1893 — Oct 13-14, Great Lakes storm, maritime losses, esp. Dean Richmond, Wocoken –57-68

–57-68 Blanchard. Tabulation of individual land and lake fatalities noted below.
— 54 Ohio Democrat, New Philadelphia, OH. “Fifty-Four Lives…Lost…” 10-19-1893, p. 5.
— >54 VanZandt/Magee. “The Great Storm of 1893 and the Schooner Riverside.” 2010, 221.
— 35 Swayze. Great Lakes Newspaper Transcriptions. Detroit Free Press, Oct 15, 1893.

Summary of Great Lakes Maritime and Land Losses

Lake Erie: (44-55)
Lake Huron: ( ?5) (Noted as perhaps lost in press; not confirmed; not counted.)
Lake Huron: ( 1)
Lake Michigan: ( 6)
Lake Superior: ( 2)
Maritime 53-64
NY mainland ( 4)
Grand total 57-68

Breakout of Great Lakes Maritime and Land Losses

Lake Erie: (44-55)
— 7-8 Schooner C.B. Benson, Lake Erie, Gravelly Bay, Ontario, Can. Homeport, Toledo, OH.
— 8 “ “ Niagara this Week, “C.B. Benson,” Aug 1, 2008.
— 7 “ “ McNeil. “C.B. Benson (Schooner)…sunk, 14 Oct 1893.”
— 7 “ “ New York Times. “The Schooner Benson Lost,” 10-19-1893
— 7 “ “ VanZandt and Magee 2010, p. 221.
— 7 “ “ Weekly Truth, Elkhart, IN. “More Lives Lost.” 10-19-1893, 4.
–15-23 Propeller Dean Richmond, off Dunkirk, NY. Blanchard range from sources below.
— 23 “ “ Alchem Inc., Eastern Erie…
–15-23 “ “ Swayze. Shipwreck! 1992, p. 202.
— 21 “ “ Nash, Jay Robert. Darkest Hours. 1977, p. 690.
— 18 Stmr. “ “ Titusville Herald. “The Storm’s Havoc.” 10-16-1893, 1.
— 18 “ “ VanZandt and Magee 2010, p. 221.
— 7 Schooner Riverside, Lake Erie, off Cleveland, OH.
— 7 “ “ Buffalo Morning Express, 10-25-1893, p.7, c.2; in McNeil.
— 7 “ “ Toledo Blade. “Shipwreck Hunters find 1870 Schooner.”
— 7 “ “ VanZandt and Magee 2010, p. 222.
— 7 “ “ Weekly Truth, Elkhart, IN. “Loss…Riverside.” 10-19-1893, 4.
— 6 “ “ Port Huron Daily Times, 10-19-1893; transcribed in McNeil.
–12-14 Freighter Wocoken, off Dunkirk, NY. Blanchard range from sources below.
— 14 “ “ Alchem Inc. Also: VanZandt and Magee 2010, p. 221.
— 14 “ “ McNeil. “Wocoken…” Maritime History of…Great Lakes.
— 13 “ “ Newark Daily Advocate, OH. “The Sad Story…” 10-17-1893, 3.
— 12 “ “ Swayze.
— 9 “ “ [not used] Newark Daily Advocate, OH. “The Sad Story…” 10-17-1893, p.3.
— 3 Unnamed small boat, searching for bodies, off Dunkirk, NY. VanZandt/Magee 2010, 221.

Lake Huron: ( 5?)
— 5? Schooner Aunt Ruth, Lake Huron. Detroit Free Press. “Story of Disaster.” 10-15-1893.
— 0 Vessel C. F. Curtis, Lake Huron. Titusville Herald, PA. “Six Ships Lost.” 10-16-1893, p. 1.
— 0 Vessel Isabella Reid, Lake Huron. Titusville Herald, PA. “Six Ships Lost.” 10-16-1893, 1.
— 0 Vessel Nelson Holland, Lake Huron. Titusville Herald PA. “Six Ships Lost.” 10-16-1893, 1
— 0 Vessel S. Fassett, Lake Huron. Titusville Herald, PA. “Six Ships Lost.” 10-16-1893, 1.

Lake Michigan: ( 6)
–6 Schooner Minnehaha. Lake Michigan, off Frankfort MI. Swayze. Shipwreck! 1992, p. 156.
–6 Titusville Herald, PA. “Foundering of the Minnehaha.” 10-16-1893, p. 1.

Lake Superior: ( 2)
— 2 Schooner Annie Sherwood. Lake Superior, grounded near Deer Park, MI, Oct 14.
— 2 “ Dive the United States, Annie Sherwood.
— 2 “ Maritime History of the Great Lakes. “Annie Sherwood…”
— 2 “ Swayze. Shipwreck! 1992, p. 216.

Losses by State

New York Total: (34-44)

New York Maritime (30-40)
–15-23 Propeller Dean Richmond, off Dunkirk, NY.
–12-14 Freighter Wocoken, off Dunkirk, NY.
— 3 Unnamed small boat, searching for bodies, off Dunkirk. VanZandt/Magee 2010, 221.

NY Mainland, Buffalo ( 4)
— 1 Niagara River, between PA and NY, person blown into river. VanZandt and Magee 2010.
— 3 Boys killed in collapse of train depot. VanZandt and Magee 2010, 220.

Ohio Maritime (44-48)
— 7 Stmr. C.B. Benson. Toledo homeport. Weekly Truth, Elkhart, IN. “More Lives Lost.” 10-19-1893, 4.
–10-14 Steamer Dean Richmond. Toledo homeport. At least 10-14 people were OH residents.
–10 Marion Daily Star, OH. “Lake Disasters.” 10-16-1893, 1.
–14 McNeil. “Dean Richmond…” Maritime History of the Great Lakes (webpage).
— 6 Schooner Minnehaha. Out of Cleveland; Cleveland crew. Buffalo Evening News, 10-16-1893.
–6 “ Marion Daily Star, OH. “Minnehaha Wrecked.” 10-16-1893, 1.
— 7 Schooner Riverside, Lake Erie, off Cleveland, OH.
–14 Freighter Wocoken. Homeported and crewed out of Cleveland.

Maritime Losses by Vessel

Vessels lost: (55-63)
— 2 Schooner Annie Sherwood, Lake Superior. Dive the United States, Annie Sherwood.
— 2 “ “ Maritime History of the Great Lakes. “Annie Sherwood…”
— ?5 Schooner Aunt Ruth, Lake Huron. Detroit Free Press, Oct 15, 1893. Unclear.
— 7-8 Schooner C.B. Benson on Lake Erie. Niagara this Week, “C.B. Benson,” Aug 1, 2008.
–8 “ “ “ Evening Herald, Syracuse, NY. 10-19-1893, p. 1.
–7 “ “ “ Weekly Truth, Elkhart, IN. “More Lives Lost.” 10-19-1893, 4.
–7 “ “ “ NYT. “The Schooner Benson Lost,” Oct 19, 1893.
–7 “ “ “ VanZandt and Magee 2010, 221.
— 0 Vessel C. F. Curtis, Lake Huron. Titusville Herald, PA. “Six Ships Lost.” 10-16-1893, 1.
–15-23 Propeller Dean Richmond, Lake Erie, off Dunkirk, NY.
— 23 “ “ “ “ Alchem Inc. Lake Erie…Map ‘D’
–15-23 “ “ “ “ Swayze. Shipwreck! 1992, p. 202.
— 21 “ “ “ “ Nash, Jay Robert. Darkest Hours. 1977, p. 690.
— 18 “ “ “ “ Marion Daily Star, OH. “Lake Disasters.” 10-16-1893, 1.
— 18 “ “ “ “ VanZandt and Magee 2010, p. 221.
— 0 Schooner Evra Fuller, Lake Michigan. WI Historical Society Shipwreck Database, Evra.
— 0 Vessel Isabella Reid, Lake Huron. Titusville Herald, PA. “Six Ships Lost.” 10-16-1893, 1.
— 0 Schooner John B. Merrill, on Lake Huron. Shelak. Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan. 2003.
— 6 Sch. Minnehaha, Lake MI. Titusville Herald. “Foundering…Minnehaha.” 10-16-1893, 1.
— 0 Vessel Nelson Holland, Lake Huron. Titusville Herald PA. “Six Ships Lost.” 10-16-1893, 1.
— 6-7 Schooner Riverside, Lake Erie.
— 7 “ “ Buffalo Morning Express, 10-25-1893, p.7, c.2; in McNeil.
— 7 “ “ Toledo Blade. “Shipwreck Hunters find 1870 Schooner.”
— 7 “ “ VanZandt and Magee 2010, 222.
— 7 “ “ Weekly Truth, Elkhart, IN. “Loss of the Riverside.” 10-19-1893, 4.
— 6 “ “ Port Huron Daily Times, 10-19-1893; transcribed in McNeil.
— 0 Vessel S. Fassett, Lake Huron. Titusville Herald, PA. “Six Ships Lost.” 10-16-1893, 1.
— 1 Schooner Volunteer, on Lake Huron. Ratigan. Great Lakes Shipwrecks & Survivals, 99.
–12-14 Freighter Wocoken, Lake Erie, off Dunkirk, NY
–14 “ “ “ Alchem Inc.
–14 “ “ “ Swayze. Shipwreck! 1992, p. 250.
–14 “ “ “ VanZandt and Magee 2010, 221.
–13 “ “ “ Newark Daily Advocate, OH. “The Sad Story…” 10-17-1893, 3.
–12 “ “ “ Swayze.
— 3 Unnamed small boat, searching for bodies, off Dunkirk. VanZandt/Magee 2010, p. 221.
— 3 “ “ Newark Daily Advocate, OH. “Searchers Drowned.” 10-17-1893, 3.

Narrative Information

Alchem: “158 [Alchem map no.] Dean Richmond: Propeller freighter of 238 ft sank 10/14/1893 in a terrific storm off Dunkirk, New York with its entire crew of 23. The Dean Richmond was last seen afloat badly damaged, without power and in the trough of the waves by another damaged steamer as it made for shore. For a century the Richmond was one of the most sought after lost ships of the lake. The vessel carried a valuable cargo of zinc ingots and assorted merchandise. The wreck was recently discovered by Garry Kozak after a nearly ten year search, inverted 5 miles off the Pennsylvania/New York border in 95 feet of water. The Niagara Diver’s Association originally gave a GPS location of 42deg 17.95′, 79deg 59.99′. Their web site currently lists a position of 42deg 17.421′, 79deg 55.859′. (Alcheminc.com. “Lake Erie Shipwreck Map ‘D’ and Index.”

Great Lakes: “Dean Richmond (wooden propeller passenger-package freight steamer, 238 foot, 1432 gross tons, built in 1864 at Cleveland, Ohio) sailed from Toledo, Ohio on Friday the 13th of October 1893 with a load of bagged meal, flour, zinc and copper ingots. She encountered hurricane force winds of over 60 mph and battled the storm throughout the night. She was seen on 14 October 1893 off Erie, Pennsylvania, missing her stacks and battling the wind and waves. The following day, wreckage and bodies were washing ashore near Dunkirk, New York. Among the dead was the Captain, his wife and three children. A few crew members managed to make it to shore however all but one died of exposure. The only survivor was found on the beach near Van Buren Point two days later. During the search for bodies, three volunteers lost their lives. The wreck was found in 1984.” (Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping News Archive. “Today in Great Lakes History. October 14.”)

Niagara this Week: “The C.B. Benson was an important vessel in North America’s past. It was the first vessel to successfully move cargo between North America and Europe. It was vital in the opening of trade between the two continents… When the ship went down Oct. 13, 1893 it took all eight crewmen with it, including the captain and first mate, Duff’s son, Curtis. Curtis’s wife would have gone down with her husband but decided against accompanying him on the trip because she was pregnant.” (Niagara this Week, “The C.B. Benson,” Aug 1, 2008.)

Swayze (on Dean Richmond): “Dean Richmond. Propeller passenger and package freighter of 1,432 t. [tons] and 238 ft., launched in 1864 at Cleveland. Lake Erie: Carrying a cargo of zinc ingots, the steamer Dean Richmond went to pieces offshore and sank in a gale. She went down off Dunkirk, New York, on October 14, 1893. All 15 to 23 of her crew were lost with the big ship.” (Swayze, David D. Shipwreck! 1992, p. 202.)

Swayze (on Annie or Anne Sherwood): “Lumber schooner of 622 t. [tons] and 184 ft., launched at Fairport, OH, in 1866. Lake Superior: Laden with lumber and bound for Chicago, the schooner Annie Sherwood was caught by a violent storm on October 14, 1893. She was blown ashore to break up near Deer Park, Michigan, with two of the crew….” (Swayze. Shipwreck! 1992, p. 216.)

Swayze (on Wocoken): “Wocoken. Wooden steamer of 1,400 t. [tons] and 251 ft., launched in 1870 at Cleveland. Lake Erie: Fourteen lives were lost when this steamer laden with a cargo of coal, broke up and sank in a gale off Dunkirk, New York. The Wocoken was lost on October 14, 1893.” (Swayze, David D. Shipwreck! 1992, p. 250.)

VanZandt and Magee: “The year 1893 was the third most energetic Atlantic hurricane season ever recorded in the United States. There were ten hurricanes and two tropical storms which devastated many coastal communities; however, the damage was not limited to the coastlines. The Great Lakes region was also affected by Hurricane No. 9, or the “North and South Carolina Hurricane.” This storm made landfall near Charleston, South Carolina, on 13 October 1893 and continued far inland, wreaking havoc along its path. Shipping on the Great Lakes was severely impacted and resulted in the sinking or stranding of at least 39 ships. One of the vessels sunk in the storm, the three-masted schooner Riverside, was recently discovered by the Cleveland Underwater Explorers (CLUE) on 6 October 2007. Its tragic loss with its entire crew of seven was typical of the storm’s effect on the people who made their living carrying cargo and passengers on the Great Lakes.” (VanZandt and Magee 2010, p. 218.)

“The period of Saturday, 14 October 1893, through Sunday, 15 October 1893, became known as the Great Storm of 1893 in the Great Lakes region. This storm was the remnant of Hurricane No. 9, which affected the entire region and caused great damage on both land and water. One of the hardest hit cities was Buffalo, New York, at the eastern end of Lake Erie. Newspapers of the day recounted how the streets were deserted and how those who ventured outside were blown off their feet (The Cleveland Leader 1893a:1). One unfortunate individual was blown into the Niagara River and drowned (The Cleveland Leader 1893a:1). Damages from the storm include the following:

• Collapse of a train depot, resulting in the death of 3 boys….” (VanZandt and Magee 2010, 220.)

“It was the effect of this storm on the maritime industry of the Great Lakes where this storm had its largest impact. As reports started to accumulate in the days following the storm, it became obvious an enormous maritime disaster had occurred. One local paper reported, “No such awful list of fatalities has been known in shipping circles for a decade as the one to which additions are being made daily…giving details of the terrific gale that swept the inland seas steadily for more than forty-eight hours at the close of last week.” Losses were reported from Lake Ontario to Lake Superior. A total of 39 vessels were affected, including 10 that were lost and 29 that were stranded (Marion Daily Star 1893:1). Of those stranded, 13 were estimated to be total losses. At least 54 people lost their lives due to shipwrecks, and losses were estimated to be $700,000 – a very large sum of money in 1893 (Marion Daily Star 1893:1). As the damages were totaled, one paper reported it was “the most destructive storm…within the memory of the oldest lake mariner…” with “nearly every boat out in the storm suffering heavy damages…” (Marion Daily Star 1893:1)….” In VanZandt and Magee, 2010, p. 221.)

“One of the most famous victims was the wooden steamer Dean Richmond, which left Toledo, Ohio, on Friday, 13 October 1893, and was last seen on Saturday, 14 October 1893, in heavy seas off Erie, Pennsylvania, with one funnel down and steering problems (Buffalo Evening News 1893a:1). The ship was never seen again. Debris, along with the bodies of the 18 crew, began to wash ashore near Dunkirk, New York (Buffalo Evening News 1893a:1). To add to the death toll, three more people perished off Dunkirk on Monday when their small boat overturned while searching for bodies (The Newark Daily Advocate 1893:1). This ship was the subject of an extensive search by modern divers until it was found upside down in 110 feet (34 meters) of water near Erie, Pennsylvania. Its forward mast is stuck vertically into the lake bottom next to the wreck, suggesting the vessel rolled before sinking in the huge waves, a final testament to the ship’s struggle against the strength of the seas.” (VanZandt and Magee, 2010, p. 221.)

(VanZandt, David Michael and Kevin Scott Magee. “The Great Storm of 1893 and the Schooner Riverside.” Underwater Archaeology Proceedings, 2010, pp. 218-226.)

Newspapers

Oct 14: “Chicago, October 14. – (Special) – Dispatches from all lake ports from here to Buffalo show that the storm that has prevailed with great fury for nearly twenty hours, has been terribly destructive to vessel property…. hundreds of craft were caught out in the open lakes, and were obliged to scud before the irresistible wind that came screaming down upon them. A large number are ashore at various points, and a few have gone down. Some are aground in dangerous places, and are pounding themselves to pieces…. Six vessels ashore in the vicinity of Cheboygan, Mich., tell the fury of the gale on upper Lake Huron. All dragged their anchors and were carried on the beach. The fist sufferers were the steamer C. F. Curtis and her tow, the Isabel Reid, T. S. Fassett and Nelson Holland. They went on the beach between Point Sable and Cheboygan, striking a rocky bottom. The next were the Knight Templar and Sweepstakes, consorts of the steamer Salina, which went ashore between Cheboygan and Duncan. They landed on a gravelly bottom. All six boats are in bad shape…. The schooner Volunteer went ashore on Lake Huron about seven miles from Port Austin yesterday morning. The wreck is resting easy on a sandy bottom….

“The tug Acme foundered on Lake Huron about twenty-five miles from Black River. Her crew was saved by the coolness and bravery of the crew of the tug Reliance. The two tugs left French River on the 10th inst. with a raft containing 4,500,000 feet of logs belonging to the Holland & Emory Lumber Company. They were struck by the northwest gale at 3 o’clock yesterday morning. Three hours later the tugs let go of the raft in order to save themselves. They headed for shelter at Thunder Bay, but it was not long before the great strain was too much for the Acme and the water began pouring into her hold. At 9 o’clock the feed pipe burst and the fires were put out. It seemed as if nothing would save the imperiled crew, for the gale was so furious that aid from the other tug was almost out of the question. The Reliance was in command of Capt. Frank Burke, of Penetanguishene, and by heroic efforts, aided by the most skillful management, he succeeded in taking off every man from the Acme a few minutes before that tug went to the bottom….

“It is believed that the schooner Aunt Ruth, which left Alpena last Monday, has been lost. Nothing has been heard of her crew since she left port. She carried a crew of five men and was owned by C. Bonney, of Port Huron….

“At Middle Island [Lake Huron], near Alpena, the wind was registered at sixty miles an hour during most of the afternoon by the United States Signal Service office….The storm on Lake Erie was by far the worst of the year. At noon the wind registered sixty mile an hour from the southwest at Buffalo and was increasing….

“The gale blew out the water in the west end of Lake Erie to such an extent that Toledo harbor is now entirely closed to vessels, the water being so low that craft cannot get in or out.”

“Marquette, October 14. — The wind registered fifty-two miles an hour at the signal station at 7:30 to-night.” (Detroit Free Press, Oct 15, 1893)

Oct 15: “Buffalo, Oct. 15. – The saddest feature of the lake storm which raged yesterday and last night is the reported loss of the steamer Dean Richmond, on the shore near Dunkirk. The first that was heard of this disaster was at 9 o’clock this morning when the captain of the Helena reported having sighted the Dean Richmond off Long Point where she seemed to be laboring under difficulties.

“Later, Captain Jack Tierney, of the steamer W. H. Stevens, reported that he sighted the Richmond in the middle of the lake, about four miles this side of Erie. One of her stacks was missing and while he was looking, the other stack and spar went by the board. She was laboring heavily in the trough as though her steering-gear had become disabled. Since then nothing has been seen or heard of the vessel. It is thought that she must have gone down with all on board. Her cargo was eighty tons of merchandise from Toledo to Buffalo. She belonged to the Toledo, St. Louis and Kansas City line. Her crew consisted of about eighteen souls, of which the following is the best obtainable list:

George Stoddard, master, Toledo;
Walter Goodyear, first mate, Toledo;
George_____, second mate, Toledo;
John Hogan, first engineer, Port Huron;
William Brown, fireman, Toledo;
E. Wheeler, wheelman, Toledo;
Francis Patton, lookout, Buffalo;
Miss Ainsworth, stewardess, Port Huron.

“A dispatch from Dunkirk this evening states that three unknown bodies, apparently of sailors, have been washed ashore a few miles from that port. The local agent of the steamship line has telegraphed to every point on the lake shore between Buffalo and Erie to keep a sharp lookout for wreckage or bodies, but so far has received no replies.” (Titusville Herald. PA “The Storm’s Havoc…Two Schooners Sink.” 10-16-1893, p.1.)

Oct 16: “Buffalo, Oct. 16. Eighteen persons, the entire crew of the propeller Dean Richmond, are given up for lost in Saturday night’s storm on Lake Erie. The corpses of five have been washed ashore off Van Buren Point, 40 miles from this city, near Dunkirk. The sore of the lake is strewn with wreckage and merchandise and the waves are yielding up further evidences of the fate to which the Richmond has gone….The crew of the Dean Richmond was composed of the following:

G. W. Stoddard, captain, Toledo.
George Boysen, second mate, East Toledo.
Samuel Meadows, wheelman, Toledo.
Frank Ernest, lookout, North Toledo.
K. Weeler, lookout, Toledo.
A. Dodge, second cook, Toledo.
Evans, chief engineer, shipped at Toledo.
Jacob Ernst, deckhand. Toledo.
William Zink, deckhand, Toledo.
George Schilling, porter, Toledo.
Walter Goodyear, first mate, Ottawa Lake, Mich.
J. E. Brady, wheelman, residence unknown.
Mrs. Retta Ellsworth, stewardess, Aylmer, Ont.
Frank Hilton, second engineer, Port Huron.
Therman Beathan, fireman, residence unknown.
William Sargenfrei, fireman, residence unknown.
Frank Patten, deckhand, residence unknown.
Unknown man, deckhand, shipped at Buffalo.

“Mrs. Retta Ellsworth was a widow and had children in the west.

“Frank Hilton was the sole support of mother and sister.

“The Chief engineer, J. H. Hogan, who left the boat before she departed on what proved to be her last trip, is at the world’s fair. He is part owner of the lost steamer.

“The Richmond was a ‘Clover leaf’ boat and her crew were all from Toledo. She was the first of the large steamers which mark the coming of the present style of marine construction on the lake. She was of 1,257 tonnage, and was built in Cleveland in 1864, but was rebuilt in 1873…” (Marion Daily Star, OH. “Lake Disasters. A Number of Vessels Wrecked and Many Lives Lost. The Number May Reach Fifty.” 10-16-1893, p. 1.)

Oct 15: “Onekama, Mich., Oct. 15. – The big schooner Minnehaha was beached at Starke, ten miles north of here at noon yesterday, to save her from foundering in deep water. The seas soon overwhelmed the wreck and drove the crew into the rigging. Before the arrival of the life-saving crew from Manistee and Frankfort, the schooner went to pieces and but one, Captain William Packer, was saved. The dead are:

John Rafferty, mate;
John Rafferty, Jr., sailor;
Mary Keefe, cook;
three sailors, names unknown.

“The wreck was first sighted by a man on the bluff at Starke, who jumped on his horse and rode at a furious pace through the storm to this place in order to notify the life-saving crew at Manistee. The progress of the life savers was exceedingly slow, and it was nearly midnight when they reached the high sand bluff overlooking the lake at Starke.

“The life-saving crew from Frankfort gained the bluff at last, but even then it was too late. All the life savers could do was to care for Captain Packer, who had jumped overboard and swam ashore. All night long they patrolled the beach with the hope that some poor sailor might have reached shore.” (Titusville Herald, PA. “Foundering of the Minnehaha. She Goes Aground in Lake Michigan. Six Lives Lost.” 10-16-1893, 1.)

Oct 16: “Manistee, Mich., Oct. 16. – The identity of the four masted schooner ashore near here has been established. The vessel is the Minnehaha of Cleveland, Captain William Packer, with a cargo of corn. Of the seven souls on board the schooner but one, Captain Packer, escaped. Those drowned were:

John Rafferty, mate, Cleveland.
John Rafferty, Jr., Cleveland.
Mary Keefe, cook, Cleveland.
William Ahlstrom, sailor, Cleveland.
Two sailors, names unknown, both of Cleveland.

“The schooner went ashore Saturday afternoon, and it was seen that she must soon be pounded to pieces by the heavy was. The Manistee lifesaving crew was called upon for assistance, the claim being made that the Frankfort crew could not be reached. A train was immediately made up and the crew and boat taken to Onekama where the boat was hauled 10 miles through the woods to Starke. Upon arriving there at midnight the Frankfort crew was found upon the ground having arrived just before, but too late to be of any service.

“The schooner Minnehaha had been thrown upon the beach at about noon. The sea was running very high and swept the decks clean, and the crew was all drowned except the captain who jumped overboard with a plank and swam ashore. The Minnehaha was being towed by the steam barge Henry J. Johnson, also of Cleveland, which became disabled during the storm, and Captain Packer, fearing that he would go down in the open sea, cut the towline and put for shore.

“The lifesaving crew returned to Manistee at 8 o’clock yesterday bringing Captain Packer with them. The captain said that his hatches went over the rail and the hold began to fill with water when he cut loose; that was at about 11 o’clock, but a few minutes after he struck the bar the vessel broke in two, and within half an hour nothing but the bow was left. The crew were amidships while he was at the stern when the vessel broke. He took a plank and jumped.

“They had no life preservers on board, and the opinion of the captain was that if there had been all would be alive today. He refused to talk about the insurance, but very little information could be secured from him. He said he did not see the Johnson after he cut loose, but the boat was seen off Manistee passing south at 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon. The Minnehaha went to pieces two hours after she struck on the bar. None of the bodies have been recovered.

“The lost schooner Minnehaha was owned by H. W. Johnson and others of Cleveland and was valued at $25,000. She was insured for $18,000 with the Commercial Union of North America, the London Assurance and one other company whose name could not be learned at present….Two years ago she was wrecked near Detour and remained on the rocks all winter, being abandoned to the underwriters, who finally rescued the wreck and sold it.” (Marion Daily Star, OH. “Minnehaha Wrecked.” 10-16-1893, p. 1.)

Oct 17: “Buffalo, N.Y., Oct. 17. — Thirteen more victims have been added to the list of fatalities resulting from the gale that swept the great lakes. The steamer Wocoken, of Cleveland, foundered in ten fathoms of water [about 60 feet] just above Long Point on the northern coast of
Lake Erie. The list of those on board who were drowned is as follows:

Albert Meswald, captain, Marine City:
Miss Sarah Meswald. his sister;
Captain John Mitchell, Cleveland;
Captain David Jones, first mate, Cleveland;
Matthew Hasler, second engineer, Marine City;
Michael Hinkelman. chief engineer, Cleveland;
Charles Minard, steward, Marine City;
Henry Branch, watchman, Marine City;
John Hinkelman, fireman, Marine City;
George Smith, fireman, Marine City;
Edmund Eldredge, watchman, Marine City;
Mike Kenny, deckhand, Marine City;
William Fatch, wheelman, Marine City.
[Wilhelm Pocek, Ashtabula, OH]

“The following were saved: J. P. Sapp, second mate; Robert Browning, deckhand; J. H. Rice, wheelman, Cleveland.

“The last few weeks of the navigation season of 1893 will live long in the memory or the lake mariners, for no such awful list of fatalities has been known in shipping circles for a decade as the one to which additions are being made daily, as reports come in giving details of the terrific gale that swept the inland seas steadily for more than forty-eight hours at the close of last week….The Wocoken was bound from Ashtabula to Duluth with a cargo of coal. She sailed on Friday and must have encountered the storm at the height of its severity while making for shelter, as was the case with the Dean Richmond….The Wocoken was owned by John Mitchell, of Cleveland…” (Newark Daily Advocate, OH. “The Sad Story of Death on the Lake Still Continues. Thirteen More Victims Claimed by the Storm. The Wocoken, of Cleveland, O., Went Down with Precious Souls on Board – A Lady Lost – List of the Drowned.” 10-17-1893, p. 3.)

Oct 17: “Dunkirk, N.Y., Oct. 17. – While searching for bodies from the wrecked propeller, Dean Richmond, a boat containing George Thurber, Frank Cahoon and George Mann, capsized and all three men were drowned. The bodies have not been recovered.” (Newark Daily Advocate, OH. “Searchers Drowned.” 10-17-1893, p. 3.)

Oct 18: “Buffalo, Oct. 18. – It is now settled beyond the shadow of a doubt that the vessel sunk off Gravely Bay on the Canadian shore just below Port Colborne is the schooner C.B. Benson, which left Buffalo Friday to load coal at Erie for Toledo. A telegram from Capt. Carter of Port Colborne says: ‘Tugs have visited the wreck, and she is loaded with coal. Her foremast is gone and the remaining topmasts are painted black. I believe it is the C.B. Benson.’ No bodies have been found on the beach, but this is not strange, as not a single body of the crew of nine on the J.C. Finney, which went down last Fall in the same spot, was ever recovered. Capt. Duff of the Benson was known as one of the best navigators both on salt and fresh water. The crew of the Benson consisted of at least seven men.” (New York Times. “The Schooner Benson Lost,” Oct 19, 1893.)

Oct 19: “Buffalo, N.Y., Oct. 19. – The schooner lost off’ Port Colborne in Gravelly bay was the C. B. Benson. It was her topmasts, painted black, that have been reported by vessel captains, and tugs that have visited the spot confirm their reports. Among those on board were:

John Duff, part owner and master, Port Clinton, O.;
Curtiss Duff, his son and mate, Port Clinton, O.;
Mrs. Duff, wife of the mate, cook;
four unknown sailors.

“The Benson left here Tuesday evening, having been chartered to take coal from Erie to Detroit. Advices from Erie state that she left there Friday afternoon about 5 o’clock. The captain of the steamer State of Ohio reports seeing the Benson off Port Stanley that night, running back under head sails. Capt. Carter, who has tugs at Port Colborne, visited the wreck and confirmed the fears felt for the Benson’s safety.” (Weekly Truth, Elkhart, IN. “More Lives Lost. Three More Vessels Wrecked in the Late Storm…Wreck of the C.B. Benson.” 10-19-1893, p. 4.)

Oct 19: “Detroit, Mich., Oct. 19. The owners of the schooner Riverside of this port have given her up as lost. She sailed from Kelley’s island Friday morning with a full cargo of 670 tons of stone for Tonawanda. Nothing has since been heard of her. The crew were:

D. J. Farrington, master. Detroit;
Mrs. Farrington, his wife;
Joseph Hargreave, mate, Detroit;
John Hargreave, son of the mate;
William Raymond, sailor, residence unknown;
John Paige, sailor, residence unknown;
William Wheeler, sailor, residence unknown.”
(Weekly Truth, Elkhart, IN. “Loss of the Riverside.” 10-19-1893, p. 4.)

Oct 19: “The schooner Riverside with a cargo of 670 tons of stone left Kelley’s island last Friday bound for Tonawanda with a crew of 6. She is owned by J.M. Jones & Son of Detroit, is missing and presumed lost.” (Port Huron Daily Times, Thursday, October 19, 1893; transcribed by William McNeil in Maritime History of the Great Lakes (Riverside webpage).)

Oct 24: “It is now known that the foundered vessel discovered off Cleveland is the lost Riverside.” (Port Huron Daily Times, Tuesday, October 24, 1893; transcribed by William McNeil in Maritime History of the Great Lakes (Riverside webpage).)

Oct 24: “Cleveland, Oct. 24 – The exploring tug returned last night from a point 28 miles northeast, where the schooner RIVERSIDE was found sunk in 13 fathoms, with her entire crew of 7. She evidently foundered with all sails set. The wreck is extremely dangerous to passing vessels.” (Buffalo Morning Express, October 25, 1893, p. 7, col. 2.; transcribed by William McNeil in Maritime History of the Great Lakes (Riverside webpage).)

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