Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2015 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Spirit of the Lakes, and Boatmen's Magazine Vol. 2, - 1850 pub. Cleveland and Sandusky City for the Western Seamen's Friend Society (Transcriber's Note: This is an extraction of "Lake Disasters" which was randomly placed throughout the magazine with bits and pieces inserted between other articles.) [74] LAKE DISASTERS - 1850 MARCH 23. - The Steamer TROY burst a boiler while entering the river on her way to Black Rock. 11 persons were killed, and the boat badly damaged. APRIL 10. - The Steamer CHAMPION on he way from Sheboygan to Mil- waukee broke her piston rod when five miles from the latter place. The PACIFIC towed her into port. APRIL 12. - The Schooner LAWRENCE, Capt. Shore, of Milwaukee, with 1100 bushels of wheat was sunk about a mile to the westward of St. Helena, in 8 fathoms water. - She was cut through by the ice, and sunk in 15 minutes after the leak was discovered, giving the Captain and crew barely time to lower the yawl and save themselves. Brig ENTERPRIZE and Schooner GEORGE W. DOLE from Chicago, and Schooner MINNESOTA went ashore on Grand River Bar. The Schooner SPEEDWELL which went ashore during the blow on Sunday night is off, without material damage. - Chi. Tribune. APRIL 14. - The new Steamer ALABAMA broke her shaft and some other part of her machinery. Amount of damage unknown. The Steamer COLUMBIA broke her cylinder-head when off the mouth of Sandusky Bay. She was towed in by the ARROW. APRIL 15. - The Steamer ATLANTIC went ashore in a gale on Point-au- Pelle (sic), when she had to be scuttled to save her from going to pieces. The KEYSTONE STATE took off her passengers yesterday. APRIL 11. - The Steamer AMERICA bound to Buffalo, was run into by a schooner which damaged both slightly. (Transcriber's Note: This date is out of sequence. Transcribed in the order which it originally appeared.) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [75] LAKE DISASTERS - 1850 APRIL 16. - The Steamer ARROW encountered a schooner about mid-way between Put-in-Bay and Peninsula light, which carried away two of her state rooms, and otherwise injured her. She will repair in Detroit. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [89] LAKE DISASTERS - 1850 APRIL 18th. - The Schooner ILLINOIS carried away her fore-mast below the cross-head during the gale between Cleveland and Buffalo. 24th. - The Schooner INDUSTRY is aground between the piers at Milwaukee. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [90] LAKE DISASTERS - 1850 24th. - The Schooner ASTOR, loaded with lumber, in attempting to make the harbor of Milwaukee broke her tiller rope. She went ashore near the BOSTON's sleeping place where she now lies. It is thought she will prove a total wreck. 24th. - The Schooner POLAND and GEN. TAYLOR came in collision near Milwaukee. Damage to both slight. 24th. - The Schooner MICHIGAN bound for Milwaukee with lumber went ashore at Manistee - on the Michigan shore. She is insured for $1,500. 25th. - The Steamer SARATOGA, in entering Cleveland harbor parted a rudder chain, and swung against the west pier. Damage besides loss of time about $400. 28th. - The Steamer ANTHONY WAYNE burst her boilers off Vermillion about 1 1-2 o'clock Sunday morning. The explosion was so severe that she sunk in less than thirty minutes in six fathoms water. By this terrible disaster from Forty to Fifty souls were hurried into eternity with scarce a moments warning. MAY 4th. - The Brig CRISPIN, off Point-au-Barques, partly loaded with dressed stone, was found to be in a sinking condition and about an hour after; She sunk in nine feet of water. Total loss. 7th. - The Steamer DISPATCH, ran into, and sunk the Steamer COMMERCE, off Grand River on the Canada shore; by which disaster, thirty-eight lives were lost. - The DESPATCH struck the COMMERCE on the larboard bow about eight feet from the stem sinking her almost instantly. The COMMERCE was owned by McPherson & Crane of Kingston, and is a total loss. 7th. - The Schooner EAGLE is reported ashore on Long Point, having lost both her anchors. 7th. - The Schooner LEANDER, Capt. Lockwood, loaded with plaster, struck a reef in the Detroit river and sunk. She has since been raised. Damage from four to $500. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [91] LAKE DISASTERS - 1850 10th. - The Brig LOWELL with a cargo of pork, struck a rock and filled, on Lake St. Francis, about 40 miles this side of Montreal. She was owned by Jones & Bagnall of Buffalo, and fully insured. 14th. - The Schooner EMEROY FLETCHER, Capt. Porter, in getting under way from the wharf on the North side of Kelleys Island, struck a rock, breaking her rudder and stern post, and thus disabled drifted ashore. She was fully insured in the North Western Insurance Company. She has since been got off and is being repaired at Sandusky. 16th. - The Steamer AMERICA from Buffalo to Sandusky, was discover- ed to be on fire when about five miles beyond Cleveland. It was soon extinguished with but slight damage to the boat. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [92] LAKE DISASTERS - 1850 JULY - 1850. MELANCHOLY DISASTER Of all the disasters which have occurred upon our lakes, none have been more sad, than the burning of the Steamer GRIFFITH. The number of the lost, is much greater than by any similar disaster, which has ever happened upon our waters. It greatly exceeds the entire losses of the past two years. The loss of life from all causes upon our lakes for the years 1848 and 9 was only 89, while the loss from the GRIFFITH according to the most authentic accounts is more than three-times that number. Tis sad, tis appalling, to think of the scenes connected with the loss of so many human beings - aroused from their slumbers at that early hour by the startling cry of fire! fire! to find themselves sur- rounded with the devouring elements, and but one fearful alternative left to plunge into the water with scarcely a possible hope that they might succeed in reaching the shore. Mothers anxiously striving to save their children - husbands their wives - friends their friends - and nearly all to find in one common embrace a watery grave. We append the thoughts of one who was at the place and saw the remains of the unfortunate lost as they were taken from their watery bed. "On nearing the fatal spot the blackened remains of the ill-fated Steamer were seen, its smoke pipes still standing, the upper part of its huge wheels visible above the water. It lies in 8 feet water, --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [93] LAKE DISASTERS - 1850 stern to the shore, and about one-fourth of a mile from it. As it was near night the search for dead bodies had ceased. The citizens of Lake County who had kindly volunteered their assistance had been wearied out with labor and excitement, and were then attending the burial and disposal of the dead. The first corpse we saw was that of DONNEVAN the steward, who had just been taken from the water. It appears he had taken off his boots and coat preparatory to his death struggle with the contending ele- ments. He was laid, as were all the rest, with his clothes untouched and green boughs sprinkled over his body. As we passed on, six or eight more dead bodies laying side by side met our gaze, and near by upon the ground lay a pile of clothing, hats, boots, and coats, thrown from the sufferers in their flight from the burning boat and which had been picked up. A hat full of silver watches taken from the emigrants with several gold ones were in possession of the Coroner; also, several thousand dollars in money. - Among the bodies thus exposed was that of a well dressed young man whose name was ascertained to be J. R. MUNSON, said to be from Connecticut and bound for Toledo. On his person were found 9 one hundred dollar bills, and other money to the amount of $1,160, a gold watch, &c. He was taken to Willoughby for burial. On the left, as we ascended the hill, was the big vault into which 94 dead bodies were then being buried. We learned that in addition 8 had been sent to Buffalo, 4 up on the main road, 29 to Cleveland by the SYLPH, and 8 lay unburied, making in all 143 found that day. It is quite certain there are over a hundred bodies more lying within a mile of the wreck, many of whom will probably be found to-day. By far the sadest sight was the "funeral of the trench." On a small hillock on the high bank overlooking the scene of death, where the night before so many struggled in vain against their fate, was opened a trench 30 feet long, 6 wide, and 8 deep. In this had been laid in promiscuous order, man, woman, child; husband, wife and daughter; the father and son, the mother and infant laying until within four feet of the surface. What a horrid work! To see human bodies arranged for --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [94] LAKE DISASTERS - 1850 compactness, the rough pile and larger bodies leveled up with children and lesser bodies, so that this vast grave should present an even sur- face to the brush and boards which were laid over their faces, and on which the earth which was dug out of the pit was thrown back. When we ascended the bank, we found two or three hundred people around the brink of this mound, taking a last look and performing the last sad rites to the victims below. A clergyman or an exhorter was addressing the bystanders, and warning them in accents solemn of the uncertainty of life, and the fleetness and vanity of all things here below. Al- though there was no procession, or tolling bell, no coffined hearse or funeral array, the scene was solemn and impressing. - Yet how soon will this event be forgotten. "As from the wing, the sky no scar retains, The parted wave no furrow from the keel, So die in human hearts the thoughts of death." In their habiliments of seeming slumber, just as they were taken from the deep, they now lie in one common mouldering pile. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [107] LAKE DISASTERS - 1850 June 4th. - The brig FLORA and Steamer BALTIC came in collision about 18 miles from Buffalo in consequence of the thickness of the weather. The brig struck the steamer just forward of the wheel-house, carrying away everything to her hull. The FLORA was considerably in- jured, having carried away her bowsprit and cut-water and causing her to leak considerably. She was towed into Buffalo by the BALTIC. 7th. - The steamer LOUISIANA run into the brig GEN. WORTH, in the St. Clair river seriously damaging her stern. The brig put into Newport for repairs. 14th. - The steamer LEXINGTON went ashore in a fog near Point Washington, on Lake Michigan. It was feared at first that she would prove a total wreck. But she has since been got off without very serious damage. 17th. - The steamer EMPIRE, took fire on her upward trip, it was discovered in time, and extinguished without much damage. 17th. - The steamer G. P. GRIFFITH, Capt. C. C. Roby, Master, on her upward trip, when about 15 miles below Cleveland was discovered to be on fire. The second mate (who was on watch) immediately called all hands and the most vigorous efforts were made to extinguish it without success. He then ordered her to be run ashore; and when within about a quarter of a mile, she grounded in 7 1/2 feet of water. She had on board 45 cabin passengers, 256 in the steerage, and a crew consisting of 27; in all 328 persons. Only 40 of whom are known to be saved, mak- ing the number of the lost 288. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [119] LAKE DISASTERS - 1850 STEAMBOAT BALTIC SUNK! We regret to announce that the Steamboat BALTIC is sunk in the Niagara River, at Schlosser landing, near Niagara Falls. She left here yesterday morning on a pleasure excursion for the benefit of one of the Catholic societies of this city, and had on board a company of some seven or eight hundred persons. She was proceeding down the Niagara River and when within some four miles of the Falls she struck a sunken rock in the middle of the channel which opened her bottom and let in a large quantity of water. - The passengers all landed in safety. By permission of the Mayor, two of our City Fire Engines have been taken on board the BALTIC to aid in pumping her out. She will probably be raised to-day and towed up to this city, when she will go upon the dry dock and be ready to take her place in the line, on her next advertised days. - Buffalo Republic, July 30th. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [123] LAKE DISASTERS - 1850 EXPLOSION OF THE STEAMER AMERICA! On Wednesday, (July 31), at 2 A.M., the boilers of the AMERICA burst, between Barcelona and Erie. The vessel was able to put into Erie, and we infer that she will not prove entirely a wreck. Six lives were lost, but we have not received their names. A private dispatch states that they had not been recognized at 9 A.M. Twenty or thirty others were scalded. The AMERICA left Sandusky on Tuesday morning (July 30), and was on her usual route to Buffalo. Several of our citi- zens were on board, but they are safe, and have gone forward. We are indebted to MR. BARTLETT, the obliging operator of Speed's Line, for the following list of those who are badly wounded: Michael Higerty, Buffalo. Michael O'Conner, Providence. P. Welch, Buffalo. J. Stancliff, Middleton, Conn. P. Hawley, (very bad). Archibald Lindsey, Michigan. Jerry O'Conner, wife and five children. Timothy Luce, Ohio. James Murphy, Boston. Thos. Fusber, Buffalo. Many of those above were hands on the boat. Wm. H. Bennett, of Ballston Springs, N.Y., is slightly wounded. Several, who were alive when taken from the scene of explosion, have since died. The above is from Erie to twelve M. to-day. - Sandusky Daily Mirror. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [138] LAKE DISASTERS - 1850 DISASTERS Lakes Michigan and Huron, were visited on Saturday and Sunday, the 31st of August and the 1st of September, with a severe gale which did much damage to the shipping and other property along the coast, and resulted in the loss of a number of lives. Below we give the particu- lars as fully and accurately as we have been able to obtain them. The brig FLORA, Capt. John Hawkins, with a cargo of 10,500 bush. of wheat, was disabled and went ashore below Chicago; the cargo a total loss - it is thought the vessel may be got off - both insured for $14,000. The steamer CANADA, in making port, lost a colored man overboard; and was so strained as to make considerable water. Damage slight. The schooner N. C. WALTON, ashore at Calumet. Had a cargo of lumber which was thrown overboard during the storm. Brig MOHEGAN, ashore near Chicago; damage unknown. Brig MAURICE, capsized; crew saved. Schooner J. C. SPENCER, is reported a perfect wreck, and all hands lost. Schooner McKAY, ashore at New Buffalo, high and dry. Schooner HAMILTON, of Oswego, made the port of Mackinac, with about three feet water in her hold. Schooner MANITO, Capt. J. H. Redfield, lost her topsail and fore- gaff, and carried away her main boom. She labored heavily, and made some water; but by the aid of her pumps, she reached False Presque Isle harbor, without further damage. Schooner M. KINGMAN, capsized near Michigan City, and was driven ashore. She lost one of her crew. Brig HELFENSTIEN and schooner CLEOPATRA, reported ashore, between New Buffalo and St. Joseph. Schooner GEN. WARREN, ashore high and dry, 8 miles this side of Michigan City. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [139] LAKE DISASTERS - 1850 Schooner CALCUTTA, loaded with lumber, ashore 15 miles from Michigan City. Brig C. B. BLAIR, ashore between Chicago and Michigan City. She had a cargo of wheat and corn. Schooner GEN. THORNTON, is ashore bottom up, near the Calumet; and it is feared the crew are lost. Schooner CHARLES HOWARD, in making the port of Racine, ran against the pier and sunk. She was loaded with lumber; insured for $3,000. Schooner SUSAN DREW, from Chicago, got into harbor but went ashore inside the piers. The Captain of the MECHANIC, reports having seen a man clinging to a spar, floating to windward - the man was picked up alive by the steamer J. D. MORTON, a few days since, after being thus exposed and without food for six days. He having sustained nature during that long period, by gnawing off all his fingers and part of his hand. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [152] LAKE DISASTERS - 1850 SHIPWRECK AND GREAT SUFFERING We are indebted to Capt. William H. Hopper, of the Central Road, for the following particulars, which we relate. Captain Hopkins of the steamer J. D. MORTON, while on her passage from Chicago to New Buffalo, on Friday last, discovered what he sup- posed to be a raft with some one upon it, some five miles in the Lake. He immediately turned his boat and went for the object. He found the raft made of spars, with Capt. Davidson, of the schooner THORNTON, upon it. It appears he was wrecked on the 31st ult., having been seven days and nights without food. - Two of the crew, whose names he did not learn, with the captain, made the raft of the mainmast, main boom and main gaft. The two men dropped off on the third night, after having become exhausted for want of food. Capt. Hopkins describes the scene as pitiful. Captain Davidson had commenced eating his left hand the last night! - Several steamers and vessels had been in sight, and one vessel hailed him, but made no attempt to get him off. - Of course the Captain is exceedingly weak, but in a fair way for recovery. Capt. Hopkins, of the J. D. MORTON, has shown himself a man and the public should recollect it. A collection was taken up for the unfortunate man, on the MORTON, and some $40 was raised, mostly by the crew, headed by the Captain. - Det. Tribune. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [154] LAKE DISASTERS - 1850 LOSS OF PROPELLER PETREL. - The Propeller PETREL commenced leaking on Wednesday during the gale, while off Point au Pelee, and the water ran in so fast as to extinguish the fires in a few hours. She went ashore near Ashtabula at 6 o'clock P.M., and immediately filled and sunk. Her deck load is overboard - the balance of the cargo, consist- ing of flour taken on at Detroit, will probably be saved in a damaged state. Crew saved - one passenger missing. Five of the crew remained all night lashed to the vessel, with the sea breaking over them. - [Cleve. True Democrat, Oct. 5th. LAKE DISASTERS The schr. ALMEDA was run into by the Propeller TROY near Erie. She had on board 3000 bbls of flour which prevented her going down. Vessel and cargo insured. The steamer NILE which ran aground last season near Milwaukee harbor but which had been got off and was lying in the river, was burnt to the water's edge - supposed to be the work of an incendiary. Sept. 27. The steamer A. D. PATCHIN went ashore on Friday morning about 2 o'clock, on a reef called Skilligolee, in Lake Michigan, ten miles S.S.W. from the Light Ship, and about 30 miles from Mackinaw. The KEY STONE STATE discovered her on Friday about 9 o'clock A.M. and attempted to haul her off but did not succeed. - On Friday night and Saturday the wind blew so violently, and the sea ran so high, that all communication with her was cut off. She lies hard on the rocks, but is not thought to be in much danger. Oct. 1st. Later intelligence from the PATCHIN reports her sunk in about eight feet of water astern and five forward. It is feared that the gale of Wednesday will make her a wreck. Oct. 2. The steamer BALTIMORE in making the port of Cleveland ran afoul of the pier, carrying away her rudder chain - unshipping her rudder and injuring slightly her upper works. Oct. 2. Two vessels went ashore at Fairport during the gale. One a two-masted scow, loaded with wood, and the other a fine looking schooner, name unknown. The crew were trying to get ashore by means of the yawl boat, but were prevented by the roughness of the weather which caused the boat to fill as often as it was let down. The schooner noticed above as unknown; proves to be the ROSCOE, loaded with rail-road iron for Cleveland. She will probably be got off. 2d. The Propeller MONTICELLO bound down, ran into the schooner NORTH WESTERN off Point Aux Barque sinking her in 40 fathoms water. The NORTHWESTERN was bound up; loaded with salt which was owned at Oswego. No lives lost. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [169] LAKE DISASTERS - 1850 Oct. 5th. - The brig EUROPE went ashore on Pilot Island and will probably be lost. She was without cargo, and owned by L. H. Hadduck, of Chicago. 6th. - The Schooner SACRAMENTO went ashore near Grand River, with 5,000 bushels wheat aboard. 7th. - The Schr. MARTHA FREME went ashore in a gale about three miles below Barcelona - all on board were lost. The FREME was an old vessel - owned in Buffalo - and loaded with Staves for that place. During the same gale, the Schooner BREEZE, of Oswego, loaded with wheat and flour from Detroit, went ashore at Port Colborne, near the mouth of the Welland Canal. She will prove a total loss. Vessel and cargo fully insured. 9th. - The Schooner HAMILTON is ashore at Long Point Cut, with a cargo of 11,000 bushels wheat. Vessel and cargo insured. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [170] LAKE DISASTERS - 1850 The Schooner INDUSTRY, of Michigan City, beached, about one mile north of Waukegan. She will probably be got off without much damage. The Steamer BEN FRANKLIN ran on a shoal near Thunder Bay Island, where she went to pieces - all hands saved. She was owned by S. McKnight, and insured. 10th. - The Propeller TROY, when on Lake Michigan, burst one of her steam pipes, and scalded two of her men - whether badly or not we have not learned. The Propeller CHARTER OAK and Schooner POLAND came in collision. The POLAND struck her on her starboard bow, carrying away the Propel- ler's bowsprit, rigging and upper-works, back to the foremast, besides crushing the hull. The Schooner's bowsprit and fore-rigging were car- ried away. The Propeller put into Cleveland for repairs. Amount of damages unknown. 12th. - The Propeller ONEIDA ran into the stern of the Steamer ST. LOUIS, off Vermillion; damage about $200. The Cleveland Herald suggests that Congress be petitioned to widen Lake Erie, so that vessels may have room to pass. 16th. - The Propeller PETREL, on her passage between Detroit and Buffalo, encountered a severe gale. When off Point au Pelee, she sprung a leak, which soon extinguished her fires. She then used her sails, and drove before the gale; the leak increasing till off Ashta- bula, when she made an effort to make that port, but failed. She went down about one mile from shore, where, by the violence of the seas, she soon went to pieces. All hands saved. The Steamer NIAGARA, on Lake Ontario, took fire near Rochester, and was near being burned. 17th. - The Steamer TROY ran into the schooner PURITAN, while lying aground in the mouth of Sandusky Bay; damage unknown. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [171] LAKE DISASTERS - 1850 The Schooner LEANDER was overtaken by a squall in the Bay of Sandusky, which nearly stripped her of her canvass. The Schooner UTICA, of Clayton, loaded with 500 bushels wheat, sprung aleak on the bar at the entrance of Sandusky Bay - was towed in and unloaded. 700 bushels of wheat damaged. 18th. - The Brig ALGOMAH, from Lake Michigan, bound to Oswego, got on a rock about four miles from the West Sister. Lighters were sent to her aid from Toledo, and it is hoped that she may be got off without much damage. The Canadian Schooner DAVID TATE, with a cargo of Rye, from Belle- ville, went aground upon a sandbar some four miles above Oswego. She soon after sprung a leak and filled. The Schooner FOREST, supposed to be from Toledo, went ashore in a gale near Sacket's Harbor. She was loaded with wheat for Oswego. The season has so far been remarkable for Lake disasters. Death meets poor Jack in every form. First, the TROY burst her boiler, kill- ing several; the WAYNE blew up and no one knows how many lives were lost; then the burning of the GRIFFITH, destroying its hundreds; the AMERICA's explosion and loss of life; the Canadian collision, drownig 33; vessels without number, or too numerous to mention, gone ashore, wrecked and lost; the last, the MARTHA FREME, loosing all her crew - two dead bodies found on board; the NILE burned; Propeller PETREL sunk; the PATCHIN now ashore; altogether presents a record of ruin un- paralleled on the Lakes for a single season. - Clev. Plain Dealer. ===========================================================================