— Preliminary Identification Profile

Site Observations (145 ft deep, south–north orientation)

  • 130 ft ± unknown (estimated) length, about 30 ft beam
  • Stern hooked at dive start; beautifully rounded and sharply undercut
  • Large intact wheel and steering gear, rudder turned hard to port
  • Machinery hatch openings, pumps and Capstan remain in place
  • Single continuous cargo hatch spanning two-thirds of vessel, divided into five holds
  • Coal remnants in holds, intact Windlass and tow bit, anchors still secured at bow
  • Metal framing hints (Gunwale, hatch frames), possible partial metal sheathing
  • Turnbuckles on starboard Gunwale—suggestive of mast rigging
  • Intact decking, Gunwale framing, and well-preserved Hull

Structural & Cargo Clue Summary

  • Coal cargo confirms bulk-coal freighter or Barge, possibly Schooner-Barge hybrid
  • Combination of wheel steering, anchors, pumps, Capstan, Windlass suggests self-steering vessel (Tug, Schooner or steambarge)
  • Metal-framed construction and clean Deck align with turn-of-20th-century transitional design (ca. 1890–1910)

Identification Inference & Analogues

  • Known historic discoveries by CLUE include the well-documented Sultan Brigantine off Euclid in 45 ft water—this wreck diverges in type and depth significantly (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, mua.apps.uri.edu).
  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files list multiple Schooner-barges, small coal freighters, and transition-period steambarges lost off Cleveland or Buffalo that match approximate size and cargo type.
  • However, no named vessel from registry sources (e.g. from turn0search1’s catalog) corresponds exactly to a coal-carrying 130‑foot flat‑Deck Barge with integrated steering wheel still intact.

Likely Vessel Type

  • A transitional-era Schooner‑Barge or self‑propelled coal Lighter, possibly built as a fully surgical Schooner then converted to Barge use
  • Likely built between 1890–1910, designed for bulk coal carriage, shallow Draft, and occasional coastal towing or unloading
  • Vessel may have Foundered slowly, allowing intact Deck and gear preservation, then sank gently without violent impact

Next-Step Research Recommendations

  • Candidate Cross-Matching
    • Compile a list of vessels lost in Lake Erie corridor (Cleveland–Buffalo area) between 1890–1910 that match:
    • ~130 ft length, coal cargo, Schooner‑Barge design, minimal damage, lost in calm or non‑salvage events
  • Local Newspaper Research
    • Search Cleveland and Buffalo newspapers (1900–1915) for minimal‑impact losses involving coal barges, machinery salvage notices, or unexplained disappearances.
  • Registry & Inspection Files
    • Review Great Lakes marine registers and 1900s inspection reports for coal‑carrying wooden cargo vessels or barges with steering gear and anchors.
  • CLUE & NOAA Survey Data
    • Compare dive sonar and plan-view drawings with CLUE’s wreck map archives and NOAA’s glacial‑bedform surveys to find overlapping structures or matching shapes.
  • Visual Feature Matching
    • Key identifiers: intact steering wheel, continuous hold hatch system broken into five compartments, visible Capstan & tow bit, twin anchors on bow.

Summary Evaluation

At present, this wreck remains unidentified, with compelling structural and cargo clues suggesting a transitional-era coal Barge or Schooner-Barge. Its remarkably intact condition and lack of modern salvage signs offer a rare window into early 20th-century small cargo vessel construction and operation.

Would you like me to:

  • Pursue archival examination of vessel registries (1890–1915) for matching loss profiles
  • Retrieve regional newspaper clippings related to small coal vessel disappearances or sinkings
  • Review CLUE sonar maps or wreck surveys for visual ID matching
  • Create a candidate list of probable vessels for field verification