Sweetheart (Schooner), U22397, collision, 24 Aug 1878

Collision Between the Schooner SWEETHEART and Barge CITY OF GRAND HAVEN.
      The schooner SWEETHEART, Captain F. T. Church, sailed from here at 4 o'clock on Saturday afternoon with a cargo of grain, bound for Buffalo. The captain reports that at 9:3O o'clock Saturday night they got a squall from the north; the weather was very thick, and it was dark as pitch. The man on the lookout reported a bright light in the weather bow, which the captain thought was from a steamer, and ordered a torchlight. As soon as the torch was lighted they saw the light of it reflected on something to leeward of them; ordered the helm put down, and almost at the same instant the schooner was struck on her starboard quarter, breaking into her bulwarks. At the time of the accident the schooner was about ten mile, down the lake, and about eight miles out. The schooner came to anchor outside and lay there during Sunday. She was towed into the mouth of the harbor yesterday morning, and her crew made temporary repairs. Her damage will not amount to over $30, and will be repaired on her arrival at Buffalo. The captain received some severe bruises on his face during the excitement and darkness by striking against something. The captain calculate to sail again last evening.
The barge CITY OF GRAND HAVEN, which proves to be the colliding craft, had her stem split.
The barge sailed over this trip. The following is the version of the collision given by her master: At the time of the collision the barge was standing to the northward and westward, on the starboard tack, and the SWEETHEART was standing to the eastward on the port tack. The SWEETHEART first showed her green light, then stood off and showed her red light, and immediately after showed her green light again, and ran across the barge's bows. It was very dark at the time of the occurrence.
      Chicago Inter Ocean
      Tuesday, August 27, 1878
     

Schooner SWEETHEART. U. S. No. 22397. Of 538.97 gross tons; 512.02 tons net. Built Detroit, Mich., 1867. Home port, St. Clair, Mich. 175.0 x 32.0 x 13.0.
      Merchant Vessel List, U. S., 1885