Lackawanna (Propeller), U140930, aground, 22 Nov 1897

LACKAWANNA SUNK.
      She Lies In 18 Feet Of Water Close To Amherstburg Wharf.
      -----
      Windsor, Ont., Nov. 23. - The large steamer LACKAWANNA, with flour and merchandise, which struck on Ballard's Reef, near Amherstburg, Ont., yesterday morning and just as she got her lines out sank forward, is in 18 feet of water. She is now lying about 20 feet from the dock with a large hole in her iron plate. Steam pumps are at work keeping out the water to save her cargo.
      Buffalo Evening News
      Tuesday, November 23, 1897 4 - 5



      Referring to the recent accident to the Buffalo steamer LACKAWANNA at Ballard's reef, due to striking rock thrown up in the work of channel excavation, a correspondent at Ambertsburg says that as tows were constantly carrying away the floats placed over such obstructions, the contractors have tried, as far as possible of late, to give notice to vessels approaching from both directions of the condition of the channel. "If deep laden ships will be sure of keeping the upper range open a little to the west," he says, 'they will clear the spot where the dredge has been working. Dredging operations that are being carried on by the Canadian government along the water-front at the town of Amherstburg will prove of great advantage. The stretch of channel that is being dredged extends out 300 feet et from the dock. At several points well out in this channel boulders weighing full four tons have been raised, and they were so smooth from big vessels rubbing over them that you would have thought they were sand-papered. A few days ago the dredge raised an oak saw log about 16 feet long and 3 feet diameter, and in it was imbedded a large blade from a steamer's wheel. Vessel men of this place who talked with Capt. Thomas Jones of the steamer IROQUOIS are of the opinion that the obstruction which his vessel met with near Colchester several days ago was not the wreck of the steamer GRAND TRAVERSE. They are quite certain that this wreck has been cleared to a depth of more than 20 feet and they say that from the bearings given by Capt. Jones it is more than probable that the Iroquois struck at Little's point. Capt. Jones, whose vessel was bound up with coal, says that as near as he can judge he was about two miles above Colchester reef light, the light bearing E.S.E. 2 ½ miles with Little's point just abaft the beam."
      The Marine Review
      December 2, 1897



Steam screw LACKAWANNA. U. S. No. 140930. Of 2015 gross tons; 1595 tons net. Built Cleveland, O., 1888. Home port, Duluth. 260.0 x 39.2 x 21.6 Passenger service. Crew of 19. Of 800 indicated horsepower.
      Merchant Vessel List, U. S., 1906