Anthony B. Wayne went down near Vermilion in 1858.

(Vermilion) – A researcher from Texas A&M is diving on a shipwreck in Lake Erie – about six miles off the coast near Vermilion. Brad Krueger is working on his master’s degree and is researching the wreck of the Anthony B. Wayne.

The passenger ship went down 150 years ago after an explosion. 38 people were either killed or missing following the incident as the ship went from Sandusky to Buffalo carrying wine, whiskey and livestock.


 See photos of the researchers and the murky wreck.

The wreck of the Anthony B. Wayne lies about 60 feet below the surface – but the research is difficult because the water in Lake Erie is very murky. Still, two large paddlewheels rise up from the wreckage of the steamer.

There are no photos of the Anthony B. Wayne but it was 400 tons and 156 feet long. Krueger says it is one of the earliest examples of a cargo and passenger steamer.

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