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Transportation History

Shipwrecks of Lake Erie

Tragedy in the Quadrangle

by (author) David Frew

Publisher
The History Press
Initial publish date
Jun 2014
Category
History, Expeditions & Discoveries, Naval
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781626195516
    Publish Date
    Jun 2014
    List Price
    $19.99

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Description

As the shallowest of the Great Lakes, Lake Erie is prone to sudden waves and wildly shifting sandbars. The steamer Atlantic succumbed to these conditions when, in 1852, a late night collision brought 68 of its weary immigrant passengers to watery graves. The 1916 Black Friday Storm sank four ships — including the "unsinkable" James B. Colgate — in the course of its 20-hour tantrum over the lake. In 1954, a difficult fishing season sent the Richard R into troubled waters in the hopes of catching a few more fish. One of the lake's sudden storms drowned the boat and three man crew. At just 50 miles wide and 200 miles long, Lake Erie has claimed more ships per square mile than any other body of freshwater. Author David Frew dives deep to discover the mysteries of some of Lake Erie's most notorious wrecks.

About the author

Dr. David Frew is a native of the Lake Erie area and the author of numerous books on the local and maritime history of the region. He is a visiting professor at Mercyhurst College, and a former executive director of area historical societies. Frew is an avid racing and cruising sailor.

David Frew's profile page