No.1 – Lake Erie Barge Shipwreck (1907)

A wooden barge lost in a winter storm on Lake Erie, with eight lives lost and no wreck located.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: No.1
  • Type: wooden barge
  • Year Built: 1899
  • Builder: unknown
  • Dimensions: Not recorded
  • Registered Tonnage: Not documented
  • Location: Lake Erie, out of Detroit
  • Official Number: Not documented
  • Original Owners: unknown
  • Number of Masts: unknown

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Vessel Type: Likely wooden barge

Description

The vessel known simply as No.1 was likely serving as a non-powered wooden barge transporting goods on Lake Erie.

History

In a severe winter storm on December 13, 1907, she foundered — eight of nine aboard perished, and one survivor was rescued by nearby vessels.

Significant Incidents

  • Foundered in a winter storm on December 13, 1907.
  • Of the nine crew members, eight lost their lives, and one survivor was rescued after capsizing.

Final Disposition

The barge was declared a total loss and sank in deep water. No salvage operations or identification of a wreck location have been recorded.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The incident is noted in regional maritime loss registries; no modern rediscovery or GPS survey has occurred.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”no-1-1899″ title=”References & Links”]

No.1 was likely a wooden freight barge operating from Detroit and lost on December 13, 1907, in a winter Lake Erie storm. With eight lives lost and no wreck located, her story highlights the perils of early 20th-century bulk transport in harsh winter conditions.

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Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.

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