Prairie State (Barge), aground, 19 Nov 1879

The schooner MERCURY is ashore at Pentwater. The schooner LUCKY is high and dry at Manistee; the schooner WAUBASHENE is on the beach 5 miles above Point Edward; the schooner SAMANA is on the beach east of Port Colborne. The schooner SUMATRA is on the beach at Cleveland; the large river tug J.P. CLARK capsized and sunk at Belle Isle, Detroit River and sank in 15 minutes. One drowned. The schooner PINTO of Oakville, Ont., stone laden went down in 30 feet of water about 1 mile down from Oakville. At Sand Beach the barge PRAIRIE STATE is rapidly going to pieces.
      Port Huron Daily Times
      Friday, November 21, 1879


      A despatch from Sand Beach yesterday says that the barge PRAIRE STATE, which went on reef Wednesday night, has gone to pieces. Two men are missing. The barge LEWIS WELLS has gone to pieces. The body of Capt. Wm. Little, of Saginaw City, and a sailor named Wood, of London, have been
found. Wm. Ogden, a sailor, and 2 others are missing. The tow barge WM. RAYNOR is also on the reef, and will probably be a total wreck. The crew were saved. The prop. WHITING and schr. E.C. HUTCHINSON are sunk, but probably not damaged much. The crew of the schooner suffered terribly, but were finally rescued by a volunteer crew, who manned the new government lifesaving boat recently sent there by the Government....
      Buffalo Morning Express
      November 22, 1879 1-7


The schooner PRAIRIE STATE and JARVIS WELLS are gone to pieces at Sand Beach. Eight were drowned from the many vessels in trouble there.
      Port Huron daily Times
      Monday, November 24, 1879