(Schooner-Barge, wooden, built 1882)

Vessel Overview

  • Name: Magnetic
  • Official Number: 91497
  • Built: 1882 by Presley, Cleveland, Ohio
  • Type: Two-masted wooden Schooner-Barge, heavy bulk freight carrier
  • Dimensions: 264 ft (LOD) × 38 ft × 22 ft; 1,946 gross tons, 1,770 net tons
  • Typical Cargo: Iron ore

Final Incident — August 25, 1917

  • Voyage Details: Departed Duluth, Minnesota bound for Buffalo, New York, towing alongside a Steamer E.M. Breitung
  • Location: Occurred ~19 miles west of Long Point on Lake Erie
  • Weather Conditions: Moderate gale with significant wave action
  • Incident Summary: After rounding a large wave, Magnetic lost steering control. Once free, she rode up onto another large wave and then broke apart amidships
  • Cargo: Fully laden with iron ore
  • Casualties: No crew deaths—”none of 9″ aboard were lost

Disposition & Wreck Details

  • Loss Status: Declared a total constructive loss
  • Crew: All nine crew members rescued by the towing Steamer E.M. Breitung
  • Final Fate: Wreckage sank in deep water; no salvage was attempted due to structural breakup
  • Registry: Removed from records soon after the incident

Source Citations

  • Alchem, Inc. shipwrecks list: Confirms sinking date, location, cargo, and circumstances
  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files: Details build specs and confirms crew survival (“none of 9”)

Research Gaps & Next Steps

  • Exact Wreck Location: Nautical charts or salvage logs might pinpoint where debris settled
  • Crew Details: Names and narratives might be preserved in Duluth Daily News, Buffalo Courier, or Coast Guard blade reports
  • Tow Arrangement Analysis: Operational logs for E.M. Breitung could clarify towing configuration and loss of steering
  • Weather Verification: Historical meteorological data may shed light on wave heights and gale direction
  • Operator/Insurance Reports: Documents from Duluth shipping firms may contain incident reports or cargo valuation records

Summary

The wooden Schooner-Barge Magnetic, built in 1882, was lost on August 25, 1917, while laden with iron ore and under tow off Long Point in Lake Erie. After her steering failed during a moderate gale, she broke in two on a large wave and sank. All nine crew members survived. The vessel was declared a Total Loss, and although the wreck remains in deep water, it has never been salvaged. Further archival research could reveal crew names, towing details, and exact wreck evidence.