Wave (Schooner), sunk, 17 Mar 1844

Description

Full Text

GALE ON LAKE MICHIGAN

SEVERE GALE.

THE GALE:--

The schooner

THE GALE.
The VICTORY
LOSS OF
Mouth of

March 17

" During

Schooner

The Chicago

- The St. Joseph Commercial Bulletin of March 18th contained an account of the schr. JEFFERSON, Capt. Dougal, and the brig ROSA, Capt. Whiting, being driven ashore at that place by the violence of the gale on the 17th. Both vessels were loaded with stone for St. Joseph's harbor, and it is thought they may be got off without material injury. The schr. OCEAN, Capt. Davis, was also driven ashore, about 1 1/2 miles north of St. Joseph, and the schr. WAVE at Racine. The schrs. VICTORY, MINT, C. CROOKS, NORTH AMERICA, BOLIVAR, HIRAM PIERSON and CLEOPATRA, left Chicago, on Saturday for Grand River and St. Joseph, and it is feared that the violence of the gale has driven them all ashore. Daily Courier & Economist March 29, 1844 . . . . . From the St. Joseph Commercial Bulletin, March 18. - SEVERE GALE. - At sunrise yesterday morning the wind blew steadily from the southwest, and the lake was comparatively calm, but at 8 o'clock, the wind chopped round to the northeast, almost instantly and commenced blowing a tremendous gale, (which still continues) accompanied with heavy snow squalls. About two o'clock P. M., the wind having veered round to the west, the schooner JEFFERSON, Captain Dougall, was discovered making directly towards the piers, but her sails being torn to ribbons by the gale, and having broken her tiller just as she reached the breakers outside, she was at the mercy of the storm, the violence of which drifted her ashore some rods south of the pier. At this moment the brig ROSA, Capt. Whiting, hove in sight endeavoring to make our harbor, but she being also disabled by the storm went ashore south of the JEFFERSON. Both vessels had cargoes of stone for our harbor, and it is hoped they will be got off without sustaining material injury. Too much praise cannot be awarded to Captain Napier, of the brig SCOTT, Capt. Randall, and many of our citizens, for their intrepidity in braving the fury of the storm at the risk of their lives to rescue the passengers and crews from their perilous situations. Since the above was written Capt. Davis, of the schooner OCEAN, has arrived in town with his crew and passengers, announcing his vessel ashore about one and a half miles north of this village. No cargo aboard. They also report the schooner WAVE ashore at Racine. The schooners VICTORY, MINT, C. CROOKS, NORTH AMERICA, BOLIVAR, HIRAM PIERSON, and CLEOPATRA, left Chicago on Saturday for Grand River and St. Joseph, and it is feared that the violence of the gale has driven them ashore. Buffalo Commercial Advertiser March 30, 1844 . . . . . FURTHER PARTICULARS - The schooner MARGARET HELM, Capt. McHarry, arrived in port yesterday evening, and informs us that he passed the schooner WAVE, Capt. Nichols, about 10 miles S. S. West of Kalamazoo, dismasted and foundered, her large anchor apparently down, a small boat was discovered broken to pieces lying on the shore. No persons were seen aboard the WAVE, and it is supposed the crew have all perished. The WAVE was reported ashore at Racine, but we are informed that this was some three weeks since, and that she had been got off, and was bound for Grand River for lumber. Capt. Jackson of the schooner WARREN, arrived at Chicago before the MARGARET HELM left, and stated that the schooner WHITNEY left Grand River ahead of him, but had not been heard of, and is supposed to be lost. Buffalo Commercial Advertiser April 5, 1844 . . . . . Chicago, March 28, 1844. You have been previous advised of the loss of the brig ROSA, and schooners JEFFERSON and OCEAN, which were stranded at and near St. Joseph in attempting to enter the harbor. None of them are worth getting off; the crews were saved. We have to add to the catalogue the schooners VICTORY, NANCY DOUSMAN, and WAVE, which are doubtless lost with all on board! The schooner FREE TRADER, just arrived from Grand River, fell in with the wreck of the WAVE off Kalamazoo, capsized, and her deck off. She took her chains off and attempted to tow her in, but was obliged to give it up, when it began to blow. It is now blowing a gale from the N. E. Buffalo Commercial Advertiser April 6, 1844 . . . . . -- A severe gale was experienced on Lake Michigan on the 17th inst, by which much damage was done to the shipping, and it is supposed some lives lost. The schooners VICTORY and NANCY DOUSMAN, have probably gone to the bottom, crews and all. The brig ROSA, and schooners JEFFERSON, OCEAN and WAVE, were lost; crews saved. All the other vessels that were out succeeded in getting into port, though many were much damaged. -- Grand Rapids Enq. Detroit Free Press Saturday, April 6, 1844 . . . . . From all we can learn, the gale of Thursday and Friday last was more severe than any that has been experienced for many years. In Chicago there were snow drifts three or four feet high. The VICTORY and the WAVE were both undoubtedly lost. capt. Riley, of the FUR TRADER, passed the wreck of the WAVE, found her bow stove in and both masts gone, he took her anchors from her. The FUR TRADER passed the wreck of another vessel, supposed to be the VICTORY. The SYLVANNUS MARTIN and the NANCY DOUSMAN made the Chicago harbor. -- Milwaukee Herald, 3. Mr. Torry of the firm of Russel & Torry, of Southport, was among the unfortunate victims lost on the schooner WAVE. -- Milwaukee herald. The Milwaukian, speaking of the schooner WAVE, says, three dead bodies were driven ashore near Southport. -- Chicago Express. Detroit Free Press Wednesday, April 10, 1844 . . . . . FUR TRADER arrived yesterday afternoon, met with the wreck of the schooner WAVE about five miles from Kalamazoo, took her anchors and chains, and towed her for some distance. The FUR TRADER also passed the wreck of another vessel, conjectured to be the VICTORY. - Chicago Ex. Buffalo Commercial Advertiser April 11, 1844 . . . . . - From all that we can learn, the gale of Thursday and Friday last was more severe than any that has been experienced for many years. In Chicago there was snow drifts 3 and 4 feet high. and the WAVE are both undoubtedly lost. Capt. Ripley, of the FUR TRADER passed the wreck of the WAVE, found her bows stove in both mast gone he took her anchors from her. The FUR TRADER passed the wreck of another vessel, supposed to be the VICTORY. - Milwaukee Sent. THE WAVE. - The following letter of this melancholly event has just been received by Messrs. Dyer & Chapin of Chicago.: the Kalamazoo River, March 24. Messrs. Dyer & Chapin - Gents., on Sunday last on our passage here in the schooner MARGARET HELM, we fell in with the wreck of the schooner WAVE, of Chicago, about 10 miles S.S.W. of the Kalamazoo Light, with both masts gone by the board, also her bowsprit, her best bower anchor down, apparently in deep water. The boat was gone and the wreck full of water. Nothing has been heard of the captain and crew since our arrival here, and there is no doubt but they have all perished. She was seen off here on Sunday, it blowing tremendously, which was the last that was seen of her. You will please report this into your daily paper, and much oblige. Henry Loomis. Buffalo Daily Gazette April 12, 1844 . . . . . THE WRECK OF THE WAVE. -- A letter published in our last week's paper announced the probable loss of this vessel, we have been able to gather only very few details of this catastrophe; but enough has been learned to make it more than probable that thirteen persons have perished from this ill-fated vessel. Two of the bodies have been washed ashore near the mouth of the Kalamazoo river, and were buried last saturday - one, that of Mr. Torry, of Southport, Wisconsin; and the other of a sailor. We learn also, that five of the crew of the schooner VICTOR have been washed ashore near the head of the lake, lashed to a fragment of the vessel, all dead. -- Allegan Record. Detroit Free Press Saturday, April 13, 1844 . . . . . - Schooner WAVE, Nicholl, master, of Milwaukee, foundered 10 miles S.S.W. of Kalamazoo, Mich. while going to Grand River for lumber; vessel and crew ( five in number ) totally lost. $2,500 Lake Disasters of 1844 Buffalo Commercial Advertiser February 8, 1845 . . . . . a winter gale of March 27, the wreck of the ill-fated schooner WAVE drifted ashore at Racine, and three bodies were recovered." from Hist.,of the Great Lakes by Mansfield, Vol.1 p.645 . . . . . March 17 - Schooner WAVE, Nicholl, master, of Milwaukee, foundered 10 miles S.S.W. of Kalamazoo, Mich. while going to Grand River for lumber; vessel and crew ( five in number ) totally lost. $2,500 Lake Disasters of 1844 Buffalo Commercial Advertiser February 8, 1845 . . . . . WAVE - The wreck of this vessel lost last month near St. Joseph, had gone on shore near that place and the bodies of some of those drowned in her have been found, and identified. The body of Mr. Torrey was found, but not the watch or the money known to be in his possession. His clothes were found upon an Indian who had probably robbed the bodies after drifting on shore. Such we learn from his friend Mr. George of this city. Buffalo Commercial Advertiser April 24, 1844 . . . . . VESSELS WRECKED ON LAKE MICHIGAN. Journal gives the following statement, showing the number of vessels lost on Lake Michigan; their value, and the value of their cargoes when known; and the number of lives lost, from 1824 to 1847. Schooner LAWRENCE, 1824. $3,000 Schooner RED JACKET, 1826. 2,000 (here follows an interval of 7 years during which vessels must have been lost; but the record is not found.) Schooner ERIE PACKET, Dec. 1833 1,500 Schooner PRINCE EUGENE, Oct. 1834 27,000 Steamboat NEWBURYPORT, Oct. 1834 15,000 Steamboat PIONEER, Aug. 1834 10,000 Schooner name forgotten, 1835 2,000 Green Bay. Schooner UTICA, 1835 7,000 Schooner CHANCE, Nov. 1835 7 lives 2,000 Schooner BRIDGET, Nov. 1835 16 lives 5,000 Schooner SLOAN, Nov. 1835 6 lives 3,000 Steamboat DELAWARE, Apr. 1835 20,000 Sloop CLARISSA, Nov. 1836 1,500 Schooner CHICAGO, Oct. 1836 8,000 Schooner AUSTERLITZ, Oct. 1836 12,000 vessel and goods Schooner OHIO, Oct. 1837 6,000 Schooner LaPORTE, Oct. 1838 3,000 Schooner THOS. RICHMOND, Oct. 1838 6,000 Schooner LaFAYETTE, Oct. 1838 3,000 Schooner WHITE PIGEON, Nov. 1839 3,000 Brig JOHN KENZIE, Nov. 1839 3,000 Steamboat DETROIT, Aug. 1839 20,000 Schooner VIRGINIA, Nov. 1839 7,000 wheat Steamboat TAYLOR, Oct. 1840 8,000 Steamboat CHAMPLAIN, May 1840 10,000 Schooner NEPTUNE, Nov. 1840 24 lives 15,000 goods Schooner CINCINNATI Oct. 1840 1,500 Schooner JEFFERSON Apr. 1840 1,800 Schooner HURON Oct. 1840 2,000 Schooner POST BOY Oct. 1841 13 lives 1,000 goods Sloop SPITFIRE Oct. 1841 500 Schooner ONEIDA Nov. 1841 20,000 wheat Schooner BANCROFT Nov. 1842 4,000 Ship MILWAUKEE Nov. 1842 9 lives 10,000 Ship FLORIDA, Nov. 1842 4,000 Brig COLUMBUS, Nov. 1842 12,000 wheat Brig HUMMINGBIRD. May 1843 6 lives 1,000 Schooner HARRIET, May 1843 8 lives 2,500 Schooner MINERVA SMITH, May 1844 1,000 * Schooner WAVE, March 1844 5 lives 1,000 Schooner VICTORY, March 1844 7 lives 2,000 Schooner WHITNEY, Aug. 1844 6 lives 2,000 Ship SUPERIOR, Sept. 1845 5,000 Schooner JACOB BARKER, Nov. 1845 2,000 Brig OLIVER, Nov. 1845 2,000 Schooner OCEAN, Apr. 1845 6 lives 1,000 Schooner SAVANNAH, Apr. 1845 5,000 Schooner JEFFERSON, Apr. 1845 4,500 Brig INDIANA, Oct. 1845 4,000 Schooner SWIFT, Oct. 1845 600 Brig ROSA, Oct. 1845 8,000 Schooner MARGARET HELM Nov. 1845 1,500 Steamboat BOSTON, Nov. 1846 70,000 Sloop JAMES K. POLK Nov. 1846 1,000 Schooner ----?---- Nov. 1846 4,000 Sloop RODOLPH, Nov. 1846 4 lives 400 Schooner St. JOSEPH, Apr. 1847 1,000 Schooner SOLOMON JUNEAU Apr. 1847 4,000 Schooner MARY ELIZABETH Apr. 1847 2,000 Schooner WISCONSIN, Apr. 1847 1,500 Schooner OUTWARD BOUND Oct. 1847 2,000 Schooner ILLINOIS, Nov. 1847 5,000 Green Bay Propeller PHOENIX Nov. 1847 164 lives 80,000 Schooner CHAMPION Nov. 1847 15,000 Schooner E.G. WOOLCOTT, Nov. 1847 10,000 Schooner H. MERRILL, Nov. 1847 10,000 Total Value $512,000 Total number of lives lost 288 Buffalo Republic Wednesday, February 9, 1848 . . . . .

Media Type