Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Radiant
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: Circa 1856
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Likely under 130 ft; Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: None recorded
- Location: Lake Erie (specific location unknown)
- Original Owners: Out of Toledo, Ohio
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden two-masted schooner, typical of mid–19th-century bulk grain carriers on the Great Lakes.
Description
Radiant was described in contemporary reports as “not of the largest class,” indicating a moderate-sized schooner, likely under 130 ft in length. Built circa 1856, she was engaged in the wheat trade from Western Lake Erie ports to the Welland Canal.
History
Laid down around 1856, Radiant spent her brief career hauling wheat eastward. On November 18, 1857, she departed Toledo for Oswego via the Welland Canal. Two days later, a sudden gale swept Lake Erie. She never arrived — presumed lost to the storm on November 20, 1857. The entire ten-person crew vanished, with no wreckage or survivors reported.
Significant Incidents
- Lost in a severe storm while bound from Toledo to the Welland Canal.
- All 10 crew members aboard perished, with no survivors or wreckage reported.
Final Disposition
Presumed foundered in deep water due to the intense gale; no recovered wreckage, no survivors. Declared a total loss.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No wreck site has ever been found or documented. The location remains unknown.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”radiant-1856-racine” title=”References & Links”]
The disappearance of Radiant on November 20, 1857 highlights the sudden and deadly nature of late-autumn storms on Lake Erie. Despite a routine cargo run, the full gale she encountered erased both the vessel and crew, with no trace. The tragedy underscores the harsh reality of mid-19th century lake transport and the limits of maritime rescue at the time.
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
- Name: Radiant
- Former Names: None
- Registration: None recorded
- Date Built and Launched: Circa 1856 (described as “new” at loss) (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, robwiederstein.org, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Measurements (est.): Likely under 130 ft; wooden schooner (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Date Lost: November 20, 1857 (approximate) (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Place Lost: Lake Erie (specific location unknown) (racinecountyeye.com)
- Cause of Loss: Lost in a severe storm–gale while bound from Toledo to the Welland Canal (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Cargo: Wheat
- Crew: All 10 souls aboard – no survivors
- Ownership: Out of Toledo, Ohio
Vessel Type
Wooden two-masted schooner, typical of mid‑19th‑century bulk grain carriers on the Great Lakes.
Description
Radiant was described in contemporary reports as “not of the largest class,” indicating a moderate-sized schooner, likely under 130 ft in length. Built circa 1856, she was engaged in the wheat trade from Western Lake Erie ports to the Welland Canal.
History
Laid down around 1856, Radiant spent her brief career hauling wheat eastward. On November 18, 1857, she departed Toledo for Oswego via the Welland Canal. Two days later, a sudden gale swept Lake Erie. She never arrived — presumed lost to the storm on November 20, 1857. The entire ten-person crew vanished, with no wreckage or survivors reported. (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, alcheminc.com)
Final Disposition
Presumed foundered in deep water due to the intense gale; no recovered wreckage, no survivors. Declared a total loss.
Located By & Date Found
No wreck site has ever been found or documented. The location remains unknown.
Notmars & Advisories
No navigation markers or memorials exist at the site. However, the loss stands as a stark reminder of fall storm peril on Lake Erie.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – R section, Radiant entry (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Alchem, Inc. – Lake Erie alphabetical shipwreck index, Radiant mention (alcheminc.com)
Conclusion
The disappearance of Radiant on November 20, 1857 highlights the sudden and deadly nature of late‑autumn storms on Lake Erie. Despite a routine cargo run, the full gale she encountered erased both the vessel and crew, with no trace. The tragedy underscores the harsh reality of mid-19th century lake transport and the limits of maritime rescue at the time.
Keywords: Radiant schooner, wheat transport, Lake Erie storm, 1857 shipwreck
Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Erie • 19th Century Grain Schooners • Weather‑related Lake Losses
Glossary Terms:
- Foundered: Sank due to water ingress and structural failure
- Grain Schooner: Vessel designed to carry bulk grain in cargo holds
- Welland Canal: Canal connecting Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, bypassing Niagara Falls