1856 — Oct 24, steamer Toledo leaks/sinks, Lake Michigan storm, off Port Washington, WI-40-61

–40-61 Blanchard estimated death toll.*

–61-67 Daily Chronicle & Sentinel, Augusta, GA. “Terrible Gale on Lake Michigan.” 11-1-1856, 1.*
–40-45 passengers
–24-25 crew Three people survived–two deckhands and one steerage passenger.
— >60 Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, WV. “The Storm on Lake Michigan.” 10-31-1856, p2, c3.
— 57 Sandusky Commercial Register, OH. “Great Gale on Lake Michigan…” 10-28-1856, 3.*
–40-55 Ratigan, William. Great Lakes Shipwrecks & Survivals (Revised). 1969, p. 69.*
–40-55 Swayze, David D. Great Lakes Shipwrecks T.
–40-55 Swayze. Shipwreck!…Directory of…Shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. 1992, p. 232.
— 51 New Albany Daily Ledger, IN. “By Telegraph.” 10-28-1856, p. 4, col. 2.
–40-50 Mansfield, John Brandts (Compiler). History of the Great Lakes (Vol. 1). 1899, p. 676.
–37-47 Daily State Gazette, Burlington, IA. “The Loss of the Toledo.” 10-31-1856, p.4, c.4.*
— 42 McNeil. “Toledo, (Propeller), aground, 24 Oct 1856.” Maritime History…Great Lakes.
— 40 Board of Supervising Inspectors [Steamboats, US]. Fifth Annual Report 1857, p. 224.
— 40 Daily Free Democrat, Milwaukee, WI. “Effects of the Storm,” Oct 27, 1856, p. 2.
–30-40 Daily State Journal, Madison, WI. “Loss of the Propeller Toledo.” 10-27-1856, p.2, c.2.
— 40 Lytle and Holdcamper. Merchant Steam Vessels of the [U.S.] 1807-1868. 1952, p. 247.
–30-40 Milwaukee Daily Sentinel, WI. “Great Loss of Life and Property!” 10-27-1856, p. 2.
— 40 Nash, Jay Robert. Darkest Hours. 1977, p. 683.
–30-40 Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, WV. “Disasters on the Lakes.” 10-28-1856, p. 3, col. 3.
–30-40 Wisconsin Weekly. “The Storm of Friday,” October 29, 1856, p. 8.
— 35 Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. 1972, p. 265.

* Blanchard estimated death toll. There is some ground to give credence to the roughly sixty-one to sixty-seven deaths reported in the Buffalo Courier of Oct 27 and repeated in the Daily Chronicle & Sentinel of Nov 1. The Toledo began its journey at Buffalo, NY, and thus there would be some reason to suspect personnel there would know how many were aboard upon departure. Indeed the Secretary of the American Transportation Company, which owned the Toledo, is cited in the article. It is conceivable that the Toledo stopped along the way and that someone or more departed, but we have seen no reporting along those lines. This being said, we choose to use the low-end (61) of the range of 61-67 deaths noted in the Daily Chronicle & Sentinel story. This number differs by one from the sixty deaths reported by the Wheeling Daily Intelligencer of Oct 31, and is close to the fifty-seven reported by the Sandusky Commercial Register of Oct 28.

In that we do not know where Ratigan and Swayze got their information to support 40-50 deaths we have used a higher death toll estimate for the reasons explained above.

As for the use of forty as the low-end of our estimated death-toll range, we choose not to dismiss the reporting of the Board of Supervising Inspectors in their reporting of forty deaths. We make this the low end of our range, but not the exact number of deaths, in that it has been our experience that the Board of Supervising Inspectors of steamboats is not always a reliable source when it comes to fatalities.

*Daily Chronicle & Sentinel. Our number based on statement that there were about 40 passengers and 25 crew, of whom three survived. Earlier in article it is written there were 45 passengers, then 40-45 passengers, as well as 24-25 crew.

*Sandusky Register: This article reads identically to the New Albany Ledger article of Oct 28, except “Fifty-seven” lives are said to have been lost whereas the Ledger wrote “fifty-one.”

*Ratigan: “…at least forty people and perhaps as many as fifty-five, were lost in Lake Michigan.”

*Daily State Gazette: Our number based on statement there “There were probably forty to fifty persons on board, all told.” Also noted three survivors. Thus we subtracted three from 40-50.

Narrative Information

Board of Supervising Inspectors, Eighth Supervising District: “The steamer “Toledo,” on the 24th October last, on her voyage from Buffalo to Milwaukee foundered, while at anchor in a heavy gale, near Sheboygan, on Lake Michigan; the vessel being entirely broken up at her anchors. By which terrible disaster seventeen passengers and twenty-three of the crew lost their lives. Only two of the crew and one of the passengers were saved, and they were driven on shore by the heavy sea running at the time.” (Board of Supervising Inspectors [of Steamboats, US], Eighth Supervising District. Fifth Annual Report, Year Ending October 1, 1857, p. 224.)

Lytle and Holdcamper: “Toledo. 585 [tons]…foundered…19 24 1856…Port Washington, Wis. …40 [Lives Lost].” (Lytle and Holdcamper. Merchant Steam Vessels of the United States 1807-1868. 1952, p. 247.)

Mansfield: “1856….Lost With Nearly Fifty Souls. – The propeller Toledo went down at night during a storm, October 22, about a half mile off Port Washington. She had come to anchor, and the captain was trying to get up her anchors and beach er as a last resort, but the chains got foul, the seams opened and the propeller soon settled to the bottom. Three deck hands were saved; the remainder of the crew and the passengers, between 40 and 50 souls in all, were lost. The Toledo was a first-class propeller of the American Transportation line, and was in command of Captain Densham. She was bound up with a full cargo of merchandise for Milwaukee.” (Mansfield, John Brandts (Compiler). History of the Great Lakes (Vol. 1). 1899, pp. 676-677.)

McNeil: “Toledo….
Reason: aground
Lives: 42
….
Freight: merchandise
Remarks: total loss
Date of original: 1856
….
Geographic coverage: Port Washington, Wisconsin, United States.”

(McNeil. “Toledo, (Propeller), aground, 24 Oct 1856.” Maritime History…Great Lakes.)

Ratigan: “On the storm night of October 22, 1856, the Toledo dropped anchor about half a mile off Port Washington, Wisconsin, hoping to ride out the blow in these more sheltered waters. But the wind and waves increased to the point where the captain tried to raise the doomed vessel’s anchors and beach her as a last resort.

“Fate took a hand and fouled the anchor chains. The Toledo opened at the seams and settled to the bottom. Three deck hands were saved. The remainder of the crew and off of the passengers, at least forty people and perhaps as many as fifty-five, were lost in Lake Michigan.” (Ratigan, William. Great Lakes Shipwrecks & Survivals (Revised). 1969, p. 69.)

Swayze: “Preparing to get underway in a storm [while lifting her hook], she sprang several bow strakes and filled quickly, with great loss of life to drowning. The wreck was towed in and allowed to sink, and was later pounded to pieces in a storm.” (Swayze. Great Lakes Shipwrecks T.)

Swayze: “Toledo. Steam passenger and package freight propeller of 558 t. [tons] and 200 ft.

“Lake Michigan: One of the worst disasters to occur in the wreck-strewn area above Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula was the sinking of the propeller Toledo on October 22, 1856 [sic; Oct 4]. The vessel was reportedly raising her anchor, preparing to get underway in a storm, when the accident occurred. Perhaps the strain of the anchor’s bobbing weight was too much for the ship’s timbers. At any rate, she sprung some of her strakes and began to leak heavily. Before much could be done to save her or her people, the vessel went down off Port Washington. Estimates of the number lost range from 40 to a high of 55.” (Swayze. Shipwreck! 1992, p. 232.)

Newspapers

Oct 25: “Milwaukie [sic], Oct. 25. The propeller Toledo is reported as wrecked near Port Washington, and all hands lost.” (Daily Louisville Times, KY. “Telegraphic,” 10-26-1856, p5, c.4.)

Oct 25 & 27: “The effects of the late gale have been most disastrous. The propeller Toledo, with a full cargo, and some 40 persons, was lost at Port Washington, only two deck hands and one steerage passenger being saved. One came ashore in a boat, by clinging to the keel, as the boat tumbled over and over, while some 20 persons who started with him found a watery grave. The other two were thrown ashore – one of them lifted on to the pier by the waves. No bodies had washed ashore, but the fragments of the wreck were piled up along the beach from two to six feet high. The goods were all broken to pieces and scarcely anything can be saved. The Toledo was within about 100 rods from the pier on Friday noon dragging anchors. In attempting to raise them and get into a better place, the chairs got foul and the seams opened so that she filled and sunk.”

“Mr. Stewart writes to Mr. Tallmadge, agent of the Company here.

“Port Washington, Oct. 25. J. J. Tallmadge, Esq: — The report of the Toledo loss is too true…the propeller is the most total wreck you can imagine. She went ashore, dragging both anchors, last evening [Oct 24] about 6 o’clock, and immediately went to pieces. The spectators describe it as being the largest sea ever seen here. Her crew consisted of twenty-one, all of which are lost with the exception of two deck hands…and one steerage passenger….They report as having seen in the cabin, five passengers. In the steerage a man, wife and four children, and two young men, beside the one saved. There may be more….” (Daily Free Democrat, WI. “Effects of the Storm,” Oct 27, 1856, p. 2.)

Oct 27: “Chicago, Oct. 27. There has been a great gale on Lake Michigan for the past two days. Last night news was received of the total loss of the propellor Toledo, of the Transportation Co., off Port Washington, Friday night [24th]. It is reported that fifty-one lives were lost and three persons saved. No particulars. The cargo of merchandise for Milwaukie was a total loss.” (New Albany Daily Ledger, IN. “By Telegraph.” 10-28-1856, p. 4, col. 2.)

Oct 27: “Milwaukie [sic], Oct. 27. Between 30 and 40 lives were lost by the foundering of the Propeller Toledo, off Port Washington, on Saturday morning [25th]….

“Further Particulars. Chicago, Oct. 27th. – There was a great gale on Lake Michigan for two days past. The news received last night was the total loss of the propeller Toledo, of the Transportation Company, near Port Washington, on Friday night [24th]….” (Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, WV. “Disasters on the Lakes.” 10-28-1856, p. 3, col. 3.)

Oct 27 (Monday): “The propellor Toledo foundered while at anchor near Port Washington yesterday. Only three persons escaped – some 30 or 40 being lost….” (Daily State Journal, Madison, WI. “Loss of the Propeller Toledo.” 10-27-1856, p.2, c.2.)

Oct 27 (Monday): “We regret that we are obliged to record another terrible disaster on the lakes, resulting in a great loss of life and property.

“The propeller Toledo, Capt. Densham, of the Am. Trans. Co.’s Line, bound to this port [Milwaukee] with a large cargo of merchandise for this city and for merchants in the country, in the gale of Friday last [24th] was lost in front of Pt. Washington, and the captain and all on board drowned but three. – We get the following particulars from Mr. Pomeroy of Detroit, who was at Pt. Washington at the time.

“On Friday at about noon, the propeller was within about 100 rods [550 yards (1,650 ft.), or about 1/3 of a mile] of one of the piers, and was dragging her anchors and going northward. At about 4 P.M. an attempt seemed to be made to get up the anchors, and to get into a safer berth further north. The anchors were down again soon after she got beyond the north pier. The propeller had her flag at half mast, but the waves were rolling at such a fearful height that no boat could live a moment in them, and no help could be rendered. The wind rose to its height at dark. Fires were built all along the shore, and by their light the hull of the propeller could be seen rolling and laboring heavily, some 100 rods out. At about 7½ P.M. boxes and barrels of goods began to come ashore, and in about half an hour the yawl boat was dashed on the bench, and was found to contain a man clinging to one of the seats.

“As soon as he was able to speak he said that he was one of the deck hands, and had got into the boat with about 20 others, but the boat was upset almost immediately, and he alone managed to cling to it s it was hurled over and over and over towards the shore. In a short time another man got ashore, and a third was lifted up by a wave and thrown upon the pier alive. – These three are believed to be the only persons saved. They say that there were 40 or 50 persons in all on board. They were deck hands and did not know the names of passengers, and but few of the crew. They remember one family of passengers, a man with his wife and six children.

“They state that the Captain’s object was to get up his anchors and beach her as a last resort, but the anchor chains got afoul and they could not raise them or cut the chains before the seams opened and the water came in so rapidly above and below that the propeller settled to the bottom.

“Scarcely a vestige was left of the vessel in the morning, and such of the goods as came ashore were dashed to pieces by the waves.

“The Toledo was one of the largest class of propellors, and with her cargo was probably worth $65,000 to $70,000. The vessel was not insured….” (Milwaukee Daily Sentinel, WI. “Great Loss of Life and Property!” 10-27-1856, p. 2, col. 4.)

Oct 29: “Loss of the Propeller Toledo and over Sixty Lives. – The propeller Toledo, Capt. Densham, of the American Transportation Co.’s Line of Propellers, was wrecked off Port Washington, Lake Michigan, on Friday last. She was bound for Chicago with a full cargo of merchandise and about forty passengers, and a crew of some twenty-five persons. The passengers and crew were all lost except three deck hands. Portions of the wreck have come ashore at Port Washington. Capt. Densham leaves a wife and family, who reside in this city. Among the passengers from this city was a Mrs. Wentworth and three children.” (Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, WV. “The Storm on Lake Michigan.” 10-31-1856, p.2, c.3.)

Oct 29: “The Storm of Friday [24th]. – The recent gale has been extremely disastrous in its consequences. In addition to the wrecks of the propeller Toledo and the schooners Bohemian and Pratt, of which we have an account on Saturday [Oct 27], there have been a few other losses of trifling account.

“The Toledo was a first class Propeller…Her crew consisted of 21 hands, all of which were lost except two deck hands, Samuel Welch and Aquilla Gifford. — Also one steerage passenger saved. There have been no bodies found as yet. Probably 30 or 40 lives were lost.” (Wisconsin Weekly, 10-29-1856, p. 8.)

Nov 1: “….From the Buffalo Courier of Monday. A brief telegraphic dispatch was received Saturday forenoon [Oct 25], announcing the loss of the propeller Toledo, with all on board, on Lake Michigan.

“Another dispatch was received during Saturday evening by Wells D. Walbridge (Secretary of the American Transportation Company), which stated that the propeller Toledo, which left this port last week, with forty-five passengers and about 500 tons of merchandise, had struck the reek off Port Washington on Lake Michigan in a terrible gale, and had gone to pieces. All on board, excepting three deck hands, were lost. Portions of the wreck and part of the merchandise had been washed ashore on the beach.

“The Toledo was sailed by Capt. John Deosham, who leaves a wife and one child in this city. The Toledo, when she left this port, had 40 or 45 passengers on board, and her crew numbering 24 or 25 men. She had a cargo of assorted merchandise which must have been worth $200,000, and perhaps even more….

From the Buffalo Commercial of Monday Evening.

“We pick up this morning the following additional particulars in regard to the loss of the Toledo:

“She was seen by Capt. Gibson, of the propeller Plymouth, last Wednesday, about thirty miles this side Straits, all right, and afterward on Thursday, by Capt. Brett, near a place called Sheboygan, in Michigan, with her anchors over her bow, and bearing North. She has been undoubtedly lost somewhere on Lake Michigan, as portions of her wreck have come ashore, near Port Washington. Three deck hands are said to be saved. She had a crew of 25, and about 40 passengers. Among the passengers were Mrs. Frazee, formerly wife of Lucius Wentworth, deceased, and her three children, between the ages of 4 and 12 years; and among the crew, the first mate, George Hill, family residing near Cleveland; 2nd do. [ditto], David Vance, brother of Mrs. Densham; 1st engineer, Ewd. McManman, wife and family near Cleveland; 2d do., B. F. Stratton, unmarried, late of New York.” (Daily Chronicle & Sentinel, Augusta, GA. “Terrible Gale on Lake Michigan.” 11-1-1856, p. 1, col. 2.)

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