Maria Melvin (Tug), aground, 20 Aug 1870

Marine Disaster. - The schooner NORWEGIAN, owned by Morgan Wheeler Esq., of this city, and the tug MARIA MELVIN, owned by J.D. Murphy, Esq., went ashore at an early hour this morning, a few hundred yards below the east pier, opposite Fort Ontario. The Norwegian, Capt. Chas. Brown, was on her way to this port from Kingston in ballast, the owner on board as a passenger.
The wind being gale as she approached the harbor, between three and four o'clock this morning, it was determined to run in under canvas, but the tug MELVIN ran out when a short distance off and was hailed to take a line. The vessel's mainsail was lowered away and the MELVIN attempted to run round under her stern, but just at this time the wind shifted and a severe squall
came on from the southwest. The vessel gained such speed that the tug was unable to come along side and her mainsail being off she would not answer her helm, and commenced drifting rapidly on to the shore.
She had struck the shore before the tug succeeded in getting a line from her. The tug no sooner straightened up on the line than it parted, and one end immediately fouled in her wheel, disabling her completely, and in a few moments after the tug also drifted ashore.
A heavy sea was rolling in from the westward, and both vessels soon opened their seams by pounding on the rocks and filling with water. The crews succeeded in reaching the shore with little difficulty, between four and five o¹clock. Should the sea go down in time and calm weather succeed, the vessel and tug may be got off and brought into port, but at the present time their fate is uncertain.
The NORWEGIAN is insured for $12,000, half of which is in the Aetna, and the other half divided between two companies. The MELVIN is partially insured.
      Oswego Advertiser and Times
      Sat., August 20, 1870


Wrecking - The insurance companies have engaged powerful pumping apparatus from Kingston and Buffalo, to put on board the schooner NORWEGIAN and tug MELVIN, and the probabilities are, should the weather prove moderate, that both crafts will be got off and brought into port.
      Oswego Advertiser and Times
      August 23, 1870



The tug HIGHLANDER from Kingston, is at work today endeavoring to pull off the schooner NORWEGIAN, which went ashore opposite Fort Ontario on Saturday last.
      Oswego Advertiser and Times
      August 24, 1870


The tug MARIA MELVIN, which went ashore under Fort Ontario, was hauled off this forenoon by the Canadian steamer WELLINGTON, and taken to Goble & Macfarlane's dry-dock for repairs.
      Oswego Advertiser and Times
      August 24, 1870


Schooner NORWEGIAN Abandoned - The schooner NORWEGIAN, ashore under Fort Ontario, has been abandoned, and she will be a total wreck. A diver from Kingston took a survey of her this morning, and it was concluded that further attempts to get her off would be useless. Four steam pumps were at work on her this morning, but they could not keep her free.
      Oswego Advertiser and Times
      August 24, 1870