(Schooner, approx. 1846–1854)

Loss Summary

• Date: October 14, 1854 (sometimes erroneously reported as 1864)
• Route: Bound from Erie, PA to Chicago, IL, carrying iron and coal
• Incident: Caught in a severe storm and driven ashore on Lake Erie
• Outcome: Wrecked; crew managed to salvage part of the cargo before abandoning the Hull, which was left to break up
• Casualties: None reported
• Master: Captain M. Dimmick
• Owner: E. K. Bruce, Buffalo, NY (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Operational and Ownership Details

• Built around 1846, likely in Fairport or nearby Ohio yards
• Wood-hulled, two-masted Schooner engaged in bulk freight—especially iron and coal—across Lake Erie
• Enrolled at Buffalo, NY under owner E. K. Bruce

Final Voyage & Wreck Conditions

• During the October 14 storm, the WILLIAM MONTEATH lost control amid tumultuous seas
• She was driven onto the shoreline and wrecked; the crew onboard successfully salvaged some iron and coal before abandoning ship — but the Hull was not salvageable and was left to be destroyed by waves (alcheminc.com, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Sources & Citations

• Great Lakes Shipwreck Files entry provides the official summary of the loss (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
• Note: The year 1864 is likely an erroneous transcription in some historical indexes; all reliable documentation confirms the date as October 14, 1854

Historical Significance & Next Steps

• Weather and Navigation Risks: The wreck underscores vulnerability of schooners in autumn Lake Erie gales, even on familiar freight routes
• Cargo Salvage: Partial cargo recovery indicates early informal rescue efforts by crew
• Human Cost: The successful escape of the crew points to effective emergency response, though individual names remain undocumented

Potential Next Research Avenues:

• Contemporary newspapers (Erie Gazette, Buffalo Morning Express, Chicago Democrat in Oct 1854) may provide full crew lists, storm meteorology, and eyewitness insights
• Harbor and marine logs at Erie and Buffalo could record grounding location, Hull condition, and any follow-up investigation
• Insurance & Underwriter Reports: E. K. Bruce’s files might include damage claims or deposition reports
• Enrollment/Audit Records: NARA Region 5 might hold original vessel documentation, including master’s details, cargo manifest, and abandonment declaration

Quick Reference