M. Ballard (Schooner), sunk, 30 Nov 1860

Vessel Wrecked - Crew Lost - The Bodies of Three Of The Sailors Brought To Oswego.
      On the 30th inst., the keeper of the light house on Galloo Island, Lake Ontario, with two men, saw a schooner going down toward the St. Lawrence, probably bound for Ogdensburgh. When opposite the Island, and one and a half miles to the northwest of the light house, she struck a shoal, and was unable to get off.
She struck about 9 o¹clock A.M. At twenty minutes of 11 the mainmast fell over and at 11 the foremast also fell. The wind was blowing a gale and a heavy sea running, so no boats could be sent from the island with any hope of reaching the imperiled crew of the schooner. The vessel hung in the same position till 1 P.M., when she also sunk out of sight. her small boat drifted ashore about an hour after she went down.
The lighthouse-keeper and his two companions remained on the beach till dusk. Shortly before night-fall three or four of the crew were seen floating on the hatches. One of them came so near that an oar was handed to him. he caught it, but a heavy sea washed him back and he was not seen afterwards. One of the crew was picked up that evening on the shore, about three miles from the head of the Island, and two more were found the next morning.
      A board was picked up with the name "Ballard" on it, and the vessel is supposed to have been the "M. Ballard," of Detroit, with a crew of ten men, all of whom are probably lost. The schooner E.B. Gannett, Capt. E. Wilder, of Sackets Harbor, came in this morning, bringing the bodies of the three men picked up on the island.
      Captain Pierce is holding an inquest, the result of which we will announce tomorrow.
      Oswego Advertiser & Times
      Mon., Dec. 3, 1866




      The Bodies Of The Sailors Brought To Oswego By The E.B. Gannett.
      We learn that a telegram has been received here from Mr. Hugh Coyne, of Detroit, saying that he would leave that place, Monday, to take charge of the bodies of the three sailors brought to this port, who perished in the wreck of the "M. Ballard."
      A telegram has also been received from a person in Kingston, requesting that the body of John King, one of the sailors, be sent to Cape Vincent. The body was accordingly sent forward on the 5:40 train last evening.
The body found on the lake shore Sunday morning has been identified as being that of Alvin Becker, of Port Round, County of Norfolk, C.W., who was lost from the schooner Mayflower, several days ago.
Much credit is due to Coroner Pierce for his energy and efficiency in obtaining evidence of identification, and also in securing money to defray the expenses of burial, which, in several instances occurring lately, would
otherwise have been charged to the county.
      Oswego Advertiser & Times
      Wed., Dec. 5, 1866





The Schooner Ballard. - Our readers will recollect the circumstances connected with the loss of that unfortunate vessel, the M. Ballard, which was wrecked off the Galloo Islands some weeks ago, going down under with her captain and crew of ten men.
      The Detroit Post says, Capt. Hugh Coyne has returned; his efforts to recover the body of his brother who was lost by the wreck of the schooner Ballard on Galloo island, having been entirely fruitless. No traces of any
of the bodies, except the three which were found the next morning after the gale, could be discovered, and the season is now so late that it is impossible to make further search. The names of the crew, as well as their
residence, is unknown. Capt. Coyne was a young man, and attended school in Detroit last winter. His untimely death is lamented by a large circle of friends.
      Oswego Advertiser & Times
      Dec. 21, 1866