Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Nellie A. Duff
- Type: Wooden two-masted schooner
- Year Built: 1885
- Builder: Port Clinton, Ohio
- Dimensions: Approx. 77 ft × 20 ft × 6 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 54 grt / 51 nrt
- Depth at Wreck Site: 15.24 m / 50 ft
- Location: Approximately 2 miles off Lorain, OH
- Official Number: 130334
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A mid-sized schooner used for bulk freight, specifically gravel during her final voyage.
Description
Crafted with standard wooden framing and decking of her era, the Nellie A. Duff was built to transport dense materials like gravel, but narrow beams and modest draft made her vulnerable to instability if cargo shifted.
History
Departed Pelee Island en route to Cleveland, laden with gravel. On Oct 14, 1895, while attempting to reach shelter near Lorain harbor during a gale, her cargo shifted amid rough seas. She diverted to avoid another vessel in distress but capsized and sank approximately 2 miles offshore. Out of four crew, three perished; only one survived.
Significant Incidents
- Total loss, sinking below wave base; survivors retrieved by passing steamer or rescue crew.
- No cargo or vessel salvage efforts documented; sank in ~50 ft of water.
Final Disposition
The wreck likely lies buried in lakebed mud, with potential structural remains intact. No modern survey or dive documentation is known.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Site: Lake Erie, ~2 miles off Lorain, OH. Likely lies buried in lakebed mud, with potential structural remains intact. No modern survey or dive documentation known.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”nellie-a-duff-us-130334″ title=”References & Links”]
The Nellie A. Duff exemplifies cargo stability risks during late 19th-century bulk transport in storms and offers archaeological potential, as intact sections of the wooden hull could survive in deep, calm lakebed sediment.
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
- Built: 1885, Port Clinton, Ohio
- Type: Wooden two-masted schooner (late‑19th c. bulk carrier)
- Dimensions: Approx. 77 ft × 20 ft × 6 ft, 54 grt / 51 nrt (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, alcheminc.com)
- Loss: October 14, 1895, Lake Erie (2 miles off Lorain, OH) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Vessel Type & Cargo
A mid‑sized schooner used for bulk freight, specifically gravel during her final voyage.
Description
Crafted with standard wooden framing and decking of her era, the Nellie A. Duff was built to transport dense materials like gravel, but narrow beams and modest draft made her vulnerable to instability if cargo shifted.
Final Voyage & Loss
- Departed Pelee Island en route to Cleveland, laden with gravel (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
- On Oct 14, 1895, while attempting to reach shelter near Lorain harbor during a gale, her cargo shifted amid rough seas. She diverted to avoid another vessel in distress but capsized and sank approximately 2 miles offshore (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
- Out of four crew, three perished; only one survived (alcheminc.com).
Final Disposition
- Total loss, sinking below wave base; survivors retrieved by passing steamer or rescue crew.
- No cargo or vessel salvage efforts documented; sank in ~50 ft of water.
Location & Wreck Condition
- Site: Lake Erie, ~2 miles off Lorain, OH.
- Likely lies buried in lakebed mud, with potential structural remains intact. No modern survey or dive documentation known.
Research Gaps & Next Steps
| Focus Area | Action |
|---|---|
| Survivor / Official Reports | Locate U.S. Lifesaving Service / Coast Guard station logs from late Oct 1895 (Lorain). |
| Newspaper Coverage | Examine Lorain Morning Journal, Cleveland Leader, and Toledo Blade for survivor interviews, storm account, and insurance/legal commentary. |
| Site Survey | Consider a side-scan sonar and sub-bottom assessment to locate the wreck. Dive assessment post-survey is encouraged. |
| Registry & Ownership | Investigate registry entries under Captain Peterson to determine ownership history and any prior incidents. |
Summary Profile
- Name: Nellie A. Duff
- Official No.: 130334
- Built: 1885
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Dimensions: 77′ × 20′ × 6′; 54 grt
- Cargo: Gravel
- Loss: Oct 14 1895, Lake Erie off Lorain
- Crew: 4 aboard; 3 died
- Cause: Cargo shift during gale → foundering
- Final Status: Sank – total loss
Significance
- Exemplifies cargo stability risks during late 19th‑century bulk transport in storms.
- Offers archaeological potential: intact sections of wooden hull could survive in deep, calm lakebed sediment.
- Ties into broader history of storm-induced losses near Lorain—together with vessels like Clairion, Philip Walter, etc., it illuminates a hazardous stretch of Lake Erie coast.
Key References
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – NELLIE A DUFF entry (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, alcheminc.com)
- Lake Erie shipwreck index – listing and details (alcheminc.com)