crisis situations.
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