Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Lemuel Crawford
- Type: Three-masted wooden bark
- Year Built: 1855
- Builder: William Jones shipyard, Black River, Ohio
- Dimensions: 135 ft (41.1 m) × 30 ft (9.1 m) × 11 ft (3.4 m); approx. 450 tons burthen
- Registered Tonnage: None recorded
- Location: Reef near East Sister Island in Lake Erie (approximately 1.5 miles off East Sister)
- Official Number: None recorded
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Launched in 1855 as a bark—three-masted, square-rigged vessel—purpose-built to haul bulk cargo on the Great Lakes.
Description
At the time of loss, she carried approximately 20,000 bushels of wheat, bound from Chicago to Buffalo via Lake Erie.
History
The Lemuel Crawford was a three-masted wooden bark constructed for bulk freight, particularly wheat. She was launched in 1855 and operated primarily on the Great Lakes.
Significant Incidents
- Departed Chicago en route to Buffalo, likely descending the Great Lakes shipping lanes.
- Encountered a heavy gale shortly after passing Detroit, losing navigational control near Pelee Passage.
- Struck a reef about 1.5 miles off East Sister Island, the hull breached, and sinking commenced immediately.
- Crew and passengers (13 total) climbed into the rigging and endured two days lashed to the mast before rescue by Detroit tug R.R. Elliott.
- All onboard survived; no fatalities recorded.
Final Disposition
The ship was declared a total constructive loss despite later salvage attempts. The cargo was likely lost or substantially damaged; any raised wreckage details remain undocumented.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site remains largely undocumented, suggesting potential for underwater archaeological exploration.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”lemuel-crawford-1855″ title=”References & Links”]
The Lemuel Crawford represents a typical mid-19th-century Great Lakes cargo bark that succumbed to a sudden spring storm, grounding on East Sister Reef and sinking with all onboard rescued after a dramatic two-day ordeal. While not fatal, the loss entailed significant economic cost and trade disruption.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
Join Shotline to read more →