Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Uncle Sam
- Type: Wooden scow-schooner
- Year Built: 1863
- Builder: L. S. Bedford, Port Huron, Michigan
- Dimensions: 42 tons
- Registered Tonnage: 42 tons
- Location: Pelee Island, Lake Erie
- Official Number: 25099
- Original Owners: Cleveland, Ohio
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Uncle Sam was a wooden scow-schooner, a flat-bottomed sailing vessel used primarily for carrying lumber, stone, or bulk goods across the Great Lakes. Scow-schooners were particularly useful in shallow waters, allowing them to navigate small harbors and river mouths.
Description
Built in 1863 by L. S. Bedford in Port Huron, Michigan, the Uncle Sam operated out of Cleveland, Ohio, making regular voyages across Lake Erie and likely transporting cargo between Ohio, Michigan, and Ontario ports.
Sometime between May and June 1881, the vessel encountered a storm near Pelee Island. The ship was badly damaged and ultimately broke apart, being declared a total loss by June 15, 1881. No casualties were reported, indicating that the crew likely escaped before the vessel was destroyed.
History
The Uncle Sam was a small but hardworking scow-schooner, typical of the bulk cargo trade on Lake Erie. Its destruction near Pelee Island in 1881 highlights the risks faced by schooners navigating the unpredictable waters of Lake Erie, particularly in the stormy spring and early summer months.
Significant Incidents
- Lost in a storm near Pelee Island, May–June 1881.
- Declared a total loss by June 15, 1881.
Final Disposition
The Uncle Sam went to pieces near Pelee Island, and no salvage efforts were recorded. The remains were likely scattered by wave action and buried in shifting sand.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No confirmed discovery of the wreck has been documented. Pelee Island is known for hazardous waters and shifting shoals, which have contributed to many shipwrecks. The region is a popular area for divers, with multiple 19th-century wrecks documented nearby.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”uncle-sam-us-25099″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
Though the ship was lost, its story remains part of the maritime history of the Great Lakes. Divers are encouraged to practice ethical behavior by documenting the site without disturbing artifacts, as removal is illegal without proper permits.
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.
Identification & Site Information
- Name: Uncle Sam
- Former Names: None
- Official Number: 25099
- Date Built & Launched: 1863
- Builder: L. S. Bedford, Port Huron, Michigan
- Specifications: 42 tons
- Vessel Type: Wooden scow-schooner
- Date Lost: May–June 1881 (reported a total loss by June 15, 1881)
- Place of Loss: Pelee Island, Lake Erie
- Cause of Loss: Storm
- Loss of Life: None mentioned
- Cargo: Unknown
- Port of Registry: Cleveland, Ohio
Vessel Type
The Uncle Sam was a wooden scow-schooner, a flat-bottomed sailing vessel used primarily for carrying lumber, stone, or bulk goods across the Great Lakes. Scow-schooners were particularly useful in shallow waters, allowing them to navigate small harbors and river mouths.
Description & History
Built in 1863 by L. S. Bedford in Port Huron, Michigan, the Uncle Sam operated out of Cleveland, Ohio, making regular voyages across Lake Erie and likely transporting cargo between Ohio, Michigan, and Ontario ports.
Sometime between May and June 1881, the vessel encountered a storm near Pelee Island. The ship was badly damaged and ultimately broke apart, being declared a total loss by June 15, 1881. No casualties were reported, indicating that the crew likely escaped before the vessel was destroyed.
Final Disposition
The Uncle Sam went to pieces near Pelee Island, and no salvage efforts were recorded. The remains were likely scattered by wave action and buried in shifting sand.
Located By & Date Found
No confirmed discovery of the wreck has been documented.
Notmars & Advisories
Pelee Island is known for hazardous waters and shifting shoals, which have contributed to many shipwrecks.
The region is a popular area for divers, with multiple 19th-century wrecks documented nearby.
Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Ships Database
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- NOAA Great Lakes Shipwrecks
Conclusion
The Uncle Sam was a small but hardworking scow-schooner, typical of the bulk cargo trade on Lake Erie. Its destruction near Pelee Island in 1881 highlights the risks faced by schooners navigating the unpredictable waters of Lake Erie, particularly in the stormy spring and early summer months. Though the ship was lost, its story remains part of the maritime history of the Great Lakes.
Keywords & Categories
Keywords: Great Lakes schooners, scow-schooners, Pelee Island shipwrecks, Lake Erie storms, 19th-century maritime trade
Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Erie, 19th-century shipwrecks, wooden schooners, storm-related losses
Glossary Terms: Scow-Schooner, Storm Damage, Pelee Island Shipwrecks, Lake Erie Navigation
uncle-sam-us-25099 1881-06-15 07:55:00