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.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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