EUPHRATES (Built 1856)

Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Euphrates
  • Year built: 1856
  • Built at: Buffalo, New York by Bidwell & Banta; master carpenter Joseph W. Banta
  • Official tonnage: 587 35⁄95 (old measurement)
  • Registration: Enrolled at Buffalo Creek on 29 July 1856; later transferred among lines including Buffalo & Toledo Transport and Western Transportation routes. (linkstothepast.com)
  • Type: Wooden-hulled screw-Propeller Steamer with single Deck and one mast
  • Power: Single Screw Propulsion
  • Dimensions: Length 178 ft (54.3 m); Beam 30 ft (9.1 m); Depth 11 ft 8 in (3.56 m)
  • Original owner: Buffalo & Toledo Transportation Co. (owned by New York Central Railroad); operated under several transportation lines. (University of Missouri–St. Louis)

Vessel Type

A mid‑19th century wood‑hulled Propeller Steamer, designed to carry both passengers and freight—common for inland lake and river service connecting Buffalo, Toledo, Sandusky, Detroit, and Green Bay. (linkstothepast.com)

Description

Single‑Deck wooden Hull powered by a screw propeller beneath the Stern. Masted primarily for auxiliary handling or rigging. Designed for versatility in mixed passenger-cargo service, with machine spaces likely amidships and accommodations at forward and aft.

History

  • Launched in 1856 and entered service between Buffalo and Toledo under the Buffalo & Toledo Transportation Co.
  • By 1857, managed by New York Central and Northern Indiana Railroads; collided with Schooner C. J. Roeder in October 1857.
  • Registered anew under Buffalo Creek in 1859; by March 1860 placed on Buffalo–Detroit/Green Bay routes. Expanded routes again in March 1861.
  • Under Captain Parsons in 1862, operating regular transport along Lake Erie routes.

Final Disposition

  • Date: 13 May 1862
  • Location: Grounded on the sandbar at the entrance of Sandusky Harbor, Lake Erie
  • Cause: Vessel sprang a leak after hitting the bar, began breaking up, and was declared lost. Machinery was later salvaged. (linkstothepast.com)
  • Note: Some sources indicate 23 May 1862 as final date. Surviving reports confirm machinery later recovered, Hull destroyed by surf.

Located By & Date Found

No documented archaeological survey; wreck likely has dispersed remnants within shallow harbor bar zone. No modern dive or preservation efforts are noted.

Notmar & Advisories

None currently listed. Sandusky Harbor entrance remains hazardous during sudden gales and low water; caution advised.

Resources & Links

  • Great Lakes link: vessel history summary
  • Cleveland Underwater Explorers note: confirms grounding and wreck details

Conclusion

The Euphrates served as a vital mixed‑service Propeller Steamer on Lake Erie during the 1850s–60s. Her grounding in May 1862 underscores both the challenges of advancing steam navigation over shallow bar entrances and the fragility of wooden steam hulls. Today, little remains besides the salvaged machinery and historical records—making her a footnote in Lake Erie’s maritime and railroad-associated transport heritage.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

  • Keywords: screw Steamer, Sandusky harbor, 19th‑century propeller, New York Central, grounding
  • Categories: Wooden steamers, Lake Erie wrecks, mixed cargo-Passenger Vessels
  • Glossary:
    • Bar: A sand- or gravel-filled shallow at harbor entry.
    • Screw: A propeller device for watercraft propulsion.
    • Propeller Steamer: A steam-powered vessel using a screw rather than Paddlewheel for momentum.