Silas Wright (1852)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Silas Wright
• Type: Wooden Two-Masted Schooner
• Year Built: 1852
• Builder: L. Goler, Cape Vincent, New York
• Dimensions: 75 ft (22.9 m); Beam: 17 ft (5.2 m); Depth of hold: 6 ft (1.8 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 70 tons (old measurement)
• Location: Near Dunkirk, New York, Lake Erie
• Official Number: None (pre-registration era)
• Original Owners: Captain A. VanNorman
• Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Silas Wright was a wooden two-masted schooner, typical of the mid-19th century Great Lakes fleet.

Description

The Silas Wright was built in 1852 at Cape Vincent, New York, and operated primarily on Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. She was a mid-sized vessel, measuring 75 feet in length, with a beam of 17 feet and a depth of 6 feet. The schooner was constructed of wood and had a registered tonnage of 70 tons.

History

The Silas Wright was engaged in short-haul freight operations, transporting goods such as grain, lumber, and coal between ports including Buffalo, Barcelona, Dunkirk, and Cleveland. Owned and captained by A. VanNorman, she represented the privately operated vessels that were essential to the regional economy before the rise of steam-powered ships.

Significant Incidents

• September 13, 1860: The Silas Wright was sailing from Barcelona, New York, to Buffalo when a strong storm struck Lake Erie.
• The vessel was unable to reach safety and was driven ashore near Dunkirk, New York, sustaining severe damage and becoming a total loss.
• The crew survived the incident, although the details of their escape remain unknown.
• There are no records of an attempted salvage, indicating the wreckage was likely abandoned or scavenged.
• The Silas Wright did not reappear in shipping records after 1860, confirming her loss was permanent.

Final Disposition

The wreck of the Silas Wright is believed to be near Dunkirk, New York, in Lake Erie. Given the wooden hull construction, it is unlikely that significant wreckage remains intact. Any remaining portions of the vessel may be buried in sand or broken apart by waves. Some iron fastenings, anchor chains, or ballast stones may still exist offshore.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck has never been officially identified, but it may exist among other Lake Erie wrecks in the Dunkirk area. If located, it would be an important example of a mid-19th century Great Lakes schooner, a type largely lost to history.

Resources & Links

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The Silas Wright was a hardworking schooner that played a vital role in the Great Lakes cargo trade until her loss in 1860. Her wreck serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by Lake Erie storms and the rich maritime history of the region. If discovered, it would represent an important relic of 19th-century wooden shipbuilding and lake trade.