Charger (Schooner), sunk by collision, 31 Jul 1890

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Cleveland, July

The schooner

Capt. Frank

31. -- Early this morning the schooner CHARGER with 18,000 bushels of wheat for Buffalo collided with the steambarge CITY OF CLEVELAND at the head of Lake Erie. The CHARGER sank within 10 minutes in four fathoms of water. Captain and eight crew rescued. Daily British Whig, Kingston August 1, 1890 . . . . . CHARGER was struck by the steambarge CITY OF CLEVELAND in Lake Erie on Thursday and sunk. The crew were saved. Port Huron Daily Times Friday, August 1, 1890 . . . . . The steambarge CITY OF CLEVELAND, bound for Toledo, and the schr. CHARGER, from Detroit to Buffalo, collided near the "Dummy" yesterday, resulting in the sinking of the latter but, no damage to the former. The CLEVELAND struck the CHARGER on the port bow, driving an immense hole in her, and she went to the botton in 10 minutes. Two of the crew, John Neville and John Bell were asleep in the forecastle and were considerably bruised with broken timbers, but they managed to squeeze through the opening made by the collision and escape. Capt. Bates, of the CHARGER, and his crew were picked up by the tug TELEGRAM and turned over to the CLEVELAND, which took them to Toledo. The collision was so sudden that the crew lost all their personal effects. The CHARGER was laden with 17,400 bu. wheat, which she took on at this port. The vessel was valued at $7,500, but carried no insurance. The cargo was insured for $9,000 in the Detroit Fire and Marine and $7,300 in the Union Marine. The cause of the collision is unknown. Detroit News August 1, 1890 . . . . . The schooner CHARGER is at the bottom of Lake Erie as the result of being struck by the passenger steamer CITY OF CLEVELAND. The collision occurred near Toledo. The CLEVELAND was light and it is thought unmanageable in the high seas. The crew of the CHARGER escaped. The sunken boat was valued at $7,500 and was bound to Buffalo with 18,000 bushels of grain. Buffalo Evening News August 1, 1890 . . . . . On July 31st. the steamship CITY OF CLEVELAND sank the wheat laden schooner CHARGER, off the Dummy, Lake Erie. A settlement is being discussed. Daily British Whig, Kingston August 15, 1890 . . . . . The barge CHAMPION left Toledo Saturday to pump wheat out of the schooner CHARGER, sunk at Point pelee, but found the vessel going to pieces. Port Huron Daily Times Tuesday, August 26, 1890 . . . . . Captains are warned to steer clear of the wreck of the schooner CHARGER, ashore in Pelee Passage. Buffalo Evening News September 29, 1890 . . . . . Hackett has made a visit to the sunken schooner CHARGER in Pelee Passage and reports both her spars broken off and afloat about the wreck, to which they are attached by the shroud wires. The wreckage is a source of danger to steamers passing over it, as they would be apt to pick up the wire rigging in their wheels. Capt. Hackett advised masters to pass to the southward of the wreck, giving it a wide berth. Daily British Whig, Kingston October 2, 1890 . . . . . Sandusky, July 21. -- Capt. Alonzo W. Dwelle of the steamer LOUISE reported on his arrival here from Pelee Island that the LAW lies in about six fathoms of water, a quarter of a mile north, northwest of the point of woods on Point au Pelee mainland. Her entire headgear is gone. Capt. Dwelle went up to the LAW and found that her yawl had been made fast to the vessel and was full of water. The LAW heads northeast and is out of the way of vessels going up the passage off the Dummy. The VANCE, however, is directly in the passage. She is south by west half west, one and a quarter miles from the Dummy, and is headed north. Her bob-stay and Jib-stay are gone, but the flying jib-stay is all right. She has her mizzen and foresail set. A lantern was found hanging on one of her stays, still burning. She is in about seven fathoms of water and lies not far from where the schooner CHARGER was sunk. Buffalo Enquirer Friday, July 21, 1893

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