Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: W. L. Peck
- Type: Wooden-hulled schooner-barge, two-masted
- Year Built: 1873
- Builder: P. Morgan
- Dimensions: 154 ft × 32 ft × 10 ft (46.9 × 9.8 × 3.0 m); approx. 361 GRT / 343 NRT
- Registered Tonnage: 361 GRT / 343 NRT
- Location: 15–18 miles NNW of Ashtabula, Ohio, on Lake Erie
- Official Number: 72781
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A robust schooner-barge designed for bulk cargo (primarily coal), intended to be under tow rather than self-propelled. Her sizable 150-foot frame suited the high-volume coal trade on Lake Erie.
Description
The schooner-barge foundered and sank in deep water. No salvage was reported, and her hull remains on the lakebed.
History
- 1873–1891: Served in the Erie–Ohio coal circuit, regularly towed by steam prop vessels like the Oneida.
- 5 October 1891: While bound from Buffalo to Bay Mills, Michigan and Fort William, Ontario, W. L. Peck experienced a structural leak during a severe Lake Erie gale. Despite efforts to stay afloat, the water ingress overwhelmed her pumps. She sank approximately 15–18 miles northwest of Ashtabula. All six crew members were lost in the incident.
Significant Incidents
- 5 October 1891: The vessel sprang a leak and foundered during a storm while under tow by the propeller Oneida.
- All six crew members aboard were lost in the sinking.
Final Disposition
The wreck has not been located by divers or surveyed. Given the depth and conditions of Lake Erie mid-lake, her remains likely rest undisturbed on the bottom.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No Notices to Mariners reference the site. The wreck is far offshore and poses no known navigation hazard.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”w-l-peck-us-72781″ title=”References & Links”]
The W. L. Peck represents a tragic end for bulk-carrying schooner-barges of the late 19th century. Overwhelmed by a leak in storm conditions, she sank with all hands on deck—a stark reminder of the dangers faced by crews hauling heavy coal cargo across the Great Lakes. Though her resting place remains undiscovered, her story remains documented in maritime history.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: W. L. Peck
- Official Number: 72781
- Year built: 1873 at Carrollton, Michigan by P. Morgan
- Type: Wooden-hulled schooner‑barge, two‑masted
- Dimensions: 154 ft × 32 ft × 10 ft (46.9 × 9.8 × 3.0 m); approx. 361 GRT / 343 NRT
- Final loss date: 5 October 1891
- Location: 15‑18 miles NNW of Ashtabula, Ohio, on Lake Erie
- Cargo: 700 tons of coal
- Loss type: Sprang a leak and foundered during a storm while under tow by propeller Oneida
- Casualties: None of the six aboard survived the sinking; all crew lost
Vessel Type & Description
A robust schooner‑barge designed for bulk cargo (primarily coal), intended to be under tow rather than self-propelled. Her sizable 150‑foot frame suited the high-volume coal trade on Lake Erie.
History & Final Voyage
- 1873–1891: Served in the Erie–Ohio coal circuit, regularly towed by steam prop vessels like the Oneida.
- 5 October 1891: While bound from Buffalo to Bay Mills, Michigan and Fort William, Ontario, W. L. Peck experienced a structural leak during a severe Lake Erie gale. Despite efforts to stay afloat, the water ingress overwhelmed her pumps. She sank approximately 15–18 miles northwest of Ashtabula. All six crew members were lost in the incident. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
Final Disposition
The schooner-barge foundered and sank in deep water. No salvage was reported, and her hull remains on the lakebed.
Located By & Discovery Status
The wreck has not been located by divers or surveyed. Given the depth and conditions of Lake Erie mid‑lake, her remains likely rest undisturbed on the bottom.
Notmar & Navigation Advisories
No Notices to Mariners reference the site. The wreck is far offshore and poses no known navigation hazard.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – “W. L. Peck” entry: Date of loss: 1891, Oct 5; Place: 15–18 miles NNW of Ashtabula; Lake: Erie; Type of loss: storm; Loss of life: none of 6; Carrying: 700 t. coal; Official no: 72781; Type at loss: schooner‑barge, wood (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Conclusion
The W. L. Peck represents a tragic end for bulk‑carrying schooner-barges of the late 19th century. Overwhelmed by a leak in storm conditions, she sank with all hands on deck—a stark reminder of the dangers faced by crews hauling heavy coal cargo across the Great Lakes. Though her resting place remains undiscovered, her story remains documented in maritime history.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary
- Keywords: W. L. Peck wreck, Lake Erie 1891, coal schooner‑barge, foundered under tow
- Categories: Wooden barges, late 19th-century storm losses, Lake Erie deepwater wrecks
- Glossary:
- Schooner‑barge: Non-powered barge rigged with sailing masts, meant to be towed
- Foundered: Filled with water and sank
- Under tow: Being pulled by a tug or steamer when in distress