Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Louie O’Neill
- Type: Wooden two-masted schooner
- Year Built: 1862
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Lake Erie, between Conneaut and Cleveland
- Original Owners: Robert Holland, Marine City (as of 1887)
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden two-masted schooner, used in bulk cargo and tow service.
Description
The Louie O’Neill was a wooden schooner built in 1862. It was primarily utilized for transporting bulk cargo and towing services.
History
Owned by Robert Holland of Marine City as of 1887, the Louie O’Neill was part of a convoy of schooners when it met its fate.
Significant Incidents
- Date: April 29, 1887
- Location: Lake Erie, during a severe spring gale
- Circumstances: The Louie O’Neill was in tow behind the tug V. Swain, part of a convoy including the Thomas L. Parker. During the gale, she collided with the Parker.
- Outcome: Following the collision, the O’Neill foundered. The entire crew survived, escaping in the yawl and reaching Conneaut after approximately 60 hours in harsh conditions.
Final Disposition
The Louie O’Neill was declared a constructive total loss due to foundering post-collision. No further salvage or wreck location has been recorded.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The exact wreck site remains unspecified, likely located between Conneaut and Cleveland. Depth and position of sinking are unknown.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”louie-oneill-1862″ title=”References & Links”]
The Louie O’Neill was lost on April 29, 1887, after colliding with the schooner Thomas L. Parker in a gale while under tow on Lake Erie. The collision caused her to founder, but the entire crew survived a 60-hour ordeal and reached Conneaut in her yawl.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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