Republic US 21151

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Republic
• Type: Three-masted wooden schooner
• Year Built: 1854
• Builder: J. Oades, Clayton, NY
• Dimensions: Length 139 ft (42.4 m); Beam 26 ft (7.9 m); Depth of hold 11 ft (3.4 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 314 GRT, 298 NRT
• Location: Off Lorain, Ohio, Lake Erie
• Coordinates: Not precisely documented; loss occurred off Lorain, Ohio.
• Official Number: 21151
• Original Owners: E. E. Ewing of St. Clair, Michigan
• Number of Masts: Three

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

• Configuration: Three-masted wooden schooner
• Purpose: Cargo schooner, primarily used for coal transport

Description

Constructed as a bark and later rigged as a three-masted schooner, Republic featured a wooden hull typical of mid-19th-century Great Lakes freight vessels. With a gross tonnage of 314 and a capacity to carry approximately 900 tons of coal, her sail setup and hull shape were dedicated to bulk cargo service, particularly coal haulage between Western Lake Erie and Detroit-area ports.

History

• 1854–1872: Active cargo service, including coal and other bulk goods. Experienced grounding and fire damage in 1867 and 1868, followed by repairs and a rebuild in 1872.
• Post-1872: Returned to coal transport on Lake Erie and beyond.
• Owner: E. E. Ewing of St. Clair, Michigan; Captain Christie commanded her final voyages.

Significant Incidents

On July 30, 1895, while carrying ~900 tons of coal and under tow by the steamer Swallow bound for Detroit, the Republic was caught in a severe storm off Lorain. The schooner became waterlogged and ultimately foundered. Her crew of eight were rescued, climbing into her rigging until being saved by the tug Cascade. On December 30, 1895, her registry was formally surrendered, noting “wrecked, total loss” at Port Huron.

Final Disposition

• Fatalities: None — all 8 crew members rescued.

Current Condition & Accessibility

• Current status: No confirmed discovery. Likely site lies in moderate depths (~40–70 ft), with possible remains including cargo coal, rigging debris, and wooden hull components.
• Potential survey method: Magnetometer or side-scan sonar targeting the area southeast of Lorain harbor.

Resources & Links

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The loss of Republic illustrates the hazards of late-19th-century coal transport on Lake Erie, with sail-powered bulkers reliant on steam tugs during storms. Despite her modest size, her sinking under tow during a severe storm adds a niche yet telling chapter to Great Lakes maritime logistics history. The absence of fatalities makes the incident a testament to effective rescue coordination. Locating her wreck would enhance understanding of working-class sailor life and cargo vessel construction from the pre-steel era on the lakes.