OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Tidbits of Ohio -- Part 69A ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgenwebarchives.org ************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 October 16, 2005 ************************************************************************** +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Historical Collections of Ohio And Then They Went West Know Your Ohio Tid Bits -- Part 69 A by Darlene E. Kelley Notes by S. Kelly ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Tid Bits - Part 69 A. Ohio Shipwrecks There are hundreds of shipwrecks sitting in Ohio's waters, and each of them writes another page in Ohio's state history. It used to be legal for anyone to harvest artifacts from these shipwreck scenes and many people did so. ( Today it is illegal and protected by state law.) There is plenty of material to write about with Lake Erie being a site of about 1500 shipwrecks including about 600 in Ohio waters. There are about 30% of those in the western basin, the area of Lake Erie near Vermillion and points west. +++++++++++++++++ Bradstreet's Landing A fleet of batteaux carrying 1200 English troops and 300 Indian allies was pounded to pieces by a fierce storm on October 21, 1764 through October 23rd, on a narrow beach in Rocky River, Ohio. While returning from Fort Detroit which was under siege by an alliance of tribes led by Pontiac, Colonel John Bradstreet ordered his fleet to put ashore for the night. The Iroquois who accompanied him warned that a great storm appeared to be approaching. Bradstreet did not heed their warning and refused to proceed to the safety of the nearby Rocky or Cuyahoga River. Half of the boats were destroyed on the beach and most of the army was subsequently forced to travel on foot through enemy territory to the Niagara River. " For three days the tempest raged unceasingly, and when the angry Lake began to resume its tranquility, it was found that the remaining boats were insufficient to convey the troops. A large body of Indians, together with a detachment of provincials, were therefore ordered to make their way to Niagara, along the pathless borders of the Lake. They accordingly set out, and after many days of hardship reached their destination, through such had been their sufferings from fatique, cold and hunger, from wading swamps, swimming creeks and rivers, and pushing their way through tangled thickets, that many of the provincials perished miserably in the woods. On the 4th of November, seventeen days after their departure from Sandusky, the main body of the army arrived in safety at Niagara, and the whole, embarking on lake Ontario, proceeded to Oswego. Fortune still seemed adverse to them, for a second tempest arose, and one of the schooners crowed with troops, floundered in sight of Oswego. Most of these men were saved. " +++++++++++++++++ The following does not include every accident and collision, nor does it include the innunerable incidents involving small pleasure boats and private yachts, but rather those disasters which befell commercial vessels resulting in total or near total loss. Some may have been removed whenever possible salvage could be done. Also many of these wrecks involved vessels running ashore where they broke up. In these cases little if anything of the wreck would survive considering the nature of the weather. Any remains on a beach or sandbar would have likely be pulverized over time by wave action. Portions of remains in deeper waters which protruded from or reached near the surface would eventually be ground off by the action of winter ice flows. Only those vessels which sank in relatively deep water and away from harbors and shipping lanes are likely to remain in place where they sank and be somewhat intact. LUCILLE; Propeller steamer of 136 tons sank in August, 1906 one mile East of Turtle Island Light. It was unconfirmed that this vessel was raised and removed. MYRA; Schooner of 61 feet left Toledo, Ohio following a track through ice flows made by a tug. After traveling between 7 and 8 miles, the vessel became trapped in the ice and sank in shallow water on December 4, 1871. The Myra carried a cargo of wheat at the time. ACORN; Schooner sank July, 1849 near West Sister Island due to collision with the steamer TROY. JANE RALSTON; Wooden schooner of 137 feet sank in a storm on July 21, 1910 in the western end of lake Erie. The vessel was later raised and towed to Sandusky, Ohio. WISCONSIN; Steamer of 700 tons sank in 1853 near West Sister Island due to a collision with steamer Brunswick. JOHN F. EDDY; Wooden freight barge of 259 ft sank November 13, 1920 in rough waether near West Sister Island. At the time the Eddy was being towed by the tug Custodian and carried a load of coal. The wreck was later dynamited as a hazard to navigation. VISITOR; Small schooner sank in a strom on the night of May 16, 1855 off West Sister Island. The crew of two climbed the mast and remained there until it broke off. The Captain then drowned while the remaining crewmen was rescued by the schooner Andover. The Visitor carried a cargo of stone. FAME; Schooner sank August 31, 1858 after capsizing in a squall three miles off Monroe, Michigan. GENERAL FRANZ SIGEL; Freight schooner of 137 feet sank July 8, 1903 off the Monroe, Michigan lighthouse. ROY; Wooden tug of 79 ft sank in 1895, 1.5 East of Stony Point when its hull was cut by ice. There is an unconfirmed report that this vessel was raised and removed. C.W.WELLS; Wooden propeller tug of 66 ft, discovered to be afire near the Bar Point lightship on October 16, 1897. The crew abandoned the vessel in a raft and rowed ashore. The Wells was later towed into Amherstburg and rebuilt. IRON AGE; Wooden freight steamer of 212 ft. sank June 4, 1909 off Bar Point. The sinking was due to a fire which burned the vessel to the waterline. The wreck was subsequently dynamited since it obstructed the shipping channel. CHICAGO BOARD OF TRADE; Wooden 3 mast freight schooner of 153 ft. struck Niagara reef in a gale while heavily laden with iron ore and broke apart on November 21, 1900. The vessels crew was rescued by the steamer J.K. Secor. ROLAND; Wooden bulk freight propeller steamer of 109 ft sank at Green Island in 1892. There is an unconfirmed report that this vessel was raised and removed. MOSES AND ELIAS; Schooner stranded in November 1851 off Middle Bass Island. Due to its size and situation this vessel was raised and removed. T.M.MOORE; Wooden steam propelled tug owned by Thomas Megrue Moore, of 52 ft stranded and burned to a total loss December 22, 1898 on Rattlesnake Island. AMARETTA MOSHER; Two masted freight schooner of 139 ft. sank in a storm in November 29, 1902 after being blown onto Starve Island reef near Port Clinton, Ohio. The vessel carried a cargo of coal at the time. CHARLES SPADEMAN; Schooner barge of 134 ft sank December 10, 1909 southwest of Put-in-Bay after being rammed by ice. AMERICAN EAGLE; Wooden propeller passenger steamer and tug of 145 ft destroyed by fire while docked in Maumee, Ohio, on December 21, 1908. This same vessel was damaged by a boiler explosion May 18, 1882 while racing another vessel off Kelley's Island. Six lives were lost in the explosion. The American Eagle Reef was discovered when this boat struck it. C.B. WALLACE; Wooden side-wheel passenger and freight steamer of 102 ft. burned on September 25, 1897 at Toledo, Ohio. CHARGER; Merchant schooner sank August 7, 1890 at the mouth of the Detroit River according to some, however it is assumed that it was a location west of Point Pelee. FERRET; Wooden schooner of 81 ft rammed amidships August 22, 1895 near the docks in Maumee Bay at Toledo, Ohio by the passenger steamer Idlewild. The Ferret sank rapidly. It carried a cargo of coal at the time. Made a huge blaze that could be seen for miles. METROPOLIS; Wooden side wheel steamer of 168 ft. burned to a total loss June 13, 1902. OHIO; Wooden side wheel passenger and freight steamer of 138 ft burned to a total loss in 1842 at Toledo, Ohio. VERONA; Wooden schooner or sloop of 190 ft burned to a total loss on September 3, 1904 while docked at Toledo, Ohio. FULTON; Schooner barge of 256 tons sank July 7, 1908 off Toledo, Ohio. OLIVER NEWBERRY; Wooden side wheel steamer of 121 ft. floundered in a storm in 1839 near Toledo, Ohio. INDIANA; Wooden passenger steamer of 534 tons sank in 1845 in Maumee Bay off Toledo, Ohio. MAUD PRESTON; Wooden propeler steamer of 109 ft burned to a total loss on May 20, 1898 in Maumee Bay near Toledo. CANADA #2; A small vessel of 85 tons sank April 20, 1902 in a storm 3 miles east of the Toledo harbor entrance. IDA; Wooden steam propelller barge of 82 ft wrecked on Catawba Island in a strom November 1904. The hull was stripped and towed away, but eventually drifted back to Catawba. The vessel had been driven ashore 4 years earlier at Marblehead since its engines were insufficient to oppose the wind. CHAMPION; Wooden tug of 134 ft destroyed by fire in 1903 at Put-in-Bay at South Bass Island. EXCHANGE; Schooner grounded and sank November 28, 1874 just south of Kelley's Island while transporting a cargo of stone. CUPID; Launch of 47 ft sank June 27,1919 off Cedar Point near Sandusky, Ohio. There is an unconfirmed report that this vessel was raised and removed. MAYFLOWER; Schooner scow of 28 tons suffered hull failure in good weather and sank August 24, 1875 in 30 ft of water off Marblehead, Ohio. When they realized they were sinking, the crew dumped most of the stone cargo overboard in an attempt to save the vessel but without success. A few days later the wreck was raised and towed to Huntington's Dock on Kelley's Island and abandoned. ERIE; Schooner of 66 ft sank 1851 off Sandusky, Ohio. JOSEPHINE; Wooden bulk freight propeller steamer of 66 ft burned at Johnson Island, Ohio in 1893. LONE STAR; Wooden schooner of 55 ft driven ashore in a gale on September 26,1892 at the quarry docks near Sandusky, Ohio. The vessel carried a cargo of lumber. MERCHANT; Wooden schooner of 79 ft wrecked in a storm in 1905 near Sandusky, Ohio. WILLIAM WELLHOUSE; Wooden schooner scow of 84 tons collided with the schooner Jane C. Woodruff October 15, 1880 and sank quickly ay Manhatten Mills, west of Sandusky, Ohio. One member of the crew died in the wreck. The vessel carried a cargo of stone. FREMONT; Side wheel passenger steamer of 114 ft destroyed by fire in 1858 at Plaster Bed near Sandusky, Ohio. GERMANIA; Wooden freight and passenger steamer of 90 ft drven ashore and wrecked at Cedar Point in 1881. H.H.BROWN; Wooden 3 mast bark of 115 ft drove ashore near Sandusky, Ohio in a storm on October 25, 1865 and broke apart over the next three days. The Brown carried a cargo of lumber at the time. PINCUSVILLE; Wooden scow of 28 tons sank off Sandusky, Ohio in 1887. RELIEF; Wooden propeller tug of 128 ft burned to a total loss on July 7, 1884 at Sandusky, Ohio. REPUBLIC; Wooden propeller steamer og 173 ft burned to a total loss October 3, 1857 at the New York & Erie Railroad dock at Sandusky, Ohio. The adjacent dock and warehouse were also damaged. VIRAGO; Schooner scow of 87 ft was blown by a gale April 10,1854 into the shallows East of Peninsula Point near Sandusky, Ohio and broke apart. The vessel carried a cargo of coal. CONTEST; Vessel ran aground and wrecked in a storm, according to the Cleveland Herald October 5, 1868 at Pelee Island. FANNY DOWELL; Tug of 18 tons sank July 8,1880 2 miles from Pelee Island. MILDER; Vessel of 45 tons driven ashore and wrecked in a storm September 29, 1872 at Fish Point on Pelee Island. S. NEFF; Wooden bulk propeller freighter of 128 ft burned to a total loss on September 26, 1899 while docked at Pelee Island. STAR OF HOPE; 2 masted schooner barge of 136 ft broke loose and stranded on Pelee Island in a storm April 1, 1886 while being towed by the steamer Burlington along with the barge Vanatta. The vessel was rcovered but was apparently too badly damaged to be returned to service. The Star of Hope carried a cargo of lumber and had been at the other islands supplying lumber. VENICE; Wooden schooner of 217 tons stranded and wrecked on August 16, 1879 off the Pelee Island light house. WATERS W BRAMAN; Propeller steam tug of 89 tons caught fire in coal bunker, burned and sank in 45 ft of water June 26, 1867, 7 miles east of Pelee Island. CORNWALL; Vessel sunk of unknown causes in 1865 on East Sister Island Reef. ST. PETER; Wooden schooner of 120 tons struck bottom near Green Island on November 19, 1869 while bound from Toledo to Cleveland. The St. Peter's skipper turned the vessel into the shallows where it capsized and sank in 25 ft of water. The remains of the wreck were sighted near the Claybanks in 1871. The St. Peter carried a cargo of wheat at the time of the wreck. GUERIERRE; Schooner of 75 tons sank on May 29, 1832 after capsizing off Bar Point at the entrance to the Detroit River. Five crewman lost their lives in this accident. One crewman from Put-in-Bay and another from Sandusky. HUGH COYNE; Schooner scow of 33 tons while bound from Kelley's Island to Detroit on May 8,1877, the vessel sprang a leak in a storm and sank near North Harbor. The three escaped in a small boat and arrived at Amhurstburg 48 hours later. The vessel carried a cargo of 24 cords of building stone. GRACIE M; Propeller fish tug of 45 ft sank June 7, 1905 was of the Middle Bass Island's , after being rammed by the Canadian Fisheries Patrol Vessel Viligent. The Viligent had fired three shots over the bow of the tug before ramming. This was not the first time the Gracie M had fled the authorities after fishing illegally in Canadian waters, Three crew members died. WESEE; Wooden freight steamer of 226 ft caught fire in rough weather November 12, 1903 and beached on Little Sister Island. TIOGA; Propeller steamer of 549 tons caught fire and sank October 5, 1897 12 miles northeast of the Pelee lighthouse. The Tioga was carrying a cargo of general merchandise at the time. MACEDONIAN; Schooner sank October 23, 1829 after running aground in a squall on the western shore of Sister Island. CASE; Wooden freight of 301 ft was found leaking badly May 1, 1907 and was beached on Sister Island. The vessel broke up in place, but the cargo of coal was salvaged. ROBERT BURNS' Vessel sank 1850 on Sister Island Reef. ESSEX; Wooden 2 masted schooner of 100 tons, driven ashore in a storm, stranded and wrecked September 9, 1848 on the northwest corner of North Bass Island. The Essex carried a cargo of salt. MAY RICHARDS; Wooden 3 mast schooner of 162 ft driven ashore in a gale at North Bass Island and pounded to pieces on October 16, 1906 while being towed along with the H C Cobb by the steamer Benton. The Richards carried a cargo of coal at the time. SYLPH; Schooner blown ashore May 12, 1824 on North Bass Island. Several crew members lost their lives in the wreck. ADVANCE; Schooner scow of 49 tons sank in July 1871 at Put-In-Bay after a collision with the steamer U.S. Grant. COQUETTE; Schooner stranded October 1858 near Put-In-Bay. RAINBOW; Schooner stranded August 1837 on South Bass Island. CONSUELO; Wooden schooner of 103 ft suffered multiple capsizings and simular accidents. Capsized & sank May 1, 1875 off Marblehead, Ohio, with the loss of five crew members. Raised and again sank in 1880 near Kelley's Island, again raised and was damaged in a storm in November 11, 1883 at the dock at Sandusky, Ohio, repaired and the vessel eventually stranded and broke apart on November 9, 1887 in Lake Huron. C.H. PLUMMER; Wooden schooner barge of 116 ft burned while docked on November 21, 1888 at Kelley's Island. The Plummer carried a cargo of Stone. GENERAL Q A GILMORE; Schooner of 52 tons ran into and stranded on Gull Island Reef July 1881. Its cargo of coal was removed, but the old vessel was abandoned and eventually broke apart. JOHN MARK; Wooden 2 mast schooner barge of 142 ft sank in a storm off Kelley's Island on October 23, 1903. The Mark carried a cargo of stone. It is unconfirmed that this barge was raised and removed. KEEPSAKE; Schooner of 50 ft sank August 12, 1911 ten miles off Marblehead Point. MICHIGAN; Wooden bulk freight propeller steamer of 138 ft burned to a total loss December 3, 1888 at Kelley's Island. M O KEYS; Wooden schooner scow of 69 tons sank in a storm on October 8, 1884 just East of the Marblehead, Ohio life saving station. Three died in the wreck. The Keys was carrying a cargo of stone from Kelley's Island to Lakeside, Ohio. SACRAMENTO; Wooden schooner of 116 tons driven onto the Gull Island Reef in a storm on October 2, 1867 and wrecked. The Sacramento carried a cargo of coal at the time and may later have been raised and repaired. YOUNG AMERICA; Wooden 2 masted schooner of 124 ft floundered in a storm on August 20, 1880 in shallow water near Kelley's Island. The wreck remains were recovered in 1883. The vessel carried a cargo of stones at the time it sank. UNCLE SAM; Wooden schooner of 107 ft sank at Kelley's Island. The Uncle Sam was salvaged and rebuilt as a side wheeler and later as a bark. WILLIAM CROSTHWAITE; Schooner of 150 ft collided with the schooner Homar Warren September 6, 1906 and sank near Kelley's Island. The vessel carried a cargo of lumber at the time of the wreck. There is an unconfirmed report that his vessel was raised and removed. ADVENTURE; Wooden steamer of 104 ft caught fire and burned October 7, 1903 near Kelley's Island. The vessel carried a cargo of Lime at the time of the wreck. ST. LOUIS; Wooden side wheel passenger steamer of 190 ft capsized and sank November 1852 off Kelley's Island North of Sandusky, Ohio. The vessel supposedrly carried railroad cars at the time of the wreck. This is possible since early passenger steamers also carried freight. F ( H or A ) PRINCE; Wooden freight steamer of 245 ft ran aground October 8, or November 14, 1911 on Kelley's Island and burned. GOVERNOR PORTER; Wooden 2 masted schooner of 52 ft ran aground June 21, 1853 on the east point of Kelley's Island and broke apart. The old vessel carried a cargo of stone at the time. C RICH; Wooden 2 mast schooner scow of 67 ft driven ashore and pounded apart by waves in a storm on November 19, 1879 near Marblehead, Ohio. MONARCH OF THE GLEN; Wooden schooner of 42 ft capsized and floundered in a storm November 5, 1862 off Marblehead, Ohio. The entire crew of five died in the wreck. BERTIE CROWELL; Wooden schooner of 42 ft driven ashore and wrecked in a storm on October 8, 1884 at the quarry docks southeast of Mablehead. The Crowell was being towed and the lne broke leaving the vessel at the mercy of the wind and waves. EMPIRE; Bark of 350 tons driven ashore in a gale May 3, 1857 at Marblehead and broke apart. The vessel carried a cargo of timbers at the time of the wreck. ERIE; Wooden schooner of 62 tons left Cleveland for Detroit and anchored off Marblehead,Ohio. Sank in a storm August 1872. The Erie was carrying a cargo of Coal at the time. H B TUTTLE; Wooden bulk freight propeller steamer of 180 ft spang a leak and beached in a storm at Marblehead, Ohio on September 15, 1906. After being towed off the beach the vessel broke in half at the dock in Sandusky and was abandoned. THORTON; Wooden bulk feight barge of 262 gross tons dragged its anchors and wrecked in a storm July 12, 1889 at Marblehead. The vessel was salvaged and wrecked again near the samespot July 14, 1891. RED CLOUD; Tug blown onto a reef in a gale September 3 or 4, 1899 near Cedar Point, Ohio and broken in half. SUPERIOR; Schooner or steamer struck a bar and sank May 18, 1825 off Cedar Point, Ohio. This vessel was raised and salvaged. CONSTITUTION; Wooden side wheel steamer of 440 tons struck a pier and sank July 27, 1847 in the harbor at Sandusky, Ohio. The vessel was eventually partially or wholly salvaged. H LANGLEY; Schooner scow ran aground and wrecked in high waves October 15, 1867 due to insufficient rudder control while entering the harbor at Put-In-Bay. The vessel was carrying a cargo of stone at the time. JORDAN BEEBE JR.; Steam propeller fish tug of 46 ft burned to a total loss November 20, 1893 at Put-In-Bay on South Bass Island. M P BARKALOW; Wooden 2 masted schooner of 104 ft sank in a storm April 26, 1902 while anchored off South Bass Island. Four people died in the wreck, the Captain, his wife, their son, and a crewman. The vessel carried a cargo of salt at the time of the wreck. EURPHRATES; Wooden propeller steamer of 178 ft wrecked in the mouth of Sandusky Bay, Ohio in May 1862. A month later an attempt was made to reise the vessel, but was found too badly damaged. Its machinery was later removed and salvaged. MARIE ANTONETTE; Wood schooner of 73 ft, ran aground in a storm in 1829 near Sandusky, Ohio and broke apart. +++++++++++++++++++ And this one is from me -- as it was later in date ..... [ Was it later removed ??? ] ARGO; Tanker barge of 125 ft sank in a storm on October 20, 1937-- 3 miles off Pelee Island. The crew of two was rescued by the tug Syosset after a two hour search. The vessel carried a cargo of 200,000 gallons of oil which they claim still leaks slowly to the surface. They claim the wreck now lies 4 miles Northeast of Kelley's Island Shoals in 40 feet of water. Wondering if it has been removed ........ ?? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ To be continued in Tid Bits part 69 B.