Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Samuel B. Ruggles
- Type: Schooner/Brig
- Year Built: 1837
- Builder: T. H. Cobb in Dunkirk, NY
- Dimensions: Approximately 90 × 25 × 9 ft; ~183 tons burthen
- Registered Tonnage: ~183 tons
- Location: Near Buffalo, NY
- Original Owners: J. Lundy, under Captain G. Hearnes
- Number of Masts: Likely two-masted (brig or schooner configuration)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Rig: Likely two-masted (brig or schooner configuration)
Description
Built: 1837 by T. H. Cobb in Dunkirk, NY
Dimensions: Approximately 90 × 25 × 9 ft; ~183 tons burthen
Registry: Cleveland, under Captain G. Hearnes, owned by J. Lundy
Cargo: 100 ft of general merchandise, with a locomotive and tender lashed on deck.
History
Final Voyage & Wreck — November 16, 1851:
- Route: Departed Buffalo for Cleveland, laden with general goods and a locomotive + tender.
- Incident: Rough weather struck when only ~30 miles from Buffalo. Attempted return, but in the turn, the locomotive/tender were lost overboard.
- Grounding: Shook into shallow water near Buffalo Basin pier, broke up on a sandy beach.
- Casualties: None recorded — crew and captain survived.
Significant Incidents
Wreck Condition & Aftermath:
- Wreckage washed ashore near Buffalo harbor; vessel declared a total loss.
- Cargo, including heavy iron rolling stock, was lost or severely damaged.
- The break-up near shore likely left scattered remains; any submerged timbers may lie buried in basin sediments.
Final Disposition
Historical & Archaeological Significance:
- Industrial marvel on deck: Carrying a locomotive shows the critical role waterways played in 19th-century railroad expansion.
- Early multimodal transport failure: Highlights logistical risks combining rail and water transport—especially under early, fragile maritime conditions.
- Survival rate: No casualties point to proficient seamanship and timely abandonment in shallow water.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Research & Survey Opportunities:
| Focus Area | Recommended Action |
|---|---|
| Historical Press Accounts | Investigate Buffalo papers (Courier–Express, Daily Republic) mid- to late November 1851 for storm specifics, cargo handling, and locomotive fate. |
| Railroad Company Records | Explore archives of the Buffalo–Erie or Cleveland–Buffalo rail lines for references to locomotive shipments or claims. |
| Registry Enrollment | Request the 1837 enrollment and 1851 casualty documentation to confirm vessel specs, ownership, and cargo manifest. |
| Shoreline & Basin Survey | Undertake side-scan and shallow-water scanning near the old Erie Basin pier in Buffalo to locate remnants of the hull or cargo debris field. |
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”samuel-b-ruggles-1837″ title=”References & Links”]
Summary Overview:
- Name: Samuel B. Ruggles
- Built: 1837, Dunkirk, NY — ~183 tons, brig/schooner
- Lost: Nov 16, 1851 — storm, deck cargo wrecked, grounded off Buffalo
- Cargo: Merchandise + locomotive and tender
- Crew: None lost
- Legacy: A rare early multimodal transport incident; marks intersection of rail and maritime commerce on Great Lakes.
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.
Schooner/Brig Samuel B. Ruggles (built 1837 – lost November 16, 1851)
Identification & Specifications
- Rig: Likely two-masted (brig or schooner configuration)
- Built: 1837 by T. H. Cobb in Dunkirk, NY
- Dimensions: Approximately 90 × 25 × 9 ft; ~183 tons burthen
- Registry: Cleveland, under Captain G. Hearnes, owned by J. Lundy
- Cargo: 100 t of general merchandise, with a locomotive and tender lashed on deck (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Voyage & Wreck — November 16, 1851
- Route: Departed Buffalo for Cleveland, laden with general goods and a locomotive + tender
- Incident: Rough weather struck when only ~30 miles from Buffalo. Attempted return, but in the turn, the locomotive/tender were lost overboard
- Grounding: Shook into shallow water near Buffalo Basin pier, broke up on a sandy beach
- Casualties: None recorded — crew and captain survived (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Wreck Condition & Aftermath
- Wreckage washed ashore near Buffalo harbor; vessel declared a total loss
- Cargo, including heavy iron rolling stock, was lost or severely damaged
- The break-up near shore likely left scattered remains; any submerged timbers may lie buried in basin sediments
Historical & Archaeological Significance
- Industrial marvel on deck: Carrying a locomotive shows the critical role waterways played in 19th-century railroad expansion
- Early multimodal transport failure: Highlights logistical risks combining rail and water transport—especially under early, fragile maritime conditions
- Survival rate: No casualties point to proficient seamanship and timely abandonment in shallow water
Research & Survey Opportunities
| Focus Area | Recommended Action |
|---|---|
| Historical Press Accounts | Investigate Buffalo papers (Courier–Express, Daily Republic) mid- to late November 1851 for storm specifics, cargo handling, and locomotive fate |
| Railroad Company Records | Explore archives of the Buffalo–Erie or Cleveland–Buffalo rail lines for references to locomotive shipments or claims |
| Registry Enrollment | Request the 1837 enrollment and 1851 casualty documentation to confirm vessel specs, ownership, and cargo manifest |
| Shoreline & Basin Survey | Undertake side-scan and shallow-water scanning near the old Erie Basin pier in Buffalo to locate remnants of the hull or cargo debris field |
Summary Overview
- Name: Samuel B. Ruggles
- Built: 1837, Dunkirk, NY — ~183 tons, brig/schooner
- Lost: Nov 16, 1851 — storm, deck cargo wrecked, grounded off Buffalo
- Cargo: Merchandise + locomotive and tender
- Crew: None lost
- Legacy: A rare early multimodal transport incident; marks intersection of rail and maritime commerce on Great Lakes