Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Maud Preston
- Type: Fire barge (likely unpowered, towed by tug Fostoria)
- Year Built: 1886
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Lake Erie
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Purpose-built as a fire barge, meaning it carried firefighting pumps, hoses, and support equipment.
Almost certainly wooden-hulled, as was common for auxiliary barges of its time; full dimensions and tonnage remain undocumented due to limited archival coverage.
Description
The Maud Preston, a wooden fire-support barge launched in 1886, suffered a catastrophic fire—likely due to spontaneous combustion of oily materials—while being towed by the Fostoria in late September 1898. The incident resulted in its total loss, with minimal documentation of bodily harm, salvage operations, or formal investigations.
History
Served between 1886 and 1898, likely stationed at ports along Lake Erie (Toledo, Cleveland, Bay City, etc.). Was being towed by the tug Fostoria when the incident occurred. Engaged in harbor support/firefighting operations, but detailed service logs are not readily available.
Significant Incidents
- The flammable cargo—pumps, hoses, oily rags, maybe coal or oil—is believed to have spontaneously combusted, a known hazard when oily materials are stored in warm conditions.
- Fire broke out while moving through Erie’s bay, rapidly engulfing the barge, leading to total loss.
Final Disposition
- The barge was completely destroyed by fire, with no known attempt to salvage.
- Records of casualties, insurance claims, or marine court inquiries are absent from online summarizations, suggesting archives have not been consulted.
- The fate of the tug Fostoria is not clearly linked to this event, and it appears to have continued service afterwards.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Archival exploration is needed to uncover more precise data on construction, ownership, crew, and the barge’s loss.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”maud-preston-1886″ title=”References & Links”]
Further research is recommended to fill gaps in the historical record, including construction data, crew manifests, and incident reports from period newspapers.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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