Bolivar (Schooner), aground, 23 Nov 1845

We are again indebted to our friend Capt. Ward, for information confirming the reported disasters on Lake Michigan. The following bears the date of " St. Joseph, Nov. 24," but by some accident has not reached us sooner. "The schooners NILES, MAHALA, BOLIVAR and PLANET, are ashore between Black River and this place, cast ashore yesterday, no lives lost, and all will probably be got off without much injury, except the BOLIVAR, which is a perfect wreck and is now being stripped.
      Reports says that two vessels more are ashore north of Black River (one of them supposed to be the MINT,) but nothing known definately." - Det. Adv. Dec.
      Daily National Pilot, Buffalo
      Friday, December 5, 1845

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      Since the above was in type we received the Kalamazoo Gazette containing the following particulars. According to this account 3 at least of the crew of the BOLIVAR were lost:
      Tremendous Gale on Lake Michigan, 7 schooners wrecked near the mouth of the
Kalamazoo River, 7 lives lost.
      David Hubbard, of this village has just arrived in town from the mouth of the Kalamazoo River, from whom we learn that on Saturday morning last (Nov. 22) the schooner MINT, Capt. Butterfield, left that harbor about 9:00 or 10:00 A.M. under a heavy northwest wind, which soon after increased to a perfect hurricane Capt. Butterfield put about and attempted to make the harbor again. At the same time the schooner ETNA appeared, endeavoring to run into the harbor. The MINT drifted south of the ETNA and struck on the south bar. Captain Butterfiel was the first man to leap into the water, his vessel being about 10 rods from the shore, and although urged by the citizens who had run to the beach, to come
out of the water, he refused to leave the schooner until all hands were off and safely ashore. We are informed that much credit is dur Capt. B. for his noble conduct in saving the lives of his crew.
      The schooner JESSE SMITH ran ashore about 6 miles north of the mouth of the Kalamazoo River. Schooner MAHALA was reported ashore about 25 miles south of the mouth, crew all saved. Schooner NILES ashore 2 or 3 miles to the leeward of the MAHALA, another schooner ashore, name not known. The NILE saw the BOLIVAR, to windward outside in the breakers going ashore.
      P.S. We have since learned that she ran ashore about 8 miles north of St. Joseph River and broke in two. Three of the crew were found drowned on the beach, and it was supposed that all on board had perished.
      Daily National Pilot, Buffalo
      Friday, December 5, 1845

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VESSELS ASHORE ON LAKE MICHIGAN. -- The Arregan Record of Friday says that the schooner JESSE SMITH is high and dry on the beach, between kalamazoo and Grand River. The schrs. MINT and AETNA have also run ashore, endeavoring to make Kalamazoo harbor, during the gale. Both of the latter schooners were loaded with lumber from the mouth of the Kalamazoo - bound for Chicago.
The Record also lears that the schooner BOLIVAR and MAKALA, ran ashore during the snow storm on Tuesday last.
      Tremendous Gale on Lake Michigan, 7 schooners wrecked near the mouth of the Kalamazoo River, 7 lives lost.
      David Hubbard, of this village has just arrived in town from the mouth of the Kalamazoo River, from whom we learn that on Saturday morning last (Nov. 22) the schooner MINT, Capt. Butterfield, left that harbor about 9:00 or 10:00 A.M. under a heavy northwest wind, which soon after increased to a perfect hurricane Capt. Butterfield put about and attempted to make the harbor again. At the same time the schooner ETNA appeared, endeavoring to run into the harbor. The MINT drifted south of the ETNA and struck on the south bar. Captain Butterfiel was the first man to leap into the water, his vessel being about 10 rods from the shore, and although urged by the citizens who had run to the beach, to come out of the water, he refused to leave the schooner until all hands were off and safely ashore. We are informed that much credit is dur Capt. B. for his noble conduct in saving the lives of his crew.
      The schooner JESSE SMITH ran ashore about 6 miles north of the mouth of the Kalamazoo River. Schooner MAHALA was reported ashore about 25 miles south of the mouth, crew all saved. Schooner NILES ashore 2 or 3 miles to the leeward of the MAHALA, another schooner ashore, name not known. The NILE saw the BOLIVAR, to windward outside in the breakers going ashore.
      P.S. We have since learned that she ran ashore about 8 miles north of St. Joseph River and broke in two. Three of the crew were found drowned on the beach, and it was supposed that all on board had perished.
      Buffalo Courier
      Monday, December 8, 1845