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BRADLEY A. KRUEGER, MA Candidate
New World Laboratory |
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Anthony Wayne Research
Introduction Over the past two years, the Great Lakes Historical Society, the Cleveland Underwater Explorers (CLUE), the Institute of Nautical Archaeology, and Texas A&M University have partnered to closely examine the archaeological remains of the Anthony Wayne, a mid-19th century side-wheel passenger and cargo steamer. The Wayne, which rests approximately six miles north of Vermilion, OH, was discovered using side scan sonar technology in September 2006 by Tom Kowalczk, a member of CLUE. Divers from CLUE verified this incredible find in May 2007 and announced the discovery of the wreck in association with the Great Lakes Historical Society. At present time, the Anthony Wayne is thought to be the oldest surviving archaeological example of a steamboat shipwreck in Lake Erie. History The Anthony Wayne was built in 1837 by Samuel Hubbell for the Perrysburg & Miami Steamboat Company in Perrysburg, OH. The Wayne, with its cargo of passengers and packet freight, plied the waters of the upper lakes, making frequent stops at Buffalo, Cleveland, Toledo, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Chicago. In 1847, the vessel was deemed too decrepit to continue on as a steamer and plans were enacted to convert it to a sailing barge. The Wayne was then sold to Charles B. Howard & Company, at which point it was hauled to Trenton, MI where the hull was extensively rebuilt, old machinery removed, and a new engine and boilers added. The newly refurbished steamer spent the rest of its career on Lake Erie servicing the shipping route from Toledo to Buffalo.
Anthony Wayne Shipwreck Survey The Anthony Wayne Shipwreck Survey is an archaeological investigation to thoroughly document the present-day conditions of the wreck site. Steamboats were a major force in the transportation revolution of the nineteenth century and there is much to learn from the remains of these vessels. There are several overall goals of this project: to learn about early Great Lakes steamboat construction, how passenger and cargo steamers impacted both regional and national economic development, and to learn about those who worked, lived, and traveled aboard these early side-wheel steamboats. 2008 Field Season The first field season commenced in the summer of 2008 and much was accomplished during the four week period. The first phase of the project consisted of detailed recording of all structural components protruding up from the soft, muddy bottom of Lake Erie. These components include the remains of the port- and starboard-side paddlewheels, the connecting drive shaft, pitman arm, engine linkages, feed-water heater, the remnants of the wooden hogging-truss, and the steamer’s bow. Once measurements were taken and detailed sketches completed, work then began on the second phase of the project, subsurface probing of the lake bottom. The goal of this was to determine how much of the Wayne lies buried beneath the soft mud. The wreck is situated in two sections, the two large paddlewheels at mid-ships and the remnants of the bow, separated by 80 feet. Methodical probing determined that there are significant structural remains between the two sections, but are buried under five to ten feet of mud and sediment. 2009 Field Season The data gathered from the 2008 season yielded exciting results, but ultimately left more questions than answers. Therefore, the Anthony Wayne Shipwreck Survey resumed investigations in summer 2009. Three principal objectives guided this year’s operations: first, locate and uncover elements of the vessel’s hull; secondly, locate and uncover the steamer’s horizontal engine; finally, investigate the stern section of the site, where no visible remains are present. Working closely with the State of Ohio and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, underwater excavations were carried out over the six week field season, the first of their kind in Ohio’s waters. Two exploratory test units were excavated in order to see what lies beneath the soft lake bottom. Unfortunately, evidence of hull remains proved to be elusive, but probing did confirm that significant structure does exist on the site (at a depth of 13 feet beneath the bottom!). The second test unit proved to be much more exciting than the first. The crew was successful in locating and exposing the Wayne’s horizontal direct-acting steam engine, possibly one of the earliest extant examples of a marine engine on the Great Lakes. The engine and associated machinery were carefully sketched, measured, and photographed before being reburied to ensure preservation of this unique mechanical artifact. Time restraints did not allow for the thorough investigation of the aft-end of the wreck as initially planned. The crew was, however, allowed access to a sub-bottom profiler, a device that ends emits an acoustic signal powerful enough to penetrate the lake bottom substrate. Initial tests did indicate that substantial material does lie buried at least fifty feet abaft the paddlewheels. Further testing must be conducted in order to get more definitive dimensions of the vessel and the site. Significance There are several benefits that will result from the historical and archaeological research conducted by the Anthony Wayne Shipwreck Survey. • Provide an opportunity to conduct a comparative analysis between the Wayne and other archaeological examples of Great Lakes side-wheelers. • Better understand the social and economic impact of Great Lakes passenger and cargo steamers. • Learn about life aboard steamboats in the 19th century. • Get people excited about Great Lakes maritime history and underwater archaeology! Acknowledgements This project could not have been possible without the generous support from the Great Lakes Historical Society, the Peachman Lake Erie Shipwreck Research Center, the Cleveland Underwater Explorers, the Institute of Nautical Archaeology, the Ohio Council of Skin & Scuba Divers, and Texas A&M University. Additional thanks should be paid to Carrie Sowden, Chris Gillcrist, Tom Kowalczk, Kevin Crisman, and several enthusiastic volunteers who helped make the last two years such a success. | |
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Press Releases: |
On the night of April 27th, 1850, the Wayne was making its usual run from Toledo to Buffalo carrying a cargo of passengers and a cargo of whiskey, wine, and livestock. The steamer stopped at Sandusky to pick up more passengers and left the dock around 9pm. Shortly after midnight, the Wayne was passing Vermilion, OH when the two starboard-side boilers suddenly exploded. The ill-fated steamer was immediately engulfed in flames and quickly sank to the bottom of Lake Erie, as crew and passengers struggled for survival. Out of the nearly 100 people on-board, 38 people were reported as killed or missing. The tragedy of the Anthony Wayne reached towns and cities all along Lake Erie's coast, and its story of survival and loss quickly became prominent amongst the many shipwrecks of the Great Lakes.