Buffalo Enquirer (Buffalo, NY), Thursday, December 10, 1891

Ogdensburg, Dec. 10. -- An examination of the OREGON by a diver reveals a hole in her starboard bow five planks wide and five or six feet long. The forefoot and keel are badly damaged. The dry oats between decks are being lightered. When the southwest gale, now blowing, subsides her bottom will be patched, and with the aid of steam pumps it is expected she will be floated off without difficulty.

Further Particulars.

Brockville, Dec. 9. -- Further particulars from the OREGON show that she is in very bad shape. She is on what is known as the Bay State Shoal, about ten miles from here. The tug WILSON and barge MATTHEWS from Ogdensburg are alongside with a gang of men to lighter her. They worked all last night and up to noon today had taken out about 1,400 bushels of grain. The OREGON has double decks and this portion of the cargo between decks was safe and dry. It is expected that between 2,400 and 3,000 bushels of the oats in the hold also will be saved.

The pump taken on the tug was found too small to be of any use, and a larger one was ordered by telegraph from Oswego. The boat has settled to such an extent with the amount of water in her hold that she presents a solid front to the waves, and it is said to be getting no further injury from that quarter. The sea was running so high, however, that the diver could do nothing in the direction of patching the hull, and will have to wait for calmer weather.

J. C. Gilchrist of Vermilion, O., her managing owner, is expected here tonight.