Sea Bird (Schooner), U22375, aground, 30 Oct 1889

Schooner SEA BIRD. U.S. No. 22375. Two masted schr. built Algonac, Mich. 1862 by Charles Hinman. 102.22 gross tons. 79'6" x 21' x 6'11"
First enrollment issued at Detroit, dated Sept. 23, 1862.
Remeasured, Detroit, August 17, 186? . 79'6"x 21'1"x 6'9" 82.09 tons gross - 77.96 tons net.

Disposition - Driven ashore at Oscoda, Michigan, Lake Huron, October 30, 1889, in tow of tug ADA BARRETT, with cargo of bricks. Became total loss; no lives lost. Final enrollment surrendered at Detroit, Michigan, December 28, 1881 and endorsed "Total loss."
      Detroit Vessel Enrollments
      . . . . .

      Note :- Newspaper accounts of the loss of the SEA BIRD, incorrectly name her as SEA GULL.

The JANE MASON and SEA GULL laden with brick went ashore at Oscoda Wednesday night. Both are total losses.
      Port Huron Daily Tmes
      Monday, November 4, 1889
     
      . . . . .
     
      TWO WRECKS
      ------
      The Schooners Jane Mason and Sea Bird Wrecked at the Sable River Mouth on Wednesday Night
      ------
      From Au Sable Times:
Last Wednesday night* about twelve o'clock the schooners Jane Mason and Sea Bird, both brick laden from New Baltimore were trying to make the river when both grounded. Before anything could be done to release the vessels, the Mason had gone to pieces and the Sea Bird was in such shape that she was not worth saving.
The accident happened in this wise: Captain Hand, of the tug O'Brien, was sick, and Captain Doyle, of the Barrett, was sailing the O'Brien. The Barrett was sent in charge of one of the deck hands named Ashley to a slip in the river, to tie up. As the tug reached that vicinity she saw the Sea Bird signaling for a tow and made fast to her. Evidently the Barrett's captain, for the time being, was not much of a sailing master as he soon had both tug and schooner on a sand bar. The tug managed to get off the bar, made her landing and the "captain" resigned on the spot.
The Mason was sailing for the river mouth and struck the bar in trying to keep out of the way of the tug and her tow.
The Sea Bird was owned by Henry Pope of this place, and Milo Adams of East Tawas. She is said to be 35 years old and estimates of her value range from $500 to $2,000. She had on board about 45,000 brick and 25 barrels of fire clay. Part of the cargo and her rigging was saved by the tug company, who will probably have to stand the loss.
The Mason was owned by one Betz of East Tawas. She had on board about 35,000 brick. She broke in two almost immediately and was purchased as she lay there by Herman Ziem, who saved what he could of her rigging and spars and will try to get her brick, which lay in about four feet of water.
      Iosco County Gazette
      Thursday, November 7, 1889
      p.3, Col.4

*Oct. 30
[Schooner JANE MASON (US#76139), of 60 feet and 33 gross tons, built in 1880 at Sand Beach (Harbor Beach), Michigan. Registrations at Port Huron showed her owned by Beck of East Tawas.
Scow schooner SEA BIRD (probably), US#22375, of 79 feet and 82 gt, built at Algonac in 1862. This is the only SEA BIRD I can find which fits the probable size range and goes off registry at about this time. I can find no schooners of the name dating as far back as 1854, as mentioned in the article.]