Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Susanna
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: circa 1850
- Builder:
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Port Dover, Ontario
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A wooden schooner operating on Lake Erie, carrying flour and lumber.
Description
The Susanna was a wooden schooner built circa 1850. On November 28, 1853, while bound for Buffalo, she sought refuge at Port Dover, Ontario, due to deteriorating weather conditions.
History
The vessel was taking on storm damage and sought shelter at Port Dover. While anchored, a fire broke out onboard. The blaze spread rapidly, consuming the vessel entirely. Flour and lumber were aboard; no casualties were reported, and all crew went ashore safely before total destruction.
Significant Incidents
- The vessel was destroyed by fire while in port sheltering from the storm.
- Reports from the time confirm the schooner was a total loss.
- The incident was noted in 1854 underwriting logs, linking it to Lake Erie storms and local port accidents.
Final Disposition
The Susanna was a total loss, burned while sheltering from a storm at Port Dover.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As the vessel was completely destroyed by fire, no physical remains are available for diving or exploration.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”susanna-c1850″ title=”References & Links”]
Documentation on the Susanna highlights the dangers faced by vessels on Lake Erie during stormy weather, emphasizing the importance of safety measures for mariners.
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.
(built circa 1850; lost November 28, 1853)
Identification & Vessel Overview
- A wooden schooner operating on Lake Erie, carrying flour and lumber.
- Date of loss: November 28, 1853.
- Bound for Buffalo when she sought refuge at Port Dover, Ontario, due to deteriorating weather.
Final Voyage & Loss
- The vessel was taking on storm damage and sought shelter at Port Dover. While anchored, a fire broke out onboard. The blaze spread rapidly, consuming the vessel entirely.
- Cargo: Flour and lumber were aboard; no casualties were reported.
- Crew: All crew went ashore safely before total destruction.
Outcome & Aftermath
- Reports from the time confirm the schooner was a total loss, destroyed by fire while in port sheltering from the storm.
- The incident was noted in 1854 underwriting logs, linking it to Lake Erie storms and local port accidents.
(linkstothepast.com, Wikipedia)
Summary Table
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Susanna (schooner) |
| Built | circa 1850 (wooden schooner) |
| Cargo | Flour & lumber |
| Loss Date | November 28, 1853 |
| Loss Location | Port Dover, Ontario (Lake Erie) |
| Cause | Fire while sheltering from storm |
| Crew & Casualties | Crew went ashore; no casualties |
| Final Disposition | Burned to total loss |
Historical Source
- The incident is documented in Ontario Great Lakes trade and marine underwriter listings, with “Schooner Susanna burned at Port Dover, 1854” appearing in fire-loss registers covering Lake Erie shipping. (linkstothepast.com)
Research Recommendations
To enhance documentation on Susanna, consider these archival sources:
- Port Dover newspapers from late November 1853—the Port Dover Journal or Port Ryerse Journal—may offer eyewitness or fire response reports.
- Lake Erie maritime insurance and underwriters’ ledgers for 1854 could include incident details, monetary settlement, or shipowner identifiers.
- Shipping registry or customs logs for schooners arriving at Buffalo during 1853 may include vessel build details or ownership attribution.
- Local government or dockside incident records in Norfolk County or Hamilton archives may list fire loss at sheltering docks.