Shipwreck Found
A steamship that sank in 1850 after its boilers exploded has been discovered at the bottom of Lake Erie. An amateur shipwreck prospector, used sonar on his boat to discover the General Anthony Wayne in 50 feet of water. The steamship was named in honor of Revolutionary War hero Gen. Anthony Wayne. The ship sank in April 1850 while en route from the Toledo area to Buffalo, N.Y., thirty-eight of the 93 passengers and crew on board died.
The Cleveland Underwater Explorers plan to survey the wreck later this summer when underwater visibility improves. The wreck belongs to the state of Ohio and salvaging it is illegal, but divers can visit what is left of the ship after it is surveyed and the coordinates are disclosed.
June 22, 2007 7:26 AM | Category: Boats, Lake Erie