1821

Wrecking of the Walk-in-the-Water, November 1, 1821. From an oil painting by Mr. Matthies, made for Thomas and Mary A. W. Palmer, of Detroit, who were on the boat at the time of the disaster, returning home from their wedding trip. The wreck occurred just above the old lighthouse, or nearly opposite the foot of Main Street, Buffalo before daylight. Copy of painting obtained from C. M. Burton, Detroit.

The year 1821 was notable for the wreck of the first steamer on Lake Erie -- The Walk-in-the-Water. The principal Buffalo newspaper devoted but a single paragraph to the disastrous event. The article reads as follows: "It is with extreme regret that we have to announce that the steamboat was beached about 100 rods above the lighthouse on Thursday morning last, and is so badly damaged that she cannot be repaired. The boat was heavily laden, and on her last trip for the season. The crew are now removing her machinery. We understand that the machinery might be used in another boat. The boat owned by a company in Albany and New York, and we have not been able to learn whether she is insured or not."

The published communication of a passenger on the fated boat gives additions particulars and incidents of the historical wreck. It is as follows: "On Wednesday, October 31, the Walk-in-the-Water left Black Rock at 4 p.m., on her regular trip to Detroit. The weather, though somewhat rainy, did not appear threatening. After proceeding a short distance up the lake, she was struck by a severe squall, which continued to blow through the night with extreme severity. The lake became rough to a terrifying degree, and every wave seemed to threaten destruction to the boat and passengers. To proceed up the lake was impossible. To attempt to return to Black Rock amid the darkness and howling tempest would be certain destruction. She was then anchored, and for a time held fast. The casing in her cabin moved at every roll, and the creaking of her joints and timbers was appalling. She commenced leaking, and her engine was devoted to the pumps, but the water increased to an alarming extent, and the wind increased to an alarming degree. The wind blew more violent as the night advanced, and it was discovered that she was dragging her anchors. The passengers were numerous and many of them were ladies, whose fears and cries were truly heartrending. In this scene of distress and danger all the passengers feel the warmest gratitude to Captain Rogers for the prudence, coolness and intelligence with which he performed his duty. The boat was now at the mercy of the waves until 5 o'clock in the morning, when she was beached a short distance above the light- house, and we all debarked. Some idea may be formed of the fury of the storm from the fact that, though heavily laden, the boat was thrown entirely on the beach."

The following account of the disaster, and of a subsequent tedious voyage from Buffalo to Detroit in November, was written by Mrs. Welton, one of the passengers: "The steamboat 'Walk-in-the-Water' left Black Rock the evening of October 31, 1821, bound for Detroit, with the following list of passengers: The Rev. Alanson W. Welton and family, Jedediah Hunt, William Lattimore, Thomas Palmer, Orlando Cutter, William Bercry, Silas Meriam, Mary A. W. Palmer, Rhoda Lattimore, Catharine Palmer, Marthy Bearey, Chauncey Barker, George Williams, Thomas Gray, E. N. Berge, John Hudson, F. Martin and George Throop. For the first few hours after leaving Black Rock, we had fair weather, but about eight o'clock in the evening, and while we were at supper, a terrific gale commenced, which lasted throughout the night. The boat, being unable to make headway against the gale. Captain Rodgers gave orders to cast anchor. We were then a few miles above the old Buffalo lighthouse. Here we lay until nearly daylight. During all this time, the creaking of her timbers throughout her whole length warned us of the probable fate in store for us all. The joints in her timbers opened in a frightful manner. At daylight, her anchors dragging, the captain gave orders to cut her cables and let her drift ashore, and the passengers were advised of the possible fatal result. Tired out with anxious watching, I had taken my berth with my children, keeping my own and their clothes on. My husband was still on deck. When the captain's summons came to the cabin passengers to turn out, as the boat was going ashore, the floor of the cabin was ankle deep with water. The passengers were strangers to each other, only a few hours having elapsed since leaving Black Rock. I will not attempt to describe the anxious, prayerful, tearful upturned faces that were grouped together in the cabin of the 'Walk in the Water' on that terrible, cold morning as we looked into each other's faces for probably the last time.

"The boat struck the beach in a fortunate spot for the safety of the passengers and crew -- near the lighthouse -- and all were saved. The warm fireside we gathered around at the lighthouse was comfortable to our chilled limbs, and our hearts warmed with gratitude to God for deliverance from our peril. Monday, November 5, we embarked on the schooner Michigan, from Black Rock, determined to reach Detroit, our destined home and field of missionary labors. The weather was favorable until Tuesday, when opposite Cleveland another gale broke over us, before which we were driven like a feather, and came to anchor under Long Point, Canada, only 16 miles from Buffalo. On the morning of the 8th of November, we again got under way, with a fair wind, reaching a point opposite Cleveland, when another storm met us, from which we sought shelter in Erie Harbor, Pennsylvania. Here we were obliged to remain eleven days, the storm was so severe and continued, having, during this time, made three efforts to get on our way to Detroit and as often being driven back to Erie. Our fourth trial was successful, and although the weather was still what the sailors called rough, we reached the harbor of Put-in-Bay island. We spent the Sabbath on shore, and on Monday again set sail for Detroit. At evening we dropped anchor at the mouth of Detroit river. Here we lay, unfavorable winds detaining us for a whole week, but we finally arrived at Detroit on Saturday evening, December 1, 1821. Of all the passengers who were on board the 'Walk-in-the-Water' on the last day of October, 1821, our little family were the only ones that ventured upon the waters of Lake Erie again that season, and I was the only female passenger throughout this tiresome voyage. The other passengers took the wagon route through Canada and arrived at Detroit before we did. We were 32 days on steamer and sailing vessel between Buffalo and Detroit."

When the Walk-in-the-water stranded on the beach at Buffalo, she had aboard eighteen passengers and a full and valuable cargo, resulting in a loss to her owners of $10,000 or $12,000. Her engine was afterward placed in the Superior, which was built by a chartered company, and had an exclusive privilege in the navigable waters of New York. This privilege was abandoned after a decision of the Supreme Court of the United States.

A citizen of Detroit, writing to Schoolcraft, November 17, 1821, thus deplores the wreck of the Walk-in-the-water: "This accident may be considered as one of the greatest misfortunes which have even befallen Michigan, for in addition to its having deprived us of all certain and speedy communication with the civilized world, I am fearful it will greatly check the progress of emigration and improvement. They speak of three new boats on Lake Erie next season; I hope they may be erected, but such reports are always exaggerated."

Steamer Superior is Built and Launched. -- The hull of the Walk-in- the-Water was damaged beyond repair, and, having been a financial success, her owners determined to replace her, and during the following winter the Superior was built on the bank of Buffalo creek, by Noah Brown, "master carpenter." She was not quite as long nor as wide as her predecessor, but was two feet deeper. She was owned by the Lake Erie Steamboat Company, and was launched April 13, 1822. She was the first vessel of any size built at Buffalo. Some slight work had to be done in the mouth of Buffalo creek in the way of cutting through the sand bars, so as to deepen the waters, in order that the Superior might get out into the lake. The shallowness of the water there had caused the owners of this boat to hesitate about building her on Buffalo creek, but, as they were assured that the spring freshets would clear the mouth of the creek, and a guarantee of $100 per day was given by responsible citizens for each day that she was delayed in the creek, after she was ready to go out, they decided to built her there.

When she was nearly ready to go out there was great anxiety lest this guarantee would have to be made good, and the citizens assembled every day in large numbers, merchants, lawyers and laborers alike, with teams, scrapers and shovels, and other necessary tools, and labored most assiduously to remove as much of the bar as was necessary to permit the Superior to pass out and to return to the harbor, and those who could not work sent down provisions of all kinds to those at work, in order to help the good work along. All felt that success in getting this vessel out of the harbor into the lake was vital to the future of that harbor.

The fateful day arrived, and after some little difficulty in touching the bar, the Superior got out into the lake, being aided by her engine, around the shaft of which a cable was wound and attached to an anchor carried ahead. After making a few miles run on the lake to try her machinery, she returned to the harbor, and everybody concerned breather more freely, for it then seemed certain that had the Superior failed to get out over the bar at the mouth at Buffalo creek, the harbor for commerce at the lower end of the lake would have been established at Black Rock.

The Superior went into commission in May, 1822, under command of Capt. Jedediah Rogers, and until 1826 was the one steamboat of Lake Erie. This boat also made voyages to Mackinac, which was then the Ultima Thule of western navigation.

"The Superior, being the second steamer built on the lakes, had proved herself a staunch boat," says Schoolcraft, who in 1822 was a passenger on her trip to Sault Ste. Marie. He narrates that the steamer came to anchor from an apprehension that the bar of Lake George could not be crossed. Its depth of water was then stated to be but 6 feet 2 inches. The journey was completed in the ship's yawl, Captain Rogers of the steamer taking the helm.

Other Happenings in 1821-22. -- April 19: Schooner Prudence, owned by Philo Taylor, launched at Cleveland. May 13: Navigation open at Buffalo and other Lake Erie ports. May 29: Schooner Ariadne launched at Sacket's Harbor. November 1: Steamboat Walk-in-the-Water wrecked on Lake Erie near the lighthouse at Buffalo. October 31: Capt. Henry I. Guest washed overboard from his schooner, the Wolf, during a severe storm. December 21: Lake Erie frozen over. March 26, 1822: Navigation opened at Cleveland by the schooner Lake Serpent, which cleared for Detroit, in command of Captain J. Burtis. March 16: Navigation opened at Detroit. April 13: Steamboat Superior launched at Buffalo Creek, owned by the Lake Erie Steamboat Co., and the successor of the Walk-in-the-Water. April 15: Schooner Ariadne, owned by Dennison & Kimball, of Sacket's Harbor, wrecked during a severe gale on Lake Ontario. May 14: Steamer Superior leaves Black Rock on her first trip to Detroit. August 14: Steamer Superior disabled near Cleveland; passengers transferred to a schooner, and steamer brought to Buffalo for repairs. December 10: Schooner General Huntington sustains injuries during a storm near Buffalo; 15, schooner Hannah sustained injuries on Lake Erie; 31, two hundred arrivals and departures at Buffalo during the season.

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Volume II

Some of the transcription work was also done by Brendon Baillod, who maintains an excellent guide to Great Lakes Shipwreck Research.