Gazelle (Schooner), collision, 30 Oct 1880

COLLISION ON LAKE ONTARIO.
      The Schooner SWEEPSTAKES Strikes the Schooner GAZELLE Twenty Miles off Oswego
      Both Much Damaged - The Crew of the GAZELLE Ask to be Taken Off
      But Probably are Safe.
The schr. SWEEPSTAKES, Capt. Thomas, from Kingston to Oswego with barley, collided last night about 20 miles off this port with the schr. GAZELLE bound out. Capt. Thomas reports the circumstances as follows: The wind was about south; the SWEEPSTAKES was on the port tack, close hauled and the GAZELLE was running before the wind. Capt. Thomas went below at 10:30. Just after 11 o'clock he heard the mate sing out to the wheelsman to put the helm hard down. he did so, and the captain came up on deck and found the GAZELLE on his port bow, and in a minute more the SWEEPSTAKES struck her on her starboard quarter, carrying away her mainsail and main boom and knocking a hole in her stern so they could see into her cabin. The SWEEPSTAKES' jibboom and head gear were carried away. The captain of the GAZELLE asked Capt. Thomas to lower his boat and rescue them; but as he kept his foresail standing and was going before the wind it was impossible to catch him with a yawl. Besides, the SWEEPSTAKES' head gear being all gone, they could do nothing with the vessel. The last seen of the GAZELLE she had her foresail and fore gaff set.
Capt. Thomas says he has been sailing for years and never had a collision before. he says the GAZELLE was at fault and must pay the damage. The GAZELLE was light, and the breach made in her being above water mark, she is no doubt all right.
      Oswego Palladium
      Sat., October 30, 1880