Lake Erie Shipwreck of 1868 Stone Carrier Clough Identified After Decade-Long Search

The Clough, a 125-foot bark that sank in Lake Erie in September 1868, has been officially recognized. This significant find was made by Cleveland Underwater Explorers, a nonprofit group of divers, historians, and archaeologists, in June 2024 after a decade-long search spanning 250 miles with sidescan sonar. Constructed in 1867 in Lorain, Ohio, the ship was named for quarry owner Baxter Clough and went down while carrying stone cargo. A sudden gust of wind caused the vessel to tip, leading to a shift in the unsecured stone and a rapid influx of water. Among the eight crew members, only second mate Rush Reid survived. The wreck, located about 70 feet underwater several miles northeast of Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport, remains undisclosed. Remarkably preserved, it features an intact superstructure, steering wheel, capstans, hatch covers, and original stone cargo. The identification process concluded following the tragic death of the group's founder, David VanZandt, during the exploration. The National Museum of the Great Lakes aided in the research. Between 1875 and 1975, over 6,000 vessels sank in the Great Lakes, resulting in approximately 30,000 fatalities. The discovery was publicly announced in February after joint documentation by both organizations.