Visitor (pre-1855)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Visitor
• Type: Wooden schooner (small, two-masted)
• Year Built: pre-1855
• Builder:
• Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage:
• Location: Off West Sister Island, Lake Erie
• Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden schooner, typical of mid-19th-century coastal freighters, designed for short-haul freighting.

Description

The Visitor was a small coastal schooner engaged in transporting stone, likely from quarries on the Lake Erie islands to construction sites in Ohio or Michigan. Comparable vessels measured between 60 and 90 feet in length and featured shallow-draft scow-style hulls.

History

Built before 1855, the Visitor was typical of the era’s coastal freighters. It was lost during a storm on the night of May 16, 1855, while navigating near West Sister Island.

Significant Incidents

• Encountered severe nighttime conditions, including stormy seas and poor visibility.
• Foundered after taking on overwhelming water.
• Two crew members survived initially by climbing into the rigging; one drowned when the mast broke, while the other was rescued by the passing schooner Andover.

Final Disposition

The Visitor was a total loss, foundered during a storm. Its exact position remains unrecorded, likely lying in deep water off West Sister Island.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is presumed to be in pieces with scattered rigging due to storm damage. Dive accessibility is unknown, and the site has not been surveyed, though a shallow-water dive may be possible under calm conditions.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”visitor-pre-1855″ title=”References & Links”]

The sinking of the Visitor serves as a reminder of the risks faced by small working vessels during seasonal storms on Lake Erie, highlighting the maritime safety challenges of the 19th century.