Dundee
Story of the Loss
The Dundee entered service in 1893, at the beginning of the Great Depression and was lost in 1900, the year the Great Depression ended. She carried bulk cargo to many ports on the Great Lakes providing raw materials for commerce in the very worst of economic times. She had a capacity for 375,000 board feet of lumber.
Downbound in the tow of the steamer John N. Glidden, the Dundee carried iron ore for Ashtabula, Ohio. Shortly before midnight on September 11th a strong gale came cross the lake and, as was the custom at the time, the Glidden set the Dundee free to fend for herself. Struggling to keep his ship on course, Captain Martin Elnen believed the ship would make it. However, all hope was lost when a deafening torrent of water all but buried the schooner. After this wash of sea, the mate ran to the captain to advise him the ship had lost her rudder and two feet of water were in the hold. As the storm swept the female cook to sea, Captain Elnen and five crewmen climbed the rigging of the wildly tossing boat.
Hours later, the steamer Tower found the six survivors lashed to the top masts and took them to safety.
The John B. Lyons sank off Conneaut, Ohio, the same day.
The Wreck Today:
Upright in 75 feet of water, the Dundee is an awesome sight. Her stern is broken off and six large cargo hatches make penetration of the wreck easy and relatively safe. However, several feet of silt in the holds are easily stirred up, dramatically reducing visibility. Also, the bow has begun to collapse and deck machinery has fallen into the hold in recent years. Care must be taken on this aging wreck! You’ll find the windlass, some anchor chain, a donkey boiler, and turnbuckles that held the rigging.
One of the Dundee’s anchors is in the parking lot outside the Cargo Warehouse in Vermilion, Ohio.
Dundee
| SHIP DETAILS | |
| Official #: | 157366 |
| Location: | 14 miles north of Rocky River, Ohio |
| Coordinates: | LORAN: 43841.0 57456.5 DGPS: 41 41.330 81 50.634 |
| Lies: | 130° x 310° bow northwest |
| Type: | schooner – barge |
| Power: | sail – towed |
| Owner(s): | Nicholas Transit Company; Kinsman Transit Company |
| Built: | 1893 at West Bay City, Michigan by James Davidson Shipyard Hull #54 |
| Dimensions: | 211' × 35' × 16'5" |
| Date of Loss: | Tuesday, September 11, 1900 |
| Cause of Loss: | foundered in storm |
| --- | |
| Site #: | 25 |
| Depth: | 75 feet |
| Cargo: | iron ore |
| Tonnage: | 1043 gross 991 net |
