Marine Disasters

(From the Cape, Vincent Eagle)

The following is the list of the wrecks and other casualties suffered by vessels, caused by "gales and heavy seas, occurring between Cleveland's wharf and the shoals below it, off the village of Cape Vincent. The list is necessarily imperfect, as no systematic record has been kept until recent years. However, | proof positive is afforded by the marine disasters recorded below of tne vital needs of more adequate protection to the commerce of the St. Lawrence river and the Great Lakes, which is forced to make extensive use of this roadstead as the only available protection to vessels in heavy weather between Lake Ontario and many miles below, and also as a necessary place for up-bound craft to wait for safe weather on the lake outside.

At no time in such weather but a number of vessels—sometimes a large fleet —are here in waiting for that purpose. It is very desirable to make a list of wrecks and casualties as full and complete as possible, and the Eagle invites all who possess information on the subject to supply it to us, that a more perfect record may be obtained and preserved.

"Lady Elgin," Canada; passenger and freight steamer; lost cable and anchors on Hinckley's shoal and stranded on Mud Island early in the year 1865.

"Shakespere," Detroit, Mich.; bark; lost two cables and anchors, stranded on Hinckley's shoal, morning following the disaster to Lady Elgin.

"Northern Light," E. G. Merrit, Clayton; schooner; lost anchor and stranded at Scotch Brook, spring 1866; "Burnside," E. G. Merrit; Clayton bark; lost anchor and stranded on Hinckley's shoal shortly after preceeding disaster.

"Theresa," St. Catherines, Ont.; stranded at Gravelly Point near the close of 1866; lay there until the following spring.

"Hiawatha," Oswego, schooner; dragged anchor and fouled another schooner and both stranded just below Scotch Brook, about May 1, 1866.

(Unknown) John Chapman, Henderson; schooner,; the one fouled by the "Hiawatha." "Prince Albert," Folger Bros., Kingston, Ont.; schooner; driven from her winter moorings at Cleveland's wharf and stranded at Gravelly Point about Jan. 1, 1869.

"Orkney Lass," Folger Bros., Kingston, Ont ; schooner; same disaster, place and time. "Grant," schooner; same disaster, place and time. "Ben Franklin," Sodus, N._Y.; schooner; same disaster, place and time.

"Oxford," of Oswego; with corn; driven against railroad wharf and sunk near the close of 1870; raised the following spring.

"Mary," Samuel T. Hooker, of Sackets Harbor; schooner; parted her lines at railroad wharf by the elevator and driven against the "L" in said wharf and sank with cargo of barley near the close of 1870

"Cornelia," William Consaul, of Clayton, schooner with coal; stranded just below Davis' coal house, date unknown. Three barges from Canada; with lumber, names unknown; two of them stranded at Gravelly Point; the third was driven against the railroaH wharf and lost her deck load late in 1887.

"Boughton," Lee & Ainsworth, Cape Vincent; schooner; light; stranded at Gravelly Point, about 1864. "Merchant," Lee & Ainsworth, Cape Vincent; schooner; light; same disaster, time and place.

"Benecia Boy," Barney Eveleigh, Sackets Harbor: sloop; light; wrecked at the "L" in railroad wharf; about 1872.

"Islander," St. Lawrence Steamboat Co. passenger steamer; damaged by pounding against railroad wharf; obliged to send to Clayton for the steamer St. Lawrence to pull her off; July 8th, 1888

"Annie Laurie," Col. S. B. Hance, of Cape Vincent; passenger steamer; damaged by pounding on railroad wharf; July 8th, 1888.

(Unknown,) two barges from Canada with lumber; towed by the "Lady Bagot;" Rufus Johnson, Point Peninsula, captain both barges driven against railroad wharf and wrecked about 1856.

"Carleton," Capt. C. Hinckley, Sr., Cape Vincent; sloop; driven from her moorings at Cleveland's wharf and stranded on Wolfe Island, 1888. "Olive Branch," W. S. Parker, Cape Vincent; sloop;, stranded on the "clay bank," below Scotch Brook, about 1883.

"Union," William Jenkins, Ellisburg, N. Y.; schooner; light; stranded just below Scotch Brook about a dozen years ago.

"John E. Hunt," Lee & Ainsworth, Cape Vincent; schooner;, light; stranded just below Davis coal house about 1835.

"J. G. Nichols," Capt. A. R. Hinckley, Cape Vincent; steambarge; stranded at Gravelly Point 1895.

"Round Robin." Mr. Daves, N. J.; sloop, driven against Cleveland's wharf about 1886; total wreck. Carleton," W. W. Sheley, Cape Vincent; sloop; dragged anchor and driven against Cleveland's wharf, 1880.vAs further proof that the anchorage within the limits named is unsafe in very heavy weather,we note further casualties, although damage by stranding did not occur:

"Chase," U. S. Revenne Cutter; steamer; lost both cable and anchor off railroad wharf, fall of 1889.

"Polly Rogers," E. K. Burnham, Cape Vincent; schooner; dragged anchor, but held up near Featherbed Shoal, 1886.

"Marine City," Marine City, Mich.; schooner; lost cable and anchor saved by second anchor, 1866.