Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: SS Prince Alfred
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built:
- Builder:
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Sandusky Bay
- Coordinates: Coordinates not documented
- Official Number: US 20276
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The SS Prince Alfred was a wooden schooner, a type of sailing vessel commonly used in the late 19th century for cargo transport.
Description
The vessel caught fire and was burned to the water’s edge before sinking in Sandusky Bay on May 13, 1894. The specific details of the vessel’s construction and dimensions are not documented.
History
The SS Prince Alfred represents the vulnerability of wooden schooners to fires, particularly as the shipping industry evolved in the late 1800s. The absence of casualties indicates a rapid evacuation by the crew during the fire.
Significant Incidents
- Incident: The Prince Alfred caught fire and was burned to the water’s edge before sinking in Sandusky Bay on 13 May 1894.
- Casualties: None reported.
- Cargo: Not specified.
Final Disposition
The vessel sank after being gutted by fire. There are no active navigation warnings, and no extant dive site has been recorded.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck lies submerged in Sandusky Bay without documented remains or hazard status. The lack of specific coordinates makes it difficult to locate.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”ss-prince-alfred-us-20276″ title=”References & Links”]
The Prince Alfred burned and sank in Sandusky Bay on 13 May 1894, with the crew surviving and no cargo or insurance details published. The wreck remains undocumented and poses no known hazards.
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.
Final Disaster – 13 May 1894, Sandusky Bay (Lake Erie)
- Incident: The Prince Alfred, an older wooden schooner, caught fire and was burned to the water’s edge before sinking in Sandusky Bay on 13 May 1894. (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Casualties: None reported
- Cargo: Not specified
Wreck & Location
- The vessel sank after being gutted by fire.
- Although specific coordinates are not documented, the sinking site is designated “in Sandusky Bay.”
- There are no active navigation warnings, and no extant dive site has been recorded.
Historical Significance
- Prince Alfred represents the vulnerability of wooden schooners to fires—especially as shipping age increased in the late 1800s.
- The lack of casualties suggests a rapid abandonment of the hatch by the crew—a common outcome in sudden onboard fires.
Research & Documentation Opportunities
- Sandusky Newspapers (May 1894)
- Examine editions of Sandusky Register or Morning Star (13–20 May 1894) for incident coverage and eyewitness accounts.
- U.S. Coast Guard Reports
- Track down district region incident files—often containing detailed fire origin and damage estimates.
- Insurance & Salvage Records
- Seek marine insurance ledgers referencing total-loss claims on Prince Alfred from 1894.
Summary
The Prince Alfred burned and sank in Sandusky Bay on 13 May 1894, with the crew surviving and no cargo or insurance details published. The wreck lies submerged locally without documented remains or hazard status.
ss-prince-alfred-us-20276 1894-05-13 22:49:00