Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Red Cloud
- Type: Wooden propeller steamer
- Year Built: 1883
- Builder: S. Gibson at Ashtabula, Ohio
- Dimensions: 62 × 16 × 9 ft; Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 40 gross, 20 net tons
- Location: Cedar Point jetty, Lake Erie
- Official Number: 110578
- Original Owners: Great Lakes Towing Company
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Red Cloud was a wooden propeller steamer, classified as a tugboat, built to assist in harbor operations and towing.
Description
The Red Cloud measured approximately 62 feet in length, 16 feet in beam, and 9 feet in depth. It was constructed in 1883 by S. Gibson in Ashtabula, Ohio, and had a registered tonnage of around 40 gross tons and 20 net tons.
History
Operated by the Great Lakes Towing Company, the Red Cloud was primarily used for towing and harbor assistance. Its service history included various runs across the Great Lakes, contributing to the maritime operations of the region.
Significant Incidents
- Loss Date: September 3, 1899
- Route: Returning to Lorain, Ohio after delivering the whaleback barge No. 132 to Sandusky.
- Incident Summary: The vessel lost steering or bearings in deteriorating weather and ran hard into the government jetty at Cedar Point, near the Lake Erie entrance. Although in only about 5 feet of water, it suffered catastrophic hull damage, threw out its boiler, and was rendered a total loss. No cargo was aboard at the time.
- Casualties: None reported; all crew survived.
Final Disposition
Despite severe damage, the Red Cloud remained in very shallow water but was deemed unsalvageable and formally abandoned. No underwater wreck survey has ever documented her remains, likely due to the salvaging or disassembly of her components in the shallow coastal area.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the Red Cloud has not been confirmed through underwater documentation, and its current condition remains unknown due to the lack of surveys.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”red-cloud-us-110578″ title=”References & Links”]
The loss of the Red Cloud illustrates the vulnerabilities of harbor tugs, which, despite their size, could be lost in calm or shallow conditions when faced with severe structural damage, particularly during storms or navigational errors near jetties.
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.
(built 1883; lost September 3, 1899)
Identification & Vessel Profile
- Name: Red Cloud, a wooden propeller steamer
- Official Number: 110578
- Build Year & Site: 1883, built by S. Gibson at Ashtabula, Ohio
- Dimensions & Tonnage: Approximately 62 × 16 × 9 ft; around 40 gross, 20 net tons (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Ownership: Operated by Great Lakes Towing Company
Final Voyage & Loss
- Loss Date: September 3, 1899
- Route: Returning to Lorain, Ohio after delivering the whaleback barge No. 132 to Sandusky
- Incident Summary: She lost steering or bearings in deteriorating weather and ran hard into the government jetty at Cedar Point, near the Lake Erie entrance (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, flybridge.proboards.com). Although in only about 5 ft of water, she suffered catastrophic hull damage, threw out her boiler, and was rendered a total loss. No cargo was aboard at the time.
- Casualties: None reported—all crew survived.
Wreck Status
- Despite severe damage, Red Cloud remained in very shallow water. However, she was unsalvageable and formally abandoned. No underwater wreck survey has ever documented her remains—likely because her components were salvaged or disassembled in shallow coastal area.
Summary Table
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Red Cloud |
| Official Number | 110578 |
| Built & Year | 1883, Ashtabula, OH |
| Type & Specs | Wooden propeller steam tug, ~62×16×9 ft, ~40 gt |
| Owner | Great Lakes Towing Co. |
| Loss Date | September 3, 1899 |
| Location | Cedar Point jetty, Lake Erie |
| Cause | Grounded during storm, boiler blown out |
| Cargo | None aboard |
| Outcome | Destroyed at dock; total loss |
| Casualties | None |
| Wreck Located | No confirmed underwater documentation |
Source Note
The entire profile is based on the entry for Red Cloud in the Great Lakes Shipwreck Files WordPress archive, confirmed under the date of loss and construction data for the vessel. Specific build specs, loss narrative, and ownership are also documented in the same registry section. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Wikipedia)
Research Reference & Suggestions
- Historical significance: The loss of Red Cloud demonstrates how relatively small harbor tugs could still be lost in calm or shallow conditions when structural damage was severe—especially when compounded by storms or navigational error near jetties.
- Further research avenues:
- Contemporary local newspapers (e.g., Sandusky Register, Cedar Point Beacon) for firsthand loss descriptions, crew statements, or details of insurance claims.
- Port Lorain or Sandusky registry logs for documentation of the vessel’s delivery run and condition prior to the accident.
- Great Lakes Towing Company corporate records (if extant) may contain internal incident reports or photographs.