Virginia (Schooner), aground, 31 May 1860

Schooner VIRGINIA, cargo corn, stranded on East Sister's Reef, Lake Erie, a total loss.
      Buffalo Morning Express
      March 11, 1861. (Casualty List, 1860)

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SERIOUS DISASTER - The schooner Virginia, of Oswego, bound down with a cargo of corn, ran on a reef known as Hen and Chickens, in the upper end of Lake Erie, on Thursday evening. Her captain arrived here yesterday morning, and has chartered the tug Red Eric, with a steam-pump; also, the scow L. B. Goldsmith, which left in the afternoon for the scene of the disaster. It is thought that, with favorable weather, she may be got off. Her cargo is
fully insured. We did not learn whether vessel was insured or not.
      Detroit Free Press
      June 3, 1860 - Sunday

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THE WRECKED SCHOONER VIRGINIA - The scow L.B. Goldsmith arrived yesterday
from the schooner Virginia, wrecked with a cargo of corn on a reef at the upper end of Lake Erie, as reported in our last issue.* She brought with her 4,000 bu. of corn, 2,500 bu. of which is dry. The Goldsmith left the Virginia Sunday evening at 9 o'clock, at which time she had five feet of water in her, and with the present state of the weather she would without doubt go to pieces. Her taffrail had already worked loose and her deck beams had given away from her clamps. The tug Red Eric was yet there rendering all possible aid which could be under the circumstances.
      Detroit Free Press
      Tuesday, June 5, 1860

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DISASTER - The Detroit Advertiser of Monday says: The schooner VIRGINIA,
of Oswego, on Thursday evening ran on the reef known as the Hen and Chicken,
where she was lying, at the latest accounts, awaiting the arrival of a tug to get her
off. She was bound down with a cargo of corn from Chicago. Her captain arrived
here on Saturday morning and has chartered the tug RED ERIC and the scow
L.B. GOLDSMITH. They take with them a steam pump, and it was thought with
favorable weather will succeed in getting her off. We did not learn any particulars
in regard to insurance, aside from the cargo, which we understand is fully insured.
      Buffalo Daily Republic
      Tuesday, June 5, 1860

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      FROM THE WRECK OF THE SCHOONER VIRGINIA. - The Detroit Advertiser
of yesterday says, the scow L.B. GOLDSMITH returned yesterday from the schooner
VIRGINIA, before reported on a reef in Lake Erie. She brought with her 4,000 bu. of
corn, 2,500 of which was in dry state. Owing to the present unfavorable state of the
weather it is more than probable she will become a total wreck. She has already 5 feet
of water in her, and many parts of her hull are fast working apart from their fastenings.
The tug RED ERIC was still there rendering every possible aid, and saving everything
which could be got off the ill-fated vessel.
The cargo of the VIRGINIA is insured in the Buffalo Mutual, and the vessel in the
Aetna, in this city. - Ed.
      Buffalo Daily Republic
      Wednesday, June 6, 1860

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CONDITION OF THE SCHOONER VIRGINIA - The tug Red Eric returned yesterday from the schooner Virginia, which still remains in a very precarious situation. All efforts so far to get her off have been unsuccessful, and it is now rendered more than probable that she will prove a total loss. She had on board 8,000 bu. of corn, one-half of which will be totally lost. The balance, with the exception of 2,500 bu. dry, is in a damaged state.
The tug returns to-day for the purpose of yet saving her, if possible. The weather in the past 24 hours has been very unfavorable for her.
      Detroit Free Press
      Wednesday, June 6, 1860

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      THE LOSS OF THE SCHOONER VIRGINIA. - The Detroit Advertiser of Yesterday
says: The tug RED ERIC returned yesterday afternoon from the schooner VIRGINIA,
having been unsuccessful thus far in her efforts to get her off, and it is now more than
probable that she will prove a total loss. She had on board 8,000 bushels of corn, 2,500
bushels of which was saved in a dry state, and 1,500 damaged. The balance is in her
hold. The weather during the past twenty-four hours has been very unfavorable, and
caused her to give way in many parts of her hull. The RED ERIC will return again today
to make a final effort to save her.
      Buffalo Daily Republic
      Thursday, June 7, 1860

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      The Detroit Tribune of the 13th says Capt. Fortier, Inspector of the Aetna, returned this morning from the wreck of the VIRGINIA, at the Hen and Chickens, Lake Erie. She has gone to pieces, but Capt. Fortier succeeded in recovering the company's steam pump, which was one of the principal objects of his visit. He also recovered one anchor and chain from the wreck, and proposes sending down a scow with a view of saving the rigging and spars.
      Buffalo Daily Republic
      Friday, June 15, 1860

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