Oneonta (Schooner), U18887, aground, 9 Sep 1875

The September Gale.-- On Thursday and Friday of last week a terrible gale raged on the lakes, causing many disasters Besides the loss of the EQUINOX many other vessels were wrecked or damaged. The schooner JOHN DUNN went ashore at Chicago Friday night and will prove a total loss. She was built last season at a cost of $23,600 and was insured for $12,000. The schooner MAJOR FERRY and scow-schooner M.J. GAINES also went ashore at the same time and place. The bark TANNER sank off Milwaukee, her master, Capt. Howard, being drowned. The schooner ONEONTA was driven into the north pier at Chicago Friday night, her master, Capt. Sam Bean, being drowned. The bark CITY OF BUFFALO, ore laden, while passing through the St. Mary's River struck a rock and began leaking. Upon her arrival at Sand Beach, Lake Huron, there was six feet of water in her hold. The vessel was beached and sunk in sixteen feet of water. The crew was saved The scow THOMAS RICHARDS of Detroit is on the beach near Port Hope, Lake Huron. Her crew were saved. The tug RESCUE was unable to tow the schooner FAREWELL through and beached her near Marine City in the St. Clair River, where her grain will be transferred. The tug MAYFLOWER with six barges in tow was caught in the severe gale opposite Port Austin and cut loose all of her tow but two, the EDWARD KEAN and the SPAULDING. Three of those cast adrift dropped anchors but dragged them, owing to the violence of the gale, and drifted on to the Port Austin reef. The SOPHIA SMITH, being light, went on broadside against the rocky shore and her crew without much difficulty stepped off on the land. The crews of the barges on the Port Austin reef were taken off by shore boats. Numerous other reports of lost deck loads, serious leaks and carrying away of sails and rigging of vessels on Lake Michigan were received and the general opinion expressed was that the storm of Thursday and Friday and its effects is the most serious that has taken place on the lakes for many years.
      Amherstburg Echo
      September 17, 1875
     
     
     
      Schooner ONEONTA. U. S. No. 18887. Of 424.44 tons gross; 403.22 tons net. Built Buffalo, N.Y., 1862. Home port, Bay City, Mich.
      Merchant Vessel List, U. S., 1884