Gazelle (Steamboat), aground, 10 Sep 1860

Steamer GAZELLE, when entering Eagle Harbor, Lake Superior, struck on the Outer Reef and filled. Total loss.
      Buffalo Morning Express
      March 11, 1861. (Casualty List, 1860)

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      The stm. ILLINOIS arrived from Lake Superior at 8:45 yesterday morning.
She brings the intelligence of the total loss of the stm. GAZELLE, of this city, at
Eagle Harbor, on Monday morning, the 10th. inst.
      She was on her trip up, having left Detroit for all lake Superior ports on the
Thursday previous. She had already touched at Marquette and Portage, and
delivered what freight and passengers she had for those ports.
      She was going into Eagle Harbor about daylight on Monday morning when the
pilot mistook the channel, and she went hard and heavy upon the rocks about a
quarter of a mile from the dock.
      All her passengers and crew were rescued by boats from the harbor. All her
freight was lost including a large quantity of hay and supplies for Eagle Harbor
and the ports above.
      She went on the rocks in such a way that her bow was raised completely out
of the water, so that she stood, as it is described, nearly perpendicular.
      She did not break up until the following day, when the sea became heavy.
She went all to pieces, and will prove a total loss, together with all her freight.
      The GAZELLE was owned by E.B. Ward, of this city, by whom she was built
at Newport in 1858. She was worth $40,000. There was no insurance upon her.
      She had been employed on Lake Michigan during the first part of the present
season, and we think ever since she was built.
This was her second trip to Lake Superior, and she was consequently under the
control of the pilot when she went on the rocks. She was commanded by Capt. B.
Sweeney.
      Detroit Free Press
      September 18, 1860

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      LOSS OF THE STEAMER GAZELLE.
      Detroit, Sept. 17. - The steamer GAZELLE, while entering Eagle Harbor,
Lake Superior, at daylight on the morning of the 10th. inst., went on the rocks a
quarter of a mile from the dock, and became a total loss, together with all her
freight, consisting of supplies for Eagle Harbor and other Lake Superior ports.
      All her passengers and crew were saved by boats from the harbor.
The boat was owned by E.B. Ward and was valued at $40,000; no insurance.
      Buffalo Daily Republic
      Tuesday, September 18, 1860

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      By the ILLINOIS from Lake Superior this morning, we have news of the loss of
the steamer GAZELLE, wrecked at Eagle Harbor last week. The GAZELLE left
Detroit on Thursday the 6th, under command of Captain Barney Sweeney, with Wm.
Gillet as first mate and pilot. She proceeded to Marquette and Portage Lake,
and discharged the freight for those ports, and continued on her voyage around
Point Keewenaw. A heavy blow coming up from the North- East, the steamer lay
off and on abreast of Eagle Harbor, on the night of Sunday the 9th inst., and
the wind subsiding, on Monday morning, about half past 5 o'clock, an attempt was
made to enter the harbor, when she struck the outer reef. The weather at the
time was compariatively calm and efforts were made to float the steamer, but in
vain. Soon a heavy gale sprung up from the North-West, which continued Monday
and Tuesday, and when the steamer which brought the news left, the stern of the
GAZELL was out of sight under water, her upper works gone, and other damage
done, so that she is probably a total loss. Before her stern disappeared under the
water, the furniture, rigging and most of her freight was saved, and will be brought
to Detroit by the CLEVELAND.
      The GAZELLE was built at Newport by Capt. E.B. Ward, and was put into
commission in the Autumn of 1858. She was a low pressure steamer of about 500
tons, and was valued at $25,000. This was her second trip to Lake Superior. On
her first on she was commanded by Capt. Butlin.
      The GAZELLE was in the name of Mr. C.W. Owen, of Newport, but Capt. E.B.
Ward had a mortgage on her for a large amount, and he is the principal loser.
She was not insured.
      The steamer CITY OF CLEVELAND, just purchased by Captain Eber Ward, will
be withdrawn from the North Shore Line, after one trip, and will take the place of
the GAZELLE.
      The ILLINOIS experienced boisterous weather the whole trip round. She brought
down about 150 passengers, among whom was Mrs. Captain Wilson, just on her
return from Sault Ste Marie where she has been spending the summer, and where
she was at the time her brave husband was lost on the LADY ELGIN. Mrs. Wilson
goes to Coldwater today, where she will meet the disfigured remains of the
unfortunate Captain. - Detroit Tribune, Monday.
      Buffalo Daily Republic
      Wednesday, September 19, 1860

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      Advices from Lake Superior state that the wreck of the steamer GAZELLE, at
Eagle Harbor, is nearly all broken up. The men at work getting out her engine will
doubtless succeed in saving some of it.
      Buffalo Daily Republic
      Wednesday, October 3, 1860

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The Tribune learns that soon after the opening of navigation on Lake Superior
E.B. Ward, will send an expedition provided with all the necessary appliances to
recover the machinery of the steamers ARCTIC and GAZELLE, lost last year on
Lake Superior.
      Buffalo Commercial Advertiser
      March 4, 1861

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GAZELLE paddle-wheel steamer of 422 tons. Built Newport, Mich. 1858. First
Home Port, Detroit. Stranded September 8, 1860, at Eagle Harbor. No lives lost
      Merchant Steam Vessels of the U.S.A.
      1790 - 1868. Lytle - Holdcamper List

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