Sophia Minch (Schooner), U115166, collision, 1 Jul 1883

Manitowoc, Wis., July 7. -- At 6 o'clock last evening the schooner COLUMBIAN, of Cleveland, coal laden, for Racine, collided with the schooner SOPHIA MINCH, light, bound for Escanaba, about thirty miles north of this port. A dense fog prevailed at the time, and neither knew of the other's approach until they crashed together. The COLUMBIAN lost her mainmast, mizzentop and foretop, the mainmast being broken in three pieces and falling with a crash to the deck, but fortunately no one was injured. She is leaking badly, and two pumps are kept busy to keep her from sinking. The MINCH lost her jibboom and forerigging. She then took the COLUMBIAN in tow, and shortly after run heavily into a pier near Kewaunee. She then dropped the tow-line and the COLUMBIAN managed to escape the pier. Captain Byrns, of the COLUMBIAN, thinks the MINCH must have received considerable damage when she struck the pier. he COLUMBIAN is at anchor in the bay waiting for the tug WELCOME to tow her to Milwaukee.
      J.W. Hall Great Lakes Marine Scrapbook, July 1883
     


      The schr. SOPHIA MINCH, of Cleveland, light for Escanaba, collided with the schr. COLUMBIA, coal laden, for Racine, between Two Rivers Point, Friday night. The MINCH lost her fore topmast, jibboom and part of her head gear, and sent back to Milwaukee for a steambarge to tow her to Escanaba. The tug WELCOME left Milwaukee for the COLUMBIA, which is at anchor in Manitowoc Bay, with her main mast and part of her bulwarks gone, and making considerable water.
      Buffalo Commercial Advertiser
      July 9, 1883 3-9

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The Schooner COLUMBIA, damaged in a collision with the SOPHIA MINCH, arrived on Saturday. She was towed in by the tug WELCOME and was leaking badly. -- Racin report.
      Marine Record
      July 12, 1883

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The SOPHIA MINCH is at Ashtabula unloading. She will be brought to Cleveland for repairs
      Marine Record
      July 26, 1883

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Schooner SOPHIA MINCH. U. S. No. 115166. Of 635.57 tons gross; 603.80 tons net. Built Vermillion, O., 1873. Home port, Cleveland, O. 184.0 x 33.0 x 13.0.
      Merchant Vessel List, U. S., 1885