Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Derrick (probable name; may have been a functional term)
  • Former Names: Unknown
  • Official Number: None recorded
  • Date Built and Launched: Unknown
  • Builder: Unknown
  • Specifications: Unknown (likely a small wooden Schooner or derrick Barge used for salvage)
  • Date Lost: September 29, 1854
  • Place of Loss: Off Silver Creek, New York
  • Lake: Lake Erie

Vessel Type

Wooden Schooner or derrick vessel utilized for salvage operations

Description

The vessel referred to as Derrick was a wooden Schooner or possibly a derrick Barge, designed or adapted specifically for salvage work. It is presumed to have been equipped with lifting gear used in marine salvage, particularly over wreck sites. These types of vessels were integral to 19th-century efforts to recover valuable materials from shipwrecks and were often makeshift conversions of small schooners.

History

Though detailed construction and ownership records are lacking, the Derrick was actively involved in salvage operations on Lake Erie during the mid-19th century. In the summer of 1854, she worked over the wreck of the Steamer Atlantic, a vessel that had been lost in a high-profile disaster carrying immigrants across the Great Lakes.

In late September of that year, the Derrick was relocated to the site of another infamous wreck — the Steamer Erie, which had been lost in 1841 in one of the most tragic marine fires on Lake Erie. Unfortunately, while engaged in operations over the Erie wreck site near Silver Creek, New York, the Derrick succumbed to a gale and was lost.

Ownership is attributed, albeit loosely, to a party named Bishop of Grand River, Ohio, who may have outfitted or chartered the vessel for salvage work. It remains unclear if the vessel’s name was actually Derrick, or if this was simply a functional reference to its salvage equipment.

Final Disposition

The Derrick sank on September 29, 1854, in a storm while stationed over the wreck of the Steamer Erie. No further information is known about the recovery or condition of the wreck, and no reports confirm whether any lives were lost in the sinking.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return. The wreck of the Derrick has not been conclusively located or identified in modern marine archaeology.

NOTMARs & Advisories

None reported. There are no current navigational hazards or advisory notices related to this wreck.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The Derrick represents a lesser-known but historically intriguing type of vessel used in the 19th-century marine salvage trade on the Great Lakes. Her presumed use in recovering valuables from the Atlantic and Erie disasters places her within the broader narrative of Great Lakes maritime recovery efforts. Although no detailed physical record or wreck site exists today, references to her work and loss preserve her legacy in regional history.

Suggested Keywords: Derrick, Lake Erie shipwrecks, Silver Creek NY wrecks, marine salvage Schooner, Steamer Erie, Steamer Atlantic, Grand River Ohio shipping

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Erie, Salvage Vessels, 19th Century Maritime Losses

Glossary Terms:

  • Derrick: A lifting device or crane used on ships or barges for hoisting heavy loads.
  • Salvage Vessel: A boat or ship specially equipped or employed in recovering other vessels or their cargo.
  • Silver Creek: A coastal village in New York, frequently referenced in 19th-century Lake Erie shipping activity.