H. F. Merry (Schooner), U11986, aground, 1 Nov 1883

The schooner H.F. MERRY, which cleared from here on Saturday last, with wheat for Buffalo, went ashore the night following at Silver Creek, Lake Erie, and beyond a doubt is broken up ere this. She came out in 1869, built at Sandusky, and 170 tons burden. - Detroit Report.
      Marine Record
      Nov. 15, 1883

      . . . . .

H.F. MERRY 239 Tons. and 14 years old. valued at $7,000. A total loss on Lake Erie 1883.
      Lost Tonnage on the Lakes in 1883
      Marine Record. December 27, 1883

      . . . . .

      Vessel Ashore at Silver Creek
      Our Townsman, S. P. Skinner to Rescue
      Mr. S. P. Skinner, of this place, while at Silver Creek on Monday, saw a vessel drifting ashore through a heavy sea, and in a disabled condition. He at once notified about one hundred men and went to the rescue. She was loaded with wheat. A terrible sea was on, and the captain and six men were on board. She came up within three hundred feet of high-water mark. The captain fastened a rope to a box and let the box drift in near shore. A rope was attached to Mr. Skinner, who went in after the box, through the dashing and splashing of a terrible sea. A man was then hauled in from the vessel, and nearly killed, so fast was he hauled over the bottom of the lake. The rope was then attached to a boat which Skinner ran between the vessel and shore until all were rescued. They were all exhausted with wet ant cold. On Tuesday the captain went out to the vessel after his cat, through a heavy sea. It is thought the wheat will be saved. The insurance men were expected there on Tuesday. She was the three-masted schooner H. F. MERRY of Sandusky, loaded with 16,000 bushels of wheat from Detroit to Buffalo. The crew consisted of C. B. Nichols, captain; George W. Nichols, mate; William Tracy, George Hamilton, C. Olsen, John Moran and Anti Larson. The captain states that they had the wind from the south until they passed Erie, when it veered to the west, and catching them on a lee shore, made it impossible to obtain an offing. When some distance above Silver Creek, the rudder chain became clogged, rendering her uncontrollable. The cargo of wheat is damaged to a considerable extent, and in swelling burst the seams of the deck in some places.
      The Sun (North East, Pa.)
      November 17, 1883


      Buffalo, N. Y., Dec. 5. -- Captain Thomas Maythem who had the job to release the schooner H.F. MERRY, ashore on the south shore, has abandoned her, five tugs having failed last night to pull her off.
      J.W. Hall Great Lakes marine Scrapbook, December, 1883
     
     
Schooner H.F. MERRY. U. S. No. 11986. Of 170.45 tons gross. Home port, Sandusky, Ohio.
      Merchant Vessel List, U. S., 1871