Nelson (Schooner), U18173, sunk by collision, 20 Nov 1892

Chicago dispatches state that the NEWBURGH has been abandoned to the underwriters.
      This mornings dispatches give tidings of three bad mishaps on Lake Erie. The steamer NEWBURGH of the Lackawanna Line is ashore near Port Burwell, above Long Point, and dispatches from her master, Capt. Dunn state that she is full of water. She has a cargo of flour and pig iron for Buffalo. The NEWBURGH got out of her course in a snow storm and it is feared she is in a bad way. She was built in 1871 at Buffalo by the Union Drydock Company and is valued at about $50,000. Buffalo and Port Colborne tugs have gone to her assistance.
      The steamer F. & P. M. No. 2, is also ashore about three miles this side of the NEWBURGH. She has package freight, mostly flour, from Gladstone. No particulars concerning her condition have yet been received.
      The steamer SUSAN E. PECK, owned by Capt, John Green, collided with the schooner NELSON of the FOLSOM tow Sunday morning at Lime Kilns Crossing and the latter sunk about 2 miles below Bois Blanc Island in 21 feet of water. The schooner had a cargo of grain for Buffalo.
      Buffalo Enquirer
      Monday, November 21, 1892

      . . . . .
     
      A dispatch from Detroit, Mich., says: "The Mitchell Transportation Company of Hampton, Mich., through their proctors, Shaw and Wright, of this city, have filed a libel in the United States District Court against the propeller SUSAN E. PECK, owned by John Green of Buffalo, the damages claimed amounting to $47,800. The suit is the outcome of the sinking of the barge NELSON by the PECK in the Detroit River last November.
"The facts of the collision as set forth in the libel are as follows: On Nov, 20, the NELSON, in tow of the steamer A. FOLSOM, was bound from Chicago to Buffalo with a cargo of about 50,000 bushels of wheat. The collision occurred at about 7:30 o'clock in the morning, at the Lime Kiln Crossing. The NELSON was the second and last barge in tow of the steamer, and according to the libelants' story they were obeying in every particular the rules of navigation. The PECK was coming up the river, and was below the Lime Kiln a considerable distance, when passing signals were exchanged between her and the FOLSOM. At this time the FOLSOM was above the crossing with her tow of two barges and was proceeding down at a slightly reduced speed, each of the vessels in the tow keeping wholly and well to the westward of the ranges marking the center of the channel. The PECK came up at apparently full speed and passed close to the port hand of the FOLSOM, then turned to the eastward some, so that she passed the MARY B. MITCHELL, which was the first barge in the FOLSOM's tow, at a much greater distance away than she had passed the FOLSOM.
      "After passing the MITCHELL, the PECK turned and swung rapidly and broadly across the channel and towards its westerly side. The NELSON was well to the westerly side of the channel at this time and her helm was put hard-a-port when the PECK swung. The NELSON thereupon worked further to the westward and she was to the westward of the extreme westerly side of the cut when the collision occurred. The PECK came on at great speed, crossed the channel, and with her stem struck the NELSON with tremendous force on the port bow near the port fore rigging. The NELSON's side was crushed in and she was so badly opened up and damaged that she began to fill and soon afterwards sank in about 20 feet of water a little below Bois Blanc Island.
      "The aggregate amount sued for, $47,800, is divided as follows: Raising, etc., $5,200; repairing hull, $8,500; loss on cargo, $30,000; demurrage, $2,000; loss on winter storage, $1,500. The faults alleged against the PECK are that she was in charge of incompetent, reckless and negligent officers; that being the ascending vessel, she did not check down, and, as is the custom at that place, wait until the FOLSOM's tow had got over the crossing before attempting to pass; that her speed was too great to enable her to be stopped, if for any reason it became necessary to enable her to keep to the side of the channel which she had agreed upon keeping in passing the tow; in changing her course so that she turned and ran over and into the NELSON; in not passing clear on the port hand of the NELSON; in not timely stopping and reversing and in working ahead strong when there was imminent danger of a collision.
      Buffalo Enquirer
      Thursday, May 4, 1893
     
     
     
      Schooner NELSON. U. S. No. 18173. Of 766 tons gross; 729 tons net. Built Milwaukee, Wis., 1866. Home port, Port Huron, Mich. 163.5 x 32.2 x 12.1
      Merchant Vessel List, U. S., 1898