Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Tasmania (originally James Couch)
- Type: Schooner-barge
- Year Built: 1871
- Builder: Muir, Livingston & Co.
- Dimensions: Length: 67.8 m (223.7 ft; after rebuild: 67.4 m / 221 ft); Beam: 10.4 m (34 ft; after rebuild: 10.7 m / 35 ft); Depth of hold: 4.4 m (14.5 ft; after rebuild: 5 m / 16.4 ft)
- Registered Tonnage: 843 tons (after rebuild: 979 tons)
- Location: Pelee Passage, Lake Erie
- Official Number: US 75598
- Original Owners: Captain Thomas L. Parker, Merrill & Skeele, Corrigan Bros.
- Number of Masts: Originally three masts, converted to four masts in 1890
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Originally built as a three-masted wooden schooner for bulk cargo transport, later converted to a four-masted schooner-barge in 1890 to meet the demands of the iron ore trade.
Description
The James Couch was constructed with a single deck, wooden hull, and three masts. Its design initially included experimental lee boards, which were found impractical and replaced with a centerboard. In 1890, the ship was heavily rebuilt as a four-masted schooner-barge with reinforced structure and increased capacity, optimizing it for iron ore trade. It had a carrying capacity of about 60,000 bushels of grain or equivalent ore cargo.
History
Built in 1871 at Port Huron, Michigan, by Muir, Livingston & Co., the James Couch served primarily in the grain trade across the Great Lakes. Its first owner was Captain Thomas L. Parker of Chicago. The schooner was later acquired by Merrill & Skeele in 1875 and underwent repairs in 1879 to maintain its seaworthiness.
In 1890, the vessel was converted in Cleveland, Ohio, to a four-masted schooner-barge under new ownership by Corrigan Bros., renamed TASMANIA. The modification responded to growing demand for iron ore transportation, adding a mast and strengthening the hull.
However, the vessel suffered repeated accidents:
- August 1890: collision with steamer J.H. Wade on the Lake George Flats (St. Marys River); sank but was raised by Moran Wrecking Co.
- July 1891: damaged by steamer City of London in Lake Superior
- October 11, 1894: driven ashore in a storm at Cleveland, crew rescued
The final and most tragic loss occurred on 20 October 1905, while TASMANIA was in tow behind the steamer BULGARIA, loaded with iron ore from Escanaba to Cleveland. A violent storm caused the vessel to strike bottom near Pelee Passage, take on water, and founder rapidly after the tow line was cut to attempt a rescue. Eight crew members were lost.
Significant Incidents
- August 1890: collision with steamer J.H. Wade on the Lake George Flats (St. Marys River); sank but was raised by Moran Wrecking Co.
- July 1891: damaged by steamer City of London in Lake Superior
- October 11, 1894: driven ashore in a storm at Cleveland, crew rescued
Final Disposition
After its sinking in October 1905, the TASMANIA was declared a navigational hazard and was demolished with explosives in July 1906 to clear the channel.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There is no intact wreck to locate, as the hull was intentionally destroyed after 1906. The site was cleared of hazards, and the iron ore cargo forms a large mound. At the bow are two anchors, one of which was raised and later returned to the wreck. There is a capstan on the port side, a winch, and boiler. About 75 feet to the east of the stern are the rudder, the wheel, and part of the transom. The bottom is sand with an occasional current that feeds the zebra mussels and fresh water sponges that coat the wreck.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”tasmania-james-couch-us-75598″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The James Couch / TASMANIA is an important example of the working schooner-barge conversions of the Great Lakes, transitioning from grain to iron ore transport as trade patterns shifted. Her history of collisions, rebuilds, and final foundering illustrates the hazards faced by 19th-century wooden bulk carriers. Although no physical wreck remains, her legacy is well documented and serves as a case study in the evolution of commercial Great Lakes shipping.
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.
TASMANIA (originally James Couch, Launched 1871)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name(s): James Couch (renamed TASMANIA in 1890)
- Registration number(s): Not conclusively documented in surviving records
- Year built and launched: 1871
- Vessel measurements:
- Length: 67.8 m (223.7 ft; after rebuild: 67.4 m / 221 ft)
- Beam: 10.4 m (34 ft; after rebuild: 10.7 m / 35 ft)
- Depth of hold: 4.4 m (14.5 ft; after rebuild: 5 m / 16.4 ft)
- Gross tonnage: 843 tons (after rebuild: 979 tons)
- Date lost: 20 October 1905
Vessel Type
Originally built as a three-masted wooden schooner for bulk cargo transport, later converted to a four-masted schooner-barge in 1890 to meet the demands of the iron ore trade.
Description
The James Couch was constructed with a single deck, wooden hull, and three masts. Its design initially included experimental lee boards, which were found impractical and replaced with a centerboard. In 1890, the ship was heavily rebuilt as a four-masted schooner-barge with reinforced structure and increased capacity, optimizing it for iron ore trade. It had a carrying capacity of about 60,000 bushels of grain or equivalent ore cargo.
History
Built in 1871 at Port Huron, Michigan, by Muir, Livingston & Co., the James Couch served primarily in the grain trade across the Great Lakes. Its first owner was Captain Thomas L. Parker of Chicago. The schooner was later acquired by Merrill & Skeele in 1875 and underwent repairs in 1879 to maintain its seaworthiness.
In 1890, the vessel was converted in Cleveland, Ohio, to a four-masted schooner-barge under new ownership by Corrigan Bros., renamed TASMANIA. The modification responded to growing demand for iron ore transportation, adding a mast and strengthening the hull.
However, the vessel suffered repeated accidents:
- August 1890: collision with steamer J.H. Wade on the Lake George Flats (St. Marys River); sank but was raised by Moran Wrecking Co.
- July 1891: damaged by steamer City of London in Lake Superior
- October 11, 1894: driven ashore in a storm at Cleveland, crew rescued
The final and most tragic loss occurred on 20 October 1905, while TASMANIA was in tow behind the steamer BULGARIA, loaded with iron ore from Escanaba to Cleveland. A violent storm caused the vessel to strike bottom near Pelee Passage, take on water, and founder rapidly after the tow line was cut to attempt a rescue. Eight crew members were lost.
Final Dispositions
After its sinking in October 1905, the TASMANIA was declared a navigational hazard and was demolished with explosives in July 1906 to clear the channel.
Located By & Date Found
There is no intact wreck to locate, as the hull was intentionally destroyed after 1906.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted currently, as the site was cleared of hazards.
Shore Dive Information
- Shore Access Location: Not applicable — the wreck was demolished
- Entry Type: N/A
- Depth Range: 10 m (30 ft freshwater depth) at the site prior to blasting
- Current & Conditions: Typically variable around Pelee Passage, with seasonal thermocline
- Points of Interest: No diveable remains
- Skill Level: N/A
- Safety & Emergency Info:
- Nearest hyperbaric chamber: Windsor Regional Hospital (Canada) or Detroit Receiving Hospital (U.S.)
- Canadian Coast Guard radio: 16 VHF, nearest station Erie
- Nearest 911 address: Pelee Island, Ontario
- Emergency numbers: 911 (Canada & U.S.)
- Local Regulations: Standard Transport Canada navigational rules apply
- Best Time to Dive: N/A
- Driving Directions: N/A
- Additional Resources: Contact local dive shops for surrounding sites
Conclusion
The James Couch / TASMANIA is an important example of the working schooner-barge conversions of the Great Lakes, transitioning from grain to iron ore transport as trade patterns shifted. Her history of collisions, rebuilds, and final foundering illustrates the hazards faced by 19th-century wooden bulk carriers. Although no physical wreck remains, her legacy is well documented and serves as a case study in the evolution of commercial Great Lakes shipping.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Ships (greatlakesships.org)
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Vessels Index (BGSU)
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Schooner
- Schooner-barge
- Iron ore transport
- Grain trade
- Pelee Passage
- Great Lakes storms
- 19th-century vessels
- Maritime accidents
- Corrigan Bros.
- Salvage and demolition