Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Sutler Girl
- Type: Scow Schooner
- Year Built: 1863
- Builder: John Gates
- Dimensions: Length: 73.75 ft (22.5 m); Beam: 19.4 ft (5.9 m); Depth of hold: 5.52 ft (1.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 70 1/95 tons
- Location: 20 miles southwest of Port Stanley, Lake Erie
- Official Number: 22378
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Sutler Girl was a scow schooner, a flat-bottomed, boxy-hulled sailing vessel common on the Great Lakes for carrying heavy cargo such as stone, timber, and coal. These vessels were economical to build and could enter shallower ports thanks to their shallow draft.
Description
Built in 1863 by John Gates at Avon, Ohio, the Sutler Girl entered service as a typical scow schooner working in the Great Lakes cargo trade. Between 1863 and 1868, she was enrolled five times at Cleveland, reflecting an active working career. Her tonnage was recorded as 67.79 gross tons after measurement updates in 1868.
History
Scow schooners were vital to regional commerce but were known for their limited seaworthiness in rough weather. On November 1, 1875, the Sutler Girl encountered a severe storm on Lake Erie while on a voyage and disappeared southwest of Port Stanley. No survivors were ever found, and all hands were lost. There is no record of wreckage recovery.
Significant Incidents
- November 1, 1875: The Sutler Girl foundered in a storm on Lake Erie, resulting in the loss of all hands.
Final Disposition
The Sutler Girl is believed to rest in deep water approximately 20 miles southwest of Port Stanley, Lake Erie. The wreck has not been located or positively identified to date.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck is presumed to be in deep water and is currently undocumented. No known archaeological surveys have been conducted at the site.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”sutler-girl-us-22378″ title=”References & Links”]
The Sutler Girl exemplifies the vulnerability of scow schooners on the Great Lakes, combining heavy loads with marginal seaworthiness. Her loss in a Lake Erie storm highlights the hazards faced by 19th-century sailors, and her missing status adds to the mysteries beneath the lake.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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