H. G. Williams (Scow), sunk, 14 Nov 1871

Scow H.G. WILLIAMS, struck the pier and sunk in Cleveland Harbor; two lives lost.
      Marine Disasters on the Western
      Lakes during 1871, Capt. J.W. Hall

      . . . . .

      HER NAME. - The vessel that sunk at Cleveland in the storm of Tuesday night was the scow H.G. WILLIAMS. The cook, a woman named Skinner, was drowned. The wreck, for the time, completely blockaded the harbor, but preparations were made for towing it out of the channel. The WILLIAMS was bound from Hamilton to Saginaw, and called at Cleveland for an order. The vessel was estimated at $7,000, and was insured for $4,000. She was owned by Captain E.S. Fuller and David Clarr, of Cleveland.
      Buffalo Commercial Advertiser
      Friday, November 17, 1871

      . . . . .

      THE STORM ON THE LAKES.
      ---------
      The reports of the disaster to our lake marine in the recent storm are coming in thick and fast. In the marine column of this issue will be found the particulars of several serious accidents, some of which were attended with loss of life. But we fear that all the disasters have not yet been made known.
      On Lake Erie the storm raged with terrible fury for nearly forty-eight hours. The vessels that were caught near the south shore must have fared badly, unless they succeeded in making some port before the gale reached its height. At the present writing, the fate of twn persons on board of the stranded schooner MONTCALM is not known here. This vessel was discovered early Wednesday morning, about 500 rods from the shore, near Girard, flying a flag of distress. There being no boats in that vicinity, word was sent to Erie, and a boat and eight men were sent from the U. S. Steamer MICHIGAN, by rail to Girard, to assist in the rescue. But the shore near the scene of the disaster is very rocky and abrupt, and consequently the rescueing boat could not be launched. By this time the vessel had worked within 500 feet of the beach, and her foremast had gone by the board. A line was floated ashore from the vessel in the hope of working the yawl by its aid. The yawl, however, immediately filled on touching the water. Thus the day was spent in futile attempts to rescue the crew of the stranded vessel, and night set in with no hope of help until next morning. The storm continued to rage all night, with bitter cold weather, but whether the vessel hung together until the morning dawned we are not yet informed.
      Directly across the lake, another shipwrecked crew were at the same time battling with the waves for their lives. The fine bark P.C. SHERMAN, of this port, loaded with corn, while flying before the storm, struck some object near Long Point and went down very soon after. The crew took to the boats, and, after suffering great hardships, mad a safe landing on the south shore, near Brocton. The scow WILLIAMS, in attempting to make the port of Cleveland during the storm, struck the pier and sunk, taking down with her a wonam cook. On Long Point several vessels are reported ashore. One of these is supposed to be the propeller EVERGREEN CITY, of this port. Similar reports reach us from Lake Ontario, Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. In the latter case it is feared several lives have been lost.
      The effects of this storm have been widespread and very disastrous. The loss to the shipping on the seaboard, and on the other side of the Atlantic, has also been very great. At the present it is impossible to estimate the full amount of damage that has been done.
      Buffalo Commercial Advertiser
      November 17, 1871