Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Yukon US 27656

Explore the wreck of the Yukon, a wooden schooner-barge that sank in 1905 during a storm on Lake Erie, with remnants scattered on the lakebed.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Yukon
  • Type: Wooden Schooner-Barge (Bulk Freight, 2-Mast)
  • Year Built: 1893
  • Builder: F. Wheeler & Co., West Bay City, Michigan (Hull #101)
  • Dimensions: Length: 270 ft (82.3 m); Beam: 42 ft (12.8 m); Depth of hold: 18 ft (5.5 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 1,602 tons
  • Location: 3 miles off Ashtabula, Ohio, Lake Erie
  • Official Number: 27656
  • Original Owners: Gilchrist Transportation Company (Gilchrist Fleet)
  • Number of Masts: Originally built as a 3-mast schooner, later converted to a 2-mast schooner-barge

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Yukon was a large wooden schooner-barge, originally constructed as a three-masted schooner and later converted into a two-masted schooner-barge.

Description

The Yukon was built in 1893 by F. Wheeler & Co. in West Bay City, Michigan. As part of the Gilchrist fleet, she primarily carried bulk cargo such as iron ore, coal, and grain between Great Lakes ports.

History

The Yukon was towed on Lake Erie when a severe storm struck on October 20, 1905. The vessel struggled against high winds and rough waves, ultimately succumbing to the storm and sinking about 3 miles off Ashtabula, Ohio. All crew members were rescued by the tug Thomas Wilson.

Significant Incidents

  • The Yukon sank during a gale on October 20, 1905, while being towed on Lake Erie.
  • All crew members were rescued before the vessel sank.
  • The wreck was blown up in July 1906 to clear a navigation hazard.

Final Disposition

The wreck of the Yukon was considered a hazard to navigation and was deliberately destroyed in July 1906, leaving only scattered remnants on the lakebed.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Since the hulk was blown up in 1906, only scattered remnants of the wreck may still exist. Some iron fittings, anchor chains, and fastenings could remain on the lakebed. Finding large structural remains is unlikely due to the intentional destruction of the wreck.

Resources & Links

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

The Yukon reflects the dangers of Great Lakes shipping in the early 20th century, as wooden schooner-barges were gradually replaced by more modern steel freighters.