Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: George M. Mowbray
- Type: Wooden-hulled schooner
- Year Built:
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: Approximately 40 tons
- Location: A few miles off Presque Isle, Pennsylvania
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The George M. Mowbray was a small wooden schooner typical of late 19th-century Great Lakes vessels. Built to transport bulk cargo along lake routes, she was capable of carrying heavy, dangerous loads such as explosives.
Description
The George M. Mowbray was a wooden-hulled schooner that played a role in the transportation of bulk cargo on the Great Lakes. Her design was typical of the era, allowing for the movement of heavy and hazardous materials.
History
Regularly operated on the Lake Erie corridor, the Mowbray was bound for Fort William (modern-day Thunder Bay) when disaster struck. During a fierce northwest gale and snowstorm on November 10, 1880, she sought refuge at Presque Isle, Pennsylvania, but was overcome and struck a pier—causing her to sink (alcheminc.com, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
Significant Incidents
- Lost during a storm on November 10, 1880, while carrying approximately 40 tons of nitroglycerine and blasting powder.
- Struck a pier at Presque Isle, leading to her sinking.
Final Disposition
The vessel was grounded and declared a total wreck. Her dangerous cargo—nitroglycerine and blasting powder—was later recovered and removed by salvage teams. The schooner itself was abandoned after sinking on the pier.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No formal underwater site discovery; the wreck is presumed to lie shallowly near the old pier at Presque Isle, but location and condition remain undocumented.
Resources & Links
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The George M. Mowbray schooner was lost during a November 1880 storm while carrying large quantities of explosives. Despite the perilous cargo, her crew survived, and salvage crews later removed the dangerous materials. The schooner’s remains, though never formally surveyed, remain a storm-ravaged relic of Lake Erie maritime history and industrial transportation.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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