Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Sarah E. Hudson
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1862
- Builder: Detroit, Michigan
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 362 tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 32.9 m / 108 ft
- Location: Off Point Abino, Lake Erie
- Coordinates: Not recorded
- Official Number: None
- Original Owners: Not recorded (possibly Elon W. Hudson—unverified)
- Number of Masts: Two-masted
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The SARAH E. HUDSON was a wooden schooner designed for bulk cargo transport, featuring a broad, shallow hull and two-masted fore-and-aft rigging.
Description
The SARAH E. HUDSON was a mid-19th-century wooden schooner, launched in 1862 at Detroit, Michigan. At 362 tons, she was designed for the heavy grain trade across the Great Lakes. Her structure would have featured a broad, shallow hull and two-masted fore-and-aft rigging to maximize cargo capacity and maneuverability.
History
Details of her operational career are scarce. However, she clearly served the Midwest-to-Eastern grain routes typical of the era, transporting wheat from Isle Royale to markets along Lake Erie and beyond.
On the early morning of 18 October 1863, while transiting Lake Erie off Point Abino, the SARAH E. HUDSON collided with the propeller steamer Eclipse (at roughly 4–5 a.m.). The schooner sank swiftly into approximately 108 feet (18 fathoms) of water. The tragedy claimed one life, though most of the crew survived the wreck.
Significant Incidents
- Collision with the propeller steamer Eclipse on 18 October 1863.
- One crew member lost their life in the incident.
Final Disposition
The vessel was declared a total loss. Attempts to raise or salvage the schooner were undertaken in the summer of 1871, notably by a tug associated with Coast Wrecking Co. (possibly the Rescue), but there is no definitive record of successful recovery.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There are no confirmed modern rediscoveries of the wreck. Its general location is known, but precise deliberation or dive surveys have not been documented.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”sarah-e-hudson-1862″ title=”References & Links”]
This incident highlights the navigational hazards of dense fog or poor visibility in busy Great Lakes shipping lanes. The loss underscores the vulnerability of wooden sailing vessels when pitted against steam-powered traffic and the challenges of rescue and salvage in deep 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.
Identification Card (Site Style)
Other Names: S. E. HUDSON; E. K. HUDSON
Official Number: None
Registry: Presumed U.S. (Detroit-built)
Vessel Type: Wooden schooner (two‑masted), for bulk cargo transport
Builder: Detroit, Michigan
Year Built: 1862
Tonnage: 362 tons
Cargo on Final Voyage: 18,000 bushels of wheat
Date of Loss: 18 October 1863
Location: Off Point Abino, Lake Erie
Coordinates: Not recorded
Depth: Approximately 108 feet (32.9 m)
Home Port: Not recorded
Owners: Not recorded (possibly Elon W. Hudson—unverified)
Crew: Number not recorded
Casualties: 1 life lost
Description
The SARAH E. HUDSON was a mid-19th-century wooden schooner, launched in 1862 at Detroit, Michigan. At 362 tons, she was designed for the heavy grain trade across the Great Lakes. Her structure would have featured a broad, shallow hull and two-masted fore-and-aft rigging to maximize cargo capacity and maneuverability.
History
Details of her operational career are scarce. However, she clearly served the Midwest-to-Eastern grain routes typical of the era, transporting wheat from Isle Royale to markets along Lake Erie and beyond.
On the early morning of **18 October 1863**, while transiting Lake Erie off Point Abino, the SARAH E. HUDSON collided with the propeller steamer **Eclipse** (at roughly 4–5 a.m.). The schooner sank swiftly into approximately **108 feet (18 fathoms)** of water. The tragedy claimed one life, though most of the crew survived the wreck. :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}
Final Disposition
The vessel was declared a total loss. Attempts to raise or salvage the schooner were undertaken in the summer of 1871, notably by a tug associated with Coast Wrecking Co. (possibly the *Rescue*), but there is no definitive record of successful recovery. :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}
Located By & Date Found
There are no confirmed modern rediscoveries of the wreck. Its general location is known, but precise deliberation or dive surveys have not been documented.
Notmars & Advisories
No known Notices to Mariners or navigational warnings currently reference this wreck.
Significance
This incident highlights the navigational hazards of dense fog or poor visibility in busy Great Lakes shipping lanes. The loss underscores the vulnerability of wooden sailing vessels when pitted against steam-powered traffic and the challenges of rescue and salvage in deep lakes.
Dive & Survey Potential
With the wreck lying at approximately **108 feet (32.9 m)** of water, the site is within reach of advanced recreational divers and survey teams. Clarity, currents, and underwater preservation remain unknown, but the wreck could offer significant archaeological insight given its documented history and preserved cargo context.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – “H” list (entry on SARAH E. HUDSON)
- Lake Erie Shipwreck Map & Index (entry 188: SARAH E Hudson)
- Chronicling America – for historic newspaper searches
- Newspapers.com – historic press search
References
- “SARAH E Hudson: Schooner collided with the propeller steamer Eclipse at 4 or 5 AM 10/18/1863 … sank rapidly off Point Abino … 108 feet of water. One crewman died … carried 18,000 bushels of wheat. The relatively new vessel may have been raised in the summer of 1871.” (Lake Erie Shipwreck Map & Index) Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – “SARAH E. HUDSON”: 362 t; lost 1863‑Oct‑18; off Point Abino; Lake Erie; collision; 1 loss; carrying 18,000 bu wheat.
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: S. E. HUDSON; E. K. HUDSON
Official Number: None
Coordinates: Approximate near Point Abino
Depth: ~108 feet (32.9 meters)
Location Description: Off Point Abino, Lake Erie
Vessel Type: Wooden schooner
Material: Timber hull
Tonnage: 362 tons
Condition: Sunk after collision; unrecovered
Cause of Loss: Collision with steamer Eclipse
Discovery Date: 1863‑Oct‑18 (incident); no modern discovery
Discovered By: N/A
Method: N/A
Legal Notes: One fatality; salvage attempt summer 1871
Hazards: Not officially marked
Permits Required: N/A