Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Lewis Ross
- Type: Wooden schooner, two-masted
- Year Built: 1874
- Builder: S. McDermott, Port Burwell, Ontario
- Dimensions: Approx. 122 × 24 × 10 ft (37 × 7.3 × 3 m); 253 gross and net tons
- Registered Tonnage: 253
- Location: Near the entrance to Erieau Harbour, Lake Erie (Ontario)
- Official Number: C71161
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Lewis Ross was a wooden schooner with two masts, designed for cargo transport on the Great Lakes.
Description
Built in 1874 by S. McDermott in Port Burwell, Ontario, the Lewis Ross measured approximately 122 feet in length, 24 feet in beam, and had a hold depth of 10 feet. It was registered at 253 gross and net tons.
History
The Lewis Ross was primarily used for transporting cargo, including blocks of limestone quarried on Pelee Island. Its service history included navigating the challenging waters of Lake Erie.
Significant Incidents
- Stranded during a storm on 19 September 1889 near Erieau Harbour.
- All crew members survived and were rescued.
- Heavy gale conditions contributed to the grounding.
Final Disposition
The schooner was left stranded and later largely destroyed, likely broken apart by waves and storm action. Today, it is presumed that submerged timbers or cargo remnants lie offshore, but no formal wreck survey has confirmed its location.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck is located in shallow water near Erieau entrance shoals, an area known for grounding hazards. There are no navigational markers currently designating this wreck site, but heritage groups are monitoring it for research and preservation.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”lewis-ross-c-71161″ title=”References & Links”]
The Lewis Ross, a 253-ton Canadian schooner, stranded near Erieau Harbour on 19 September 1889 while transporting limestone. The wreck is unmarked but under investigation by heritage teams, offering potential for formal archaeological documentation.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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