Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: L. Seaton
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1872
- Builder: Reed & Sons shipyard, Henderson, New York
- Dimensions: 121 ft (36.88 m) length × 26 ft beam × 11 ft depth; 233 GRT / 221 NRT
- Registered Tonnage: 233 GRT / 221 NRT
- Location: Long Point, Lake Erie
- Official Number: 15948
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The L. Seaton was a wooden schooner primarily used for package freight and passenger transport on Lake Erie.
Description
Built in 1872 at Reed & Sons shipyard in Henderson, New York, the L. Seaton measured 121 feet in length, 26 feet in beam, and had a depth of 11 feet. It was registered at 233 gross registered tons (GRT) and 221 net registered tons (NRT).
History
The L. Seaton operated as a packet schooner, a type of vessel that was becoming increasingly rare by the late 19th century. It was engaged in transporting freight and passengers across Lake Erie.
Significant Incidents
- On November 12, 1892, the L. Seaton sought refuge in a lee harbor during a storm when its anchor chains failed under heavy seas.
- It was driven ashore near Long Point, where it briefly remained upright before being pounded to pieces by the waves, resulting in a total loss.
- Crew survival is implied though unreported; no fatalities are recorded in surviving sources.
Final Disposition
The wreck of the L. Seaton was declared a total loss after being driven ashore and destroyed by the storm. The exact details of the wreck’s aftermath remain unclear.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site is located at Long Point, Lake Erie, characterized by a shallow, long sand spit shoreline. Likely remains include distributed wood debris and fastener scatter in the surf zone, with deeper remains possibly existing offshore due to shifting sands.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”l-seaton-us-15948″ title=”References & Links”]
Exploration of the L. Seaton wreck site could provide valuable insights into late-schooner construction practices and the risks associated with anchor failure during severe 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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: L. Seaton
- Built: 1872 at Reed & Sons shipyard, Henderson, New York
- Official Number: 15948
- Type: Wooden schooner, used for package freight and passenger transport
- Dimensions: 121 ft length × 26 ft beam × 11 ft depth; 233 GRT / 221 NRT
- Loss Date: November 12, 1892
- Loss Location: Driven ashore on Long Point, Lake Erie, during a northeast storm (“ENE gale”)
- Cause of Loss: Broke anchor chains while seeking shelter; grounded and pounded to pieces by waves
- Cargo: Railroad ties
Incident & Final Disposition
- L. Seaton had sought refuge in a lee harbor during a storm when anchor chains failed under heavy seas.
- She was driven ashore near Long Point, managed to remain upright briefly, but was ultimately pounded to pieces by waves and declared a total loss.
- Crew survival is implied though unreported; no fatalities are recorded in surviving sources (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
Archival & Research Gaps
- Crew & Passengers: Names and roles remain unrecorded; enrollment manifests and packet service papers (1872–1892) housed in U.S. Customs District registers are likely sources.
- Tow or Shelter Details: Identify the harbor in which she sought refuge and the circumstances leading to chain failure.
- Weather Conditions: Meteorological logs from Environment Canada and NOAA detailing the extreme gale conditions on November 12, 1892.
- Newspaper Reports: Local Lake Erie press (Port Dover, Hamilton, Buffalo) likely covered the wreck and any rescue/salvage operations.
- Salvage Records: Harbor Commission records from Port Dover or Port Rowan may document salvage efforts or fault investigations.
Wreck & Exploration Potential
- Location: Long Point, Lake Erie — a shallow, long sand spit shoreline
- Likely Remains: Expect distributed wood debris and fastener scatter in surf zone; deeper remains may exist offshore due to shifting sands
- Survey Proposal:
- Historical chart overlay to pinpoint drift point and anchorlet location
- Side-scan sonar and magnetometer survey around known grounding area
- Shoreline and nearshore dive/shore walk to recover structural remnants like keel sections or iron hardware
Historical & Archival Significance
- L. Seaton operated as a packet schooner on Lake Erie, carrying freight and passengers—a shrinking class of wooden vessels by the late 19th century.
- Her loss typifies anchor failure and exposed lee-shelter risk in the December gales of the era.
- Recovering even fragmentary remains could bring insight into late-schooner construction practices and chain strength standards of the period.
Next Steps
- Submit archive requests to National Archives (Detroit District) for vessel enrollment, crew lists, and freight logs.
- Search historical newspapers (Port Dover, Port Rowan, Buffalo) for November 1892 reportage.
- Coordinate with Long Point Provincial Park or Canadian dive clubs for potential site survey.
- Gather meteorological data to recreate the storm event leading to anchor failure.