Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: RAMSEY CROOKS
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1836
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length 65-100 ft (20-30 m); Beam 16-23 ft (5-7 m); Depth of hold 6-10 ft (2-3 m)
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Southern shore of Lake Erie
- Official Number: Not recorded (pre-Official Number system)
- Original Owners: Not specified in available records
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The RAMSEY CROOKS was a wooden, two-masted schooner operating in the Great Lakes bulk cargo trade, carrying a variety of goods such as grain, lumber, and general merchandise.
Description
Launched in 1836, the RAMSEY CROOKS was engaged in standard commercial shipping on Lake Erie. She had a colourful and ultimately tragic operating history. In 1851, she capsized on Lake Erie, resulting in a loss of life, although she was presumably salvaged and returned to service thereafter.
Her final loss came in the fall of 1863. While transporting a general cargo that included barrels of whiskey, the crew reportedly overindulged in the liquor during a storm, compromising their seamanship. Although the storm itself was described as relatively mild, the intoxicated crew lost control of the vessel, allowing her to drift ashore. The schooner stranded and quickly broke up, ending her service life.
History
In 1851, the RAMSEY CROOKS capsized on Lake Erie, leading to a loss of life. She was presumably salvaged and returned to service. Her final loss occurred in the fall of 1863 when the crew, while transporting whiskey, became incapacitated during a storm, leading to the vessel drifting ashore and breaking up.
Significant Incidents
- 1851: Capsized on Lake Erie, resulting in loss of life.
- 1863: Stranded and broke up due to crew intoxication during a storm.
Final Disposition
- Final Location: Likely southern shore of Lake Erie (specific coordinates not recorded)
- Date Lost: Fall 1863
- Cause: Stranded in a storm due to crew incapacity from intoxication
- Final Cargo: General cargo including whiskey
Current Condition & Accessibility
Presumed completely broken up shortly after wrecking; no documented recovery or remains.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”ramsey-crooks-1836″ title=”References & Links”]
The RAMSEY CROOKS stands as a cautionary tale about the consequences of poor seamanship under the influence of alcohol, even in the Great Lakes’ more moderate storms. Her loss highlights the human factors that could contribute to shipwrecks just as decisively as weather or navigational hazards.
Keywords: Lake Erie, schooner, whiskey cargo, 19th-century shipping, crew negligence, shipwreck
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: RAMSEY CROOKS
- Year Built: 1836
- Vessel Type: Schooner
- Hull Material: Wood
- Number of Decks: 1
- Original Owner: Not specified in available records
- Official Number: Not recorded (pre-Official Number system)
- Dimensions
- Dimensions not specifically recorded, but schooners of this era typically measured approximately 20–30 m (65–100 ft) in length, with a beam of 5–7 m (16–23 ft), and a draft of around 2–3 m (6–10 ft).
Vessel Type Description
The RAMSEY CROOKS was a wooden, two-masted schooner operating in the Great Lakes bulk cargo trade, carrying a variety of goods such as grain, lumber, and general merchandise.
History
Launched in 1836, the RAMSEY CROOKS was engaged in standard commercial shipping on Lake Erie. She had a colourful and ultimately tragic operating history. In 1851, she capsized on Lake Erie, resulting in a loss of life, although she was presumably salvaged and returned to service thereafter.
Her final loss came in the fall of 1863. While transporting a general cargo that included barrels of whiskey, the crew reportedly overindulged in the liquor during a storm, compromising their seamanship. Although the storm itself was described as relatively mild, the intoxicated crew lost control of the vessel, allowing her to drift ashore. The schooner stranded and quickly broke up, ending her service life.
Final Disposition
- Final Location: Likely southern shore of Lake Erie (specific coordinates not recorded)
- Date Lost: Fall 1863
- Cause: Stranded in a storm due to crew incapacity from intoxication
- Final Cargo: General cargo including whiskey
Located By & Date
No modern archaeological identification reported.
NOTMARs & Advisories
None noted.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Presumed completely broken up shortly after wrecking; no documented recovery or remains.
Resources & Links
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Bowling Green State University Vessels Database
Conclusion
The RAMSEY CROOKS stands as a cautionary tale about the consequences of poor seamanship under the influence of alcohol, even in the Great Lakes’ more moderate storms. Her loss highlights the human factors that could contribute to shipwrecks just as decisively as weather or navigational hazards.
Keywords: Lake Erie, schooner, whiskey cargo, 19th-century shipping, crew negligence, shipwreck
ramsey-crooks-1836 1863-10-05 21:56:00