Grace Holland (Schooner), U39633, collision, 1 May 1883

A serious collision took place nearly abreast of Windmill Point Lighthouse, Detroit River, on Monday morning, the Steambarge WESTFORD, lumber loaded, towing two barges and a schooner, collided with the Schooner GRACE HOLLAND, in tow of the steambarge REPUBLIC, bound up. A special dispatch to the Inter-Ocean says:- The vessels struck nearly head on, splitting the WESTFORD's bows wide open and sinking her in three and a half fathoms of water, on the American shore, about half a mile below the Lighthouse. The HOLLAND was not damaged, aside from scraping off of paint and the parting of the towline. Each captain claims the other at fault. It will probably result in a lawsuit. The other craft of the tow escaped injury. The Propeller NEBRASKA, passing up, at the time of the collision, to avoid colliding, ran aground on Belle Isle. She was lightered off by the ferry steamer GARLAND, returned here and is reloading her freight.
The Steambarge WESTFORD was insured for $12,000 by Capt. Crosby in the Crosby and Demick Companies. She measures 375 Tons, built at Trenton by Turner in 1869, and is owned by A.N. Spratt, et al, of Alpena. Her class is A 2, and her valuation $35,000. She had new deck and beams and other repairs in 1880, and in 1882 was refastened, had large repairs, and was given a steel arch.
      Marine Record
      May 19, 1883



      Schooner GRACE HOLLAND. U. S. No. 39633. Of 629 tons gross;597 tons net. Built Marine City, Mich.,1880. Home port, Marquette, Mich. 189.0 x 33.0 x 12.8 Crew of 7.
      Merchant Vessel List, U. S., 1923