Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Lemuel Crawford (1855)

Explore the wreck of the Lemuel Crawford, a 19th-century cargo bark lost in Lake Erie during a storm, with all hands rescued after two days in the rigging.

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.

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: Lemuel Crawford (also listed as Lem Crawford)
  • Built: 1855, William Jones shipyard, Black River, Ohio
  • Type: Three‑masted wooden bark used for bulk freight (notably wheat)
  • Dimensions: 135 ft (41.1 m) × 30 ft (9.1 m) × 11 ft (3.4 m); approx. 450 tons burthen (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Official Number: None recorded
  • Date of Loss: May 10, 1858
  • Location: Reef near East Sister Island in Lake Erie (approximately 1.5 miles off East Sister) (marshcollection.org, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Vessel Type & Trade

  • Launched in 1855 as a bark—three-masted, square-rigged vessel—purpose-built to haul bulk cargo on the Great Lakes.
  • At time of loss, she carried approximately 20,000 bushels of wheat, bound from Chicago to Buffalo via Lake Erie (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Georgia Historic Newspapers).

Final Voyage & Loss (May 10, 1858)

  • 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 (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
  • 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 (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
  • All onboard survived; no fatalities recorded (usdeadlyevents.com).

Aftermath & Salvage Efforts

  • The ship was declared a total constructive loss despite later salvage attempts (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
  • The cargo was likely lost or substantially damaged; any raised wreckage details remain undocumented.

Archival Sources & Documentation

  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (“C” list): Comprehensive details on the wreck, including build info and incident summary (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
  • Weekly Chronicle & Sentinel (May 26, 1858): Reports the grounding, cargo details, and crew rescue in detail (Georgia Historic Newspapers).

Gaps & Recommended Research

  • Precise coordinates of wreck site remain unidentified; suggests possibility of debris spread or submersion near reef.
  • Ownership and crew identities: Masters and owners are not named in primary sources—checking Chicago and Buffalo newspapers, shipping contracts, or enrollment archives could yield names.
  • Salvage records: Investigating insurance and maritime claims archives might reveal attempts to raise or move the wreck.
  • Physical documentation: No modern survey has targeted this wreck; side-scan sonar data near East Sister Reef may still capture remnants.

Conclusion

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. The wreck site remains largely undocumented, suggesting potential for underwater archaeological exploration.

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