Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Seabird (1862)

Explore the remains of the Seabird, a wooden schooner lost in a storm on Lake Erie in 1873. Discover its history and the challenges of locating its wreck.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Seabird
  • Type: Wooden two-masted schooner
  • Year Built: 1862
  • Builder:
  • Dimensions:
  • Registered Tonnage:
  • Location: Lake Erie, likely near Erie, PA
  • Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Seabird was a wooden two-masted schooner, primarily used for cargo transport.

Description

On her last voyage, the Seabird was carrying coal when she encountered severe weather conditions that ultimately led to her grounding.

History

The Seabird was built in 1862 and served in various capacities until her loss in April 1873. She was caught in a storm on Lake Erie and driven ashore, where salvage attempts were made but ultimately abandoned.

Significant Incidents

  • Date of Loss: April 1873
  • Location: Lake Erie — exact grounding point unknown (likely near Erie, PA, based on tug origin)
  • Incident Description: Caught in heavy weather, the Seabird was driven ashore. Despite efforts by the tug H. N. Martin and an Erie-based schooner, the vessel was deemed a total loss.

Final Disposition

The Seabird was abandoned after being driven ashore and is believed to have been left stranded and broken beyond repair. No records indicate recovery efforts were successful.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The expected remains of the Seabird include broken hull and deck debris near the shoreline, possibly buried under beach sediments or salvaged for timber. The wreck is aged and weathered, likely not visible above water, and no recent surveys have identified remains.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”seabird-1862″ title=”References & Links”]

The Seabird represents a piece of maritime history, lost to the elements and time. With no modern surveys conducted, her remains may still lie hidden along the shores of Lake Erie, awaiting discovery.

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 & Loss Synopsis

  • Name: Seabird
  • Type: Wooden two-masted schooner
  • Cargo (last voyage): Coal
  • Final Fate: Driven ashore in a storm, abandoned—no record of recovery
  • Tow Attempt: Efforts were made by the tug H. N. Martin and a schooner from Erie, but the vessel was deemed a total loss

Incident Overview

  • Date of Loss: April 1873
  • Location: Lake Erie — exact grounding point unknown (likely near Erie, PA, based on tug origin)
  • Incident Description: Seabird was caught in heavy weather and driven ashore. Though re-floating efforts were launched by the tug H. N. Martin and an Erie-based schooner, the operation was abandoned and the vessel left stranded and broken beyond repair.

Wreck Site & Condition

  • Expected Remains: Broken hull and deck debris near the shoreline, possibly buried under beach sediments or salvaged for timber
  • Wreck Status: Aged and weathered; likely not visible above water and no recent surveys have identified remains
  • Navigational Concerns: Not charted as a hazard; loss occurred near shore, minimizing navigation risk

Sources & Documentation

  • Summary derived from Great Lakes shipwreck records citing: “Ashore in a storm, she was expected to be recovered. The tug H. N. Martin and schooner (from Erie) attended.” (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)

(Unfortunately, full log details of salvage attempts or grounding location were not documented in accessible archives.)

Research & Exploration Opportunities

  • Archival newspaper search:
    • April–May 1873 editions of Erie Gazette, Buffalo Commercial, or Cleveland Plain Dealer for salvage announcements.
  • Tug logs:
    • Tow records/logbooks of H. N. Martin docked at Erie, available in regional marine archives.
  • Marine insurance files:
    • Assessment reports describing damage or location, often included in claim documentation.
  • Sonar survey feasibility:
    • Target likely shoreline area near Erie with side-scan sonar to detect buried structural remains or debris scatter.

Summary

The Seabird was a small wooden schooner carrying coal when a storm in April 1873 drove her ashore on Lake Erie. Despite salvage attempts by the tug H. N. Martin and support schooner, she was declared a total loss and abandoned. With no modern wreck surveys, her remains likely lie near the shoreline, hidden beneath sand or salvaged long ago.

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