Star of the West

The wooden schooner Star of the West reportedly sank during a gale on Lake Erie in October 1870, with limited documentation available.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Star of the West
  • Type: Wooden schooner
  • Year Built:
  • Builder:
  • Dimensions:
  • Registered Tonnage:
  • Location: Lake Erie

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Star of the West was a wooden schooner, a type of vessel commonly used for cargo transport on the Great Lakes.

Description

The Star of the West reportedly sank during a gale on Lake Erie in October 1870. However, detailed records of this incident are scarce, and the vessel is not prominently featured in major shipwreck registries or historical accounts.

History

While the Star of the West is mentioned in some shipwreck listings, comprehensive information about the vessel, including its construction details, ownership, cargo, and the exact circumstances of its sinking, remains elusive. This lack of information suggests that the incident may not have been widely documented at the time, or that records have been lost or remain undiscovered.

Significant Incidents

Significant incidents related to the Star of the West include:

  • Lost during a gale in October 1870.

Final Disposition

The Star of the West‘s sinking adds to the numerous maritime tragedies that occurred on Lake Erie during the 19th century. Given the limited information available, further research into local archives, newspaper records from the period, and maritime registries may shed more light on this vessel’s history and the circumstances surrounding its loss.

Current Condition & Accessibility

As of now, the exact location of the wreck of the Star of the West is unknown, and no detailed assessments of its current condition have been documented.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”star-of-the-west” title=”References & Links”]

Further exploration and research may provide additional insights into the Star of the West and its tragic fate on Lake Erie.

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.

​The schooner Star of the West reportedly sank during a gale on Lake Erie in October 1870. However, detailed records of this incident are scarce, and the vessel is not prominently featured in major shipwreck registries or historical accounts.​

Known Details:

  • Vessel Name: Star of the West
  • Type: Wooden schooner
  • Incident: Lost during a gale
  • Date: October 1870
  • Location: Lake Erie

While the Star of the West is mentioned in some shipwreck listings, comprehensive information about the vessel, including its construction details, ownership, cargo, and the exact circumstances of its sinking, remains elusive. This lack of information suggests that the incident may not have been widely documented at the time, or that records have been lost or remain undiscovered.​

Contextual Information:

Lake Erie is known for its treacherous weather conditions, especially during the fall months. In October 1870, several vessels met similar fates due to sudden storms and gales. For instance, the schooner Mary sank near Cleveland, Ohio, after striking a pier during a gale on October 17, 1870, resulting in the loss of all four crew members . Another vessel, the Indiana, a wooden barquentine, sank in 1870 while carrying sandstone; fortunately, there were no fatalities

Conclusion:

The Star of the West‘s sinking adds to the numerous maritime tragedies that occurred on Lake Erie during the 19th century. Given the limited information available, further research into local archives, newspaper records from the period, and maritime registries may shed more light on this vessel’s history and the circumstances surrounding its loss.​

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