Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Virago
- Type: schooner-scow
- Year Built: 1848
- Builder: Fairport (now Cleveland area), Ohio
- Dimensions: 87 ft (26.52 m); Beam 22 ft; Depth of hold 6 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 112 gross tons
- Location: East of Peninsula Point, near Sandusky, Ohio
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
- A wooden scow-schooner rigged vessel commonly used for nearshore freight movement like coal transport. Often towed or sailed across the shallow reaches of Lake Erie.
Description
Virago was a small coal-carrying scow-schooner built in 1848 operating in Lake Erie. On April 10, 1854, a gale pushed her into the shallows off Peninsula Point, where she endured heavy pounding until she broke up and sank. No crew were lost. Her remains were likely scattered or buried in nearshore sediments, and no verified wreck site has been documented in modern records.
History
- Built in 1848, Virago was primarily used for transporting coal across Lake Erie.
Significant Incidents
- During a gale, Virago was driven into shallow water near Peninsula Point in Lake Erie. She grounded and withstood severe wave action for some time. Ultimately, when the pounding became unbearable, her hull gave way and she broke apart and was lost.
- Casualties: None reported—all crew survived.
Final Disposition
- The vessel was destroyed in place by wave action; no salvage operations are documented.
- Given her proximity to shore and age at loss, it is very unlikely any remains persist underwater.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No known modern survey has been conducted on the wreck site, and it is likely that any remains have been lost to erosion or sedimentation.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”virago-1848″ title=”References & Links”]
The loss of Virago serves as a reminder of the perils faced by vessels navigating the Great Lakes, particularly during severe weather conditions.
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 1848; lost April 10, 1854)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Virago (schooner‑scow type, wooden hull)
- Build Year: 1848, at Fairport (now Cleveland area), Ohio
- Approximate Dimensions: 87 ft length × 22 ft beam × 6 ft draft; around 112 gross tons
- Cargo: Coal
- Loss Date: April 10, 1854
- Loss Location: East of Peninsula Point, near Sandusky, Ohio, Lake Erie (alcheminc.com, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Vessel Type
- A wooden scow-schooner rigged vessel commonly used for nearshore freight movement like coal transport. Often towed or sailed across the shallow reaches of Lake Erie.
Loss Circumstances
- During a gale, Virago was driven into shallow water near Peninsula Point in Lake Erie. She grounded and withstood severe wave action for some time. Ultimately, when the pounding became unbearable, her hull gave way and she broke apart and was lost. (alcheminc.com, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Casualties: None reported—all crew survived.
Final Disposition
- The vessel was destroyed in place by wave action; no salvage operations are documented.
- Given her proximity to shore and age at loss, it is very unlikely any remains persist underwater.
Summary Table
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Virago |
| Built | 1848, Fairport (Cleveland area), Ohio |
| Vessel Type | Wooden scow-schooner |
| Dimensions | ~87 × 22 × 6 ft; ~112 gross tons |
| Cargo | Coal |
| Loss Date | April 10, 1854 |
| Loss Location | East of Peninsula Point, Lake Erie |
| Cause of Loss | Gale drove her ashore; hull broke under pounding |
| Crew & Casualties | Crew survived; none lost |
| Fate | Broken apart; total loss |
| Wreck Located | No known modern survey; remains likely gone |
Conclusion
Virago was a small coal‑carrying scow‑schooner built in 1848 operating in Lake Erie. On April 10, 1854, a gale pushed her into the shallows off Peninsula Point, where she endured heavy pounding until she broke up and sank. No crew were lost. Her remains were likely scattered or buried in nearshore sediments, and no verified wreck site has been documented in modern records.
virago-1848 1855-04-10 21:56:00