Identification & Site Information

Name: Philip Walter (aka Philip Walters, P.H. Walter)
Built: 1872 at Sandusky, Ohio by L. Jackson or G.H. Jackman
Vessel Type: Wooden side‑wheel Tug/freighter
Official Number: 20414
Dimensions: 94 ft × 22 ft; Draft ~6 ft; 102 GRT / 51 NRT (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Final Loss: June 20, 1887 (storm)
Location: ~3 miles off Lorain, Ohio (Lake Erie)
Cargo: General merchandise and stone
Crew & Casualties: 12 aboard; 8 lost, including the captain’s wife and two children; the captain, mate, and two of his children survived

Vessel Type

Philip Walter was a side‑wheel wooden Tug/freighter, common in the 1870s, used both for towing barges and carrying cargo. Her shallow Draft made her suitable for nearshore and harbor duties.

History & Final Voyage

Operating along Lake Erie’s southern shore, she was en route from Marblehead to Cleveland on June 20, 1887, loaded with general merchandise and stone when a sudden storm caused her to capsize. Witness reports confirm she went down rapidly; eight of twelve aboard drowned, including the captain’s wife and two young children. The captain, mate, and two other children survived. Her wreck also damaged the Steamer Egyptian, which struck debris. (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)

Final Disposition

Declared a Total Loss after capsizing. Her remains were left underwater with no salvage. The site has not been rediscovered in modern surveys.

Located By & Date Found

First reported lost by nearby vessels and life-savers in late June 1887. No exact GPS location exists, and no modern exploration has identified the wreck.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No formal navigational markers are present. The area off Lorain remains weather-sensitive and may still have debris hazards after storms.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The Philip Walter capsized and sank on 20 June 1887, approximately 3 miles off Lorain during a swift storm. With eight fatalities, including family members of the captain, it stands as one of Lake Erie’s tragic side‑wheel losses. The crew’s survival of four—including the captain—was remarkable. Her wreck remains uncharted and largely forgotten beneath Lake Erie’s waves.