Joseph (Barge), sunk by freshet, 10 Feb 1881

Vessels Carried Into The lake.
Fairport, Feb. 10. -- The ice moved out of the river this morning between 5 and 6 o'clock, carrying everything before it. It struck the schooner M. O. KEYES, and then the tug URANIA, at the upper ore docks, and the barge JOSEPH at the coal dock of the Painesville & Youngstown railway, taking them along with it out in the lake. The KEYES and JOSEPH are in a bad condition, the KEYES having a hole stove in her side, and is held high and dry out of water by the ice working in under her. The JOSEPH filled with water and sank. The URANIA lies perfectly easy at present, and in good condition. It is thought that, when the current subsides, she can be easily brought inside. The three vessels lie just to the east of the east pier. It was thought that the railway bridge would certainly go, at one time.
      Cleveland Herald
      Friday, February 11, 1881

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Fairport, O., March 29. -- The schooner M. O. KEYES has been brought inside today in bad condition. Her foremast is gone, and she is full of water. She will be hauled out here. The northwest wind brought the ice back on this shore. It struck the barge JOSEPH, that has been laying outside, decks under, and drove her ashore, so that about five feet of her side is out of water. The lake is full of ice.
      Cleveland Herald
      Wednesday, March 30, 1881

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      Fairport, April 17. -- The schooner M. O. KEYS, which was successfully hauled out one day last week, was found to be quite badly stove up by the ice. She is being thouroghly overhauled, and will be ready to launch sometime this week. Her new foremast is all ready to be shipped.
      Leahy's steam pump arrived from Detroit Saturday morning and was immediately put aboard of the barge JOSEPH, which went out into the lake during the freshet, and has since laid to the east of the piers full of water. It did good work, and at 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon it was brought inside. She will be taken to Cleveland and docked as soon as the ice leaves the shore sufficient to allow a tug to come down from Cleveland.
      Cleveland Herald
      Monday, April 18, 1881