1861.

Five of the six revenue cutters on the lakes, all schooners of about 60 tons burden, were ordered to New York City. These were the Jacob Thompson, Capt. T. S. Thompson: A. V. Brown, Capt. D. Ottinger; Isaac Toney, Captain Brown; J. S. Black, Captain Lanagan; and the Howell Cobb, Captain Williams. They were all built at Milan, cost a good round sum, and were valueless for the purposes intended, owing to their small size and mode of propulsion.

Steamer Peerless. -- The history of the steamer Peerless, of Toronto, is somewhat interesting. About the beginning of May, 1861, she was purchased by J. T. Wright, of New York, from the Bank of Upper Canada, for $36,000. On May 10 she left Toronto, under command of Capt. Robert Kerr. On reaching Montreal she had to be dismasted in order to enable her to pass under the Victoria bridge, and on May 27 she reached Quebec, where it was ascertained that under British laws she could not sail for a foreign port without an Imperial charter, which the officer at Quebec could not give, as she was owned by an American. Mr. Wright thereupon made application to the American consul at Quebec for a sailing letter; but this was declined on the ground that the vessel might be destined for service in the navy of the Confederate States. Mr. Wright was finally enabled to get his vessel out of port by giving heavy bonds that the Peerless should not be used for war-like purposes, and he was allowed to clear her on condition that Captain McCarthy, a native of Nova Scotia, but a naturalized citizen of the United States, should command her. She at last formed one of the Burnside expedition, and was lost off Cape Hatteras, Mr. Wright receiving for her about $100,000 on account of her loss and $6,000 for her services in the war.

Foundering of the Keystone State.--The steamer Keystone State foundered on Lake Huron about November 20, with all on board, some 33 persons. She had left Detroit for Milwaukee, and when last seen was off Port Austin, Lake Huron, encountering a severe storm and apparently unmanageable. Floating pieces of wreckage, seen off Point aux Barques, were supposed to be vestiges of the ill-fated vessel. She was a large old steamer, and had plied for years between Buffalo and Chicago. She was not provided with boats, and was in command of Capt. Wilkes Travers, of Buffalo.

Statistics. - In 1861 there were in commission on the northern lakes 147 side-wheel steamers, aggregating 64,669 tons, valuation $2,668,900; 203 propellers, 69,051 tons, valuation $2,804,900; 62 barks, 25,118 tons, valuation $626,800; 36 brigs, 24,871 tons, valuation, $57,100; 989 schooners, 204,900 tons, valuation, $5,284,900; 15 sloops, tonnage, 2,800 tons, valuation $11,850. Total number of all classes, 1,502; total tonnage, 383,309 tons; total valuation $11,862,450.

Opening of Navigation. - Navigation between Detroit and Port Huron commenced March 11. The steamer Ruby, Capt. C. F. Moore, reached the latter port on that date. The propeller Cleveland arrived at Port Colborne April 10, from Buffalo; April 13 the propeller Queen of the Lakes sailed for Lake Superior. The Sault canal was clear May 3, and the steamer Michigan, Capt. Albert Stewart, was the first boat through. The Straits of Mackinac were open April 25, the propeller Prairie State being the first boat through, bound eastward.

Other Events of 1861. - February 25: Cleveland schooner Twin Brother, owned by W. N. Bates, lost at sea. March: Sailboat Martin Johnson lost on Lake Erie. Bark Quebec, wrecked at Nine Mile Point, Lake Ontario, released; 10, work of Cleveland shipyards during the past winter amounted to $120,000. Contracts given for three lighthouses on the coast of Lake Superior, lights to be of the third order, and to cost $45,000. April: Detroit ship-masters fix seamen's wages at $20 per month. May: Bark Berlin capsized off Beaver island. Tug Uncle Ben, of Detroit, chartered by the government for coast service. Schooner Freeman lost near Buffalo, five of the crew drowned. Schooner A. Handy, sunk near Spectacle reef, Lake Huron. Schooner Sir Edmund Head, sunk at Allanburg, Welland canal. Steamer Saginaw burned near the St. Lawrence river. Tug Rapid, of Buffalo, leased by the government. Bark Pierce, of Cleveland, in command of Capt. Chas. Gale, sunk by Rebels; cargo valued at $50,000. June: Bark Ravenna sails for Liverpool in command of Captain Maloit. Propeller Michigan and schooner Storm King collide; Storm King sunk. Schooner Adriatic returns to the lakes after a long ocean trade. July: Steamer Bowmanville left Toronto with a large number of excursionists on board to see the famous steamship Great Eastern, which had just arrived at Montreal from England. Propeller L. B. Britton lost near Calumet, Lake Michigan. Hull of the old steamer Sultana, sunk a year ago at Hog island, raised and rebuilt. Schooner Andover abandoned at Point aux Barques; built at Black River, Ohio, in 1844. Schooner Pilot, sunk in Detroit river, raised. Schooner Lone Star struck by lightning and sustained considerable injury. August: Barge Etheland sunk at Kingston. Schooner Muskegon arrives at Chicago direct from the West Indies. Schooner Eveline Bates struck by lightning, resulting in serious injuries. Scow Frolic sunk at Cleveland. Raft of timber, valued at $35,000 in tow of the tug Magnet, lost on Lake Erie. Schooner Orion sunk near St. Joseph. Steamer Huron sunk at Port Austin. Steamer Albion ran on the rocks near Sandwich Point, and sank soon after. September: Schooner E. P. Dorr sustains serious injuries from coming in contact with a watersport. Propeller Banshee sunk near Timber island, Lake Ontario. Barge Cato sunk on St. Lawrence river with 10,000 bushels of wheat. Elevator completed at Grand Haven, owned by Detroit & Milwaukee R. R. Co. New lighthouse at Point Pelee. October: Scow Frank Brown sunk by propeller Montgomery. Tug McQueen purchased by government to be converted into a gunboat. Steamer Minnesota abandoned at Summer island, Lake Michigan. Steamer Ruby and scow R. G. Allen collide in Lake St. Clair; Allen sunk. Propeller Oregon, sunk last year, raised. Schooner Echo, of Toronto, lost at Gull Bar. December: Scow Mathews sunk at Kelley's island. The following craft also passed out of existence in 1861: Steamer St. Peters burned on the ways at Sorel; steamer Saginaw burned in Lachine canal; steamer Comet, sunk by schooner Exchange in Lake Ontario, and three lives lost; steamer Minnesota wrecked on Summer island, Lake Michigan; steamer Keystone State, foundered in Lake Huron and thirty-three lives lost; propeller Cataract burned on Lake Erie with loss of four lives; propeller S. S. Britton wrecked near Calumet, Lake Michigan; propeller Oshaw wrecked at South Bay, Lake Ontario; tug George Notter, burned on Lake Michigan; bark Northerner wrecked on Long Point, Lake Erie; scow Plough Boy wrecked at Black River, Lake Erie.

The following named vessels were all schooners: Schooner Freeman wrecked near Buffalo and five lives lost; E. C. Williams wrecked near Erie; Margarette wrecked near Sodus, Lake Ontario; E. Henderson lost at Waukegan, Lake Michigan; J. M. Jones lost on Lake Michigan; Sorel wrecked twelve miles from Oswego; Beaver wrecked at Nine Mile Point, Lake Ontario; C. L. Abbell wrecked on Point Wawgochance; Calcutta lost at Kalamazoo, Lake Michigan; Metcalf lost near the Ducks, Lake Ontario; L. M. Mason wrecked at Presque Isle, Lake Ontario; W. S. Nelson and the Dardanelles lost in same locality. Total loss of steam and sail vessels: $867,347; loss of life, 116.

Return to Home Port

Volume II

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