Identification & Vessel Details

• Name: R. J. Gibbs
• Official No.: 21195
• Type: Wooden three-masted Schooner‑Barge (bulk-freight Barge)
• Built: 1855 by Squires, Vermilion, Ohio
• Dimensions: 122 × 24 × 8 ft; approx. 177 GRT / 168 NRT

Cargo & Final Voyage

• Cargo: 310 tons of coal
• Voyage: At anchor, riding out a gale off Bar Point, Lake Erie on May 23, 1893

Incident & Loss

• A powerful storm overwhelmed R. J. Gibbs at anchor; she Foundered and sank approximately 6 miles off Bar Point—no lives lost, as the crew Abandoned and were rescued by the Steamer Iron Chief
• Earlier in her life, she suffered significant lightning damage to her foremast and rigging in May 1860 on Lake Erie

Wreck Site & Salvage

• Location: ~6 miles off Bar Point, Lake Erie
• Aftermath: Wreckage was lifted and removed in the fall of 1894 via Canadian government contract

Sources & Citations

• Loss details and specifications from Great Lakes Shipwreck Files “G” entry for R.J. Gibbs ([turn0search5])
• Salvage and location information from Alchem, Inc. Lake Erie Map ([turn0search2])
• Historical salvage reference from Marsh Collection newsletter ([turn0search3])

Historical Context & Significance

R. J. Gibbs exemplifies the vulnerabilities of 19th-century wooden freight barges during storm conditions on Lake Erie. Her multiple losses—from lighting strike to gale-sink—highlight recurring risk patterns. The well-documented rescue of her crew and official salvage operation enhance her research and heritage value.

Further Research Opportunities