Buena Vista (Schooner), gale damage, 9 Aug 1875

NAVIGATION DISASTERS
      The Milwaukee `Wisconsin' gives the following details of disasters:-
"During the storm of Thursday night and Friday last, serious damage was done to vessels lying at Perry's Pier, on the east shore of Lake Michigan, thirteen miles north of Manistee, loading with wood and lumber. The vessels were the schooners TOLEDO, BUENA VISTA and the CONQUEST, all of this port. The TOLEDO was moored to the south side of the pier, heading towards the beach. The BUENA VISTA was lying on the north side of the pier, heading out, and the CONQUEST riding at anchor outside of, and her stern just clearing the end of the pier. When the storm arose Thursday night the CONQUEST dragged anchor, and was made fast to the pier with a hawser to prevent her from going on to the beach. The TOLEDO hung on to the pier, being unable to get away on account of the position of the CONQUEST. She laboured heavily and in a short time jumped out her jiboom and bowsprit. The CONQUEST gradually shifted her position until she swung alongside the TOLEDO with her line across the latters stern. In this position both of the vessels lay for some time, pounding upon a sand-bar which was under the TOLEDO near the mizzen rigging. Not until her stern was gone above the transom did it occur to the captain to let her go upon the beach, and when this step had been taken the vessel had been rendered a total wreck, full of water, upon the beach. where she lies buired in the sand. The CONQUEST while also pounding on the sand bar under her stern had sprung a bad leak and the BUENA VISTA which also hung on to the pier was pounding so heavily against it as to break five planks on the port side, two of then under water, but her crew managed to keep her afloat and hanging on to the pier until the gale subsided, although in doing this all of her lines were used up. Her small boat was also crushed and one of the davits carried away. The BUENA VISTA arrived here this morning and brought intelligence of the disaster. Captain Peacock says the CONQUEST will endeavor to come over with a hold full of wood, but she may be compelled to tow, as her leak is a bad one. It is said that she has also lost her rudder. The crew of the TOLEDO, with the exception of Captain Sinnott, came over on the BUENA VISTA. Captain Sinnott will remain at the pier to examine the TOLEDO when the seas run down, in order to determine whether she can be saved. Her canvas and other outfit are said to be badly used up. The schooner WALESKA brings a report from Muskegon that a small vessel , loaded with stone had foundered with all hands, about two miles off that harbour during the gale of Friday last. The vessel is said to have taken a cargo of stone from the pier at Muskegon for some point north, and sunk
while endeavoring to return to Muskegon Pier. Her name is not known nothing more than she had a lead colored or blue hull. Several parties who were near the pier and harbour on Friday claim to have seen her go down.
      Toronto Daily Globe
      Monday, August 16, 1875