Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Lewis Ross C 71161

Explore the remains of the Lewis Ross, a wooden schooner that stranded near Erieau Harbour in 1889 while carrying limestone. The wreck is under investigation by heritage teams.

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

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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.

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

Final Voyage & Loss

  • Date of Incident: Around 19 September 1889 (alcheminc.com)
  • Location: Near the entrance to Erieau Harbour, Lake Erie (Ontario) (chathamvoice.com)
  • Incident: Driven aground during a storm; stranded in shallow showing physical damage. A wrecking tug arrived and retrieved only rigging and deck gear (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
  • Crew: All survived; rescued and safely evacuated (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
  • Causes: Heavy gale conditions combined with navigating a narrow harbour entrance loaded with stone freight.

Final Disposition & Wreck Status

  • The schooner was left stranded and later largely destroyed—likely broken 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.

Located By & Date Found

  • Modern Efforts: In April 2025, marine heritage experts conducted a site visit near the mouth of Erieau Harbour. “It could be the Lewis Ross or the Mary Francis…”
  • Observations noted timbers consistent with an 1880s schooner—and potential stone cargo nearby (chathamvoice.com).

Notations & Advisories

  • 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.
  • As a partially submerged wreck in a sensitive ecological zone, it warrants careful documentation and protection.

Archival & Research Expansion

To develop a more comprehensive dossier, consider:

  1. Historical Newspaper Reports:
    • Focus on Chatham-Kent papers (Sept–Oct 1889) for grounding details, salvage logs, and crew statements.
  2. Towage & Salvage Logs:
    • Seek out records from the wreck tug “Dispatch” that recovered gear—a possible logbook exists in Port Huron marine files.
  3. Local Marine Heritage Survey Data:
    • Access full April 2025 dive- and sonar- survey data from the Chatham Voice initiative.
  4. Insurance or Underwriter Records:
    • Check Ontario-based insurance archives for damage claims or write-down notices.

Summary

Lewis Ross (1874–1889), a 253-ton Canadian schooner, stranded near Erieau Harbour on 19 September 1889 while transporting limestone. She was driven ashore and wrecked while her crew survived. In April 2025, remains were tentatively identified through timbers and cargo. The wreck is unmarked but under investigation by heritage teams, offering potential for formal archaeological documentation.

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