Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Rugby
- Type: Wooden schooner or scow
- Year Built: 1857
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Lake Erie
- Original Owners: Presumed United States
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Rugby was likely a mid-sized schooner or scow typical of the Erie trade—wooden-built, shallow-draft, and used for bulk cargo. No detailed specifications are available.
Description
Rugby was likely a mid-sized schooner or scow typical of the Erie trade—wooden-built, shallow-draft, and used for bulk cargo. No detailed specifications are available.
History
Built in 1857, Rugby served on Lake Erie’s coastal routes, though no voyage logs or ownership details survive. Her service life was brief and undocumented by contemporary press, aside from her wreck.
Significant Incidents
On November 2, 1862, Rugby was struck by a gale on Lake Erie. The storm drove her ashore, wrecking the vessel. Tragically, all seven crew perished.
Final Disposition
No record exists of a wreck discovery or underwater survey. The wreck has not been located and likely broke apart under stormy surf.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No navigational warnings or NOTMAR advisories associated with the wreck, due to its historical nature and unknown location.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”rugby-1857″ title=”References & Links”]
The schooner—or scow—Rugby met a tragic end on November 2, 1862, wrecked in a storm on Lake Erie, with the total loss of her crew. As an undocumented and unlocated wreck, she remains a somber footnote among Great Lakes maritime tragedies.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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