T. H. Orton (1873)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: T. H. Orton
• Type: Wooden bulk freight barge
• Year Built: 1873
• Builder:
• Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage: 262 GRT
• Location: Marblehead, Lake Erie, Ohio

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The T. H. Orton was a wooden-hulled freight barge of 262 gross registered tons, purpose-built for hauling bulk cargo on Lake Erie. No detailed dimensions or engine configuration are currently available; these may be recovered from U.S. registry or shipping line records of the 1870s.

Description

The T. H. Orton is emblematic of late 19th-century Great Lakes freight barges that met their end during severe weather while anchored near harbor approaches. With no crew casualties, her loss reflects the effectiveness of the Lifesaving Service. Yet her physical remains and documentary trace remain obscure, presenting a clear opportunity for archival excavation and sonar-based localization. Targeted research in U.S. Customs records, station logs, and local newspapers may uncover her ownership, technical details, and exact final resting state.

History

Operational History: Served as an unpowered barge in a towline configuration via steamer.

Ownership: Specific ownership records are presently lacking. Archival research in Sandusky or Marblehead shipping registries from the 1870s–1880s may yield further data on owners, masters, or fleets.

Significant Incidents

On July 12, 1889, amid strong storm conditions on Lake Erie off Marblehead, Ohio, the T. H. Orton dragged her anchors. The violent weather drove her ashore, causing a total wreck. All crew were successfully rescued by the U.S. Lifesaving Service. No loss of life recorded.

Final Disposition

Salvage: The wreck was reportedly salvaged by 1891—presumably machinery, rigging, or cargo—before being wrecked again in the same area on July 14, 1891.

Wreck Condition: Likely broken wooden remains along the shoreline; exact coordinates are not documented in modern survey systems.

Hazard Advisories: No Notices to Mariners have been located. Local lighthouse or mariner logs from Marblehead may contain later references.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Likely broken wooden remains along the shoreline; exact coordinates are not documented in modern survey systems. Dive conditions are unknown—likely shallows accessible but hazardous due to breakage and surf zone.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”t-h-orton-1873″ title=”References & Links”]

Research gaps include the need for archival consultation of U.S. Customs Enrollment Records, Lifesaving Service station logs, and contemporary newspaper accounts. A geophysical survey using side-scan sonar or magnetometer off Marblehead State Park during calm seasons may locate buried wreck remains. Local museums may hold oral histories or photographs from the 1889 storm event.