Ann (Schooner), aground, 20 Sep 1827

THE LATE STORM.--In our last week's notice of this protracted and violent storm we said, what we then had reason to believe, that it was attended with no serious disasters to vessels upon the lake. No sooner had our paper been put to press, than rumours arrived, of the occurrence of melancholy disasters. Though all of these have not yet been ascertained, the following, we think can be relied on. The new and valuable schooner AMERICA, partly owned by Mr. May of this village, has been stove on the clay bank, near Otter Creek, her cargo all lost. The schooner FARMER was grounded about ten miles below the Creek, and filled with water. The Steam-boat SUPERIOR, got aground on the Middle ground, in Sandusky Bay, her hull not much damaged, but cannot be got off without great difficulty. The Schooner ANN is said to be lost off Long Point, and that her passengers and crew, with the exception of one boy, to the number of sixteen, all perished.
      Cleveland Weekly Herald
      Friday, November 9, 1827 p.3 col.1

      . . . . .
     
The following particulars of the loss of the Schooner ANN, are taken from the Black Rock Gazette:--- The ANN, Levi Allen, master, left Buffalo, about one o'clock, on the 20th.ult. for Sandusky and had a fair but heavy wind on leaving port. About 11 o'clock they heard the roar of breakers as it afterwards proved to be; but as it appeared by the compass they were near the American shore, they conjectured that it must be a squall, and made immediate preparation to meet it. In a few minutes, they were convinced of their error, by the vessel striking on Long Point, which runs out from the main land, on the Canada side, to a distance of 30 or 40 miles. The ANN struck between half and three quarters of a mile from the shore, and owing to the volence of the sea, she soon filled, but continued driving towards land. There were 13 persons on board, 7 of whom were passengers; and their situation now became peculiarly distressing, as no one entertained the least idea of reaching the shore, but expected to perish every minute. One woman, of the name of Pelton, a child, and Mrs. Judson, mother of C.P. Judson, of this place, were drowned in the companion way; the latter resided at Vermillion, Ohio, and was returning from a visit to her friends here. A young woman, also of the name of Pelton, was held by her husband until his strength was exhausted, and he was obliged to abandon her to her fate. A sailor of the name of William McKenzie, and the cook named Solomon Williams, a colored man, who belonged to Detroit, were drowned in the morning. The rest remained on the foremast until seven o'clock on Sunday morning, when it fell and they were obliged to swim for the shore, which six fortunately succeeded in reaching; one man, however, of the name of Hammond, who resided near Sandusky, was drowned in the attempt. After remaining near the wreck which had drifted within 60 rods of the shore, for a short time they set out for the purpose of finding some habitation; and we have reason to believe before they effected this, they must have endured the greatest sufferings. For the purpose of being enabled to reach the shore with safety, the greater part of them had taken off their shoes and stockings, and almost all their clothes and in this wretched state, they were obliged to travel, at the shortest rate, the distance of 30 miles, but as they did not know what course to take, they must have travelled between 40 and 50 miles through woods and swamps, some of which they were forced to wade, and in others, the water was so deep, that it required swimming to pass them. They were likewise exposed to a severe storm of snow and rain, without any food, except a few berries, the want of which together with sleeping on the ground with wet clothes, had so exhausted them, previous to reaching a house, which they did on Monday night, they could not proceed more than a hundred yards without resting. The next day they returned to the place where the vessel was lost, but she was entirely broken up. The remnents of some boxes and trunks were found strewn along the shore, but all of them had been crushed by the violence of the waves, and the contents washed out; and we believe that everything will be lost.
      Cleveland Weekly Herald
      Friday November 23, 1827 p.2 col.5 & 6

      . . . . .

      Geo. W. Whitehead, has communicated to us the distressing intelligence, that the schr. ANN, from this place, went ashore at Long Point in the late gale, and that 7 out of 13 persons, which composed the passengers and crew were lost. Among those lost were a Mr. Pelton and his wife; a Mr. Pettis, and his wife; and an aged lady, who had been on a visit to the east, and was returning to Ohio. When the ANN struck, the dead lights were knocked in, and the water rushed into the cabin, which was immediately filed. The old lady was drowned in the cabin.
      The other persons mentioned, reached the deck, and were swept overboard. The FARMER went on shore at the same time. She will be saved and part of her cargo. The ANN was laden with salt: the FARMER had a considerable quantity of the same article on board.
It is also reported that the schr. AMERICA belonging to Cleveland, is ashore near Long Point. Her cargo consisted of salt.
The FARMER was owned at Salem, Ohio, and the ANN by H.H. Wilcoxen of Sandusky
      Buffalo Emporium
      November 8, 1827

      . . . . .

      Schooner ANN, Capt Allen of Sandusky, wrecked on Long Point, Lake Erie with a cargo of salt and baggage, bound from Buffalo to Sandusky.
      Upper Canada Gazette
      November 10, 1827

      . . . . .

ANN schooner wrecked on shore of Long Point with Capt. Levi Allen and 15 passengers.
      Niagara Gleamer
      November 5, 1827

      . . . . .
     
ANN of Black River. Schooner built Black River 1819. Of 38 tons. Two masts. No head. 53 x 16.5 x 5.1. No. 1 of 1820 Temporary Enrollment
      Detroit Enrollments
      No. 1 of 1820 & No. 4 of 1825