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
[shotline_reference_links slug=”george-m-mowbray” title=”References & Links”]
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.
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.
George M. Mowbray (Built unknown – Lost November 10, 1880)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: George M. Mowbray
- Type: Wooden-hulled schooner
- Registry/Tonnage: Approximately 40 tons
- Final Location: A few miles off Presque Isle, Pennsylvania, on Lake Erie
- Date of Loss: November 10, 1880
- Cargo at Loss: Approximately 40 tons of nitroglycerine and blasting powder
- Casualties: None reported
- Depth: Unknown
Vessel Type Description
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.
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).
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.
Located By & Date Found
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.
Notmars & Advisories
None on record. The site would be considered a historical hazard, though no advisory exists today.
Resources & Links
- Erie-Ashtabula Shipwrecks – details of the cargo salvaged from George M. Mowbray (alcheminc.com)
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – summary of the loss in a snowstorm gale (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Conclusion
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.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
George M. Mowbray; nitroglycerine schooner; Lake Erie blow; Presque Isle wreck; 1880 storm; explosive cargo.
george-m-mowbray 1880-11-10 12:27:00