1847 — June 9, ships collide, side-wheeler Chesapeake sinks, Lake Erie, ~Conneaut, OH-8-10

–8-10 Blanchard estimated death toll.*

–20-30 Wabash Express, Terre-Haute, IN. “The Chesapeake and the Schooner Porter.” 7-7-1847, 4.
— 15 Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. 1972, p. 259.
— 14 Alexandria Gazette and [VA] Advertiser, VA. “News of the Day.” 6-16-1847, p. 3, c.1.
— 13 Historical Great Lakes Vessel Accident Database, 1847.
— 7-13 Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping News Archive. Report News (June 2009).
— ~13 Mansfield, John Brandts. History of the Great Lakes (Vol. 1). 1899, p. 651.
— 13 Swayze. “Great Lakes Shipwrecks C.” http://www.boatnerd.com/swayze/shipwreck/c.htm
— 1-13 Swayze. Shipwreck!…Directory of…Shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. 1992, p. 50.
— 10 Lloyd’s Steamboat Directory and Disasters on the Western Waters. 1856, pp. 203-205.
— >8 Weekly Wisconsin, Milwaukee. “Terrible Collision of Lake Erie!!” 6-12-1847, p. 1.
— 7 Lytle and Holdcamper. Merchant Steam Vessels of the [U.S.] 1807-1868. 1952, p. 221.

* Blanchard estimated death toll. As one can see there is a wide variability in the estimates of fatalities from this sinking. We have attempted to comb through newspaper accounts for just over a month following the loss and to count the identified dead. We see only eight named individuals. Swayze, in “Great Lakes Shipwrecks C,” writes that he had seen a newspaper report noting nine deaths. In that Lloyd, after naming seven fatalities writes “many passengers whose names were unregistered, were undoubtedly lost,” we choose to accept his estimate of ten deaths. Thus we derive a range of 8-10 wherein the eight represents the names we have seen and ten represents Lloyd’s attempt to include several unregistered passenger deaths he believed occurred.

Narrative Information

Historical Great Lakes: Chesapeake sinks about five miles off Conneaut, OH. The Porter damaged, but repaired. (Historical Great Lakes Vessel Accident Database, 1846)

Great Lakes & Seaway: “On 8 June 1847, CHESAPEAKE (wooden side-wheeler, 172 foot, 412 tons, built in 1838, at Maumee, Ohio) was fully laden and had 97 aboard when she rammed the schooner JOHN F PORTER on a dark night off Conneaut, Ohio. As she started to sink, she was run to shore in an effort to save her, but she sank a mile short of the beach. Lake Erie was fairly calm and the crew and passengers tried to get to shore in boats and makeshift rafts. Most made it and many were also picked up by the steamer HARRISON. Estimates of the number of dead vary from 7 to 13.” (Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping News Archive. Report News (June 2009).

Lloyd: “The steamers Chesapeake and Constellation from Buffalo, were sail¬ing in company on Lake Erie, June 9, 1847, and being of Conneaut about midnight, they met the schooner Porter, which turned aside to avoid the Constellation, and came in contact with the Chesapeake. It appears that the light on board the Chesapeake was mistaken by the helmsman of the schooner for a light on shore, and by some mis¬calculation of the distance, the schooner ran into the steamer, which she struck on the larboard bow. At the moment of collision, the crew of the Porter sprang on board the Chesapeake, and the latter con¬tinued her course out into the lake.

“Captain Waine of the Chesa¬peake, thinking that neither vessel was much injured, put about, and steered for the Porter in order to return her crew; but as she came nearer, it was perceived that the Porter was sinking, and by the time the small boat was lowered, she had disappeared. At this moment, the captain was informed that the steamer was leaking. All hands were called to the pumps, but the water gained on them, and the pas¬sengers were set to bailing. The firemen were driven from the hold by the rush of water. The Captain had ordered her to be run ashore; she was accordingly headed in that direction, but before she had pro¬ceeded far, the water had put out her fires, and the engine stopped. The anchor was then let go to maintain her position, as the wind was blowing freshly from the shore. From this time to the moment the boat sunk, all hands were employed in preparing floats for the con¬veyance of the crew and passengers to land. The Captain advised all to stick to the wreck, but some left it notwithstanding, hoping to swim ashore, or to float thither on pieces of plank, furniture, &c., but no¬thing was heard of them afterwards. Among those who left the boat in this way, was the chief engineer.

“Within half an hour after the collision, the Chesapeake went down, head foremost, in seven fathoms water. The upper deck separated from the hull, and remained on the surface. On this floating platform, the passengers who remained alive, took refuge. Many of them were women and children, and their shrieks for aid are described by Cap¬tain Waine (who tells the story of the disaster) as most appalling. At this critical juncture, the steamer Harrison hove in sight, but soon passed them at a distance without hearing their cries for help. The Harrison stopped at Conneaut, about a mile and a half distant from the wreck, and her captain was there informed by the clerk of the Chesa¬peake, who, with several other persons had reached the shore in a small boat, that his assistance was needed. The Harrison immediately started for the place, and rescued all who were still alive on the float¬ing deck.

“The persons named below are known to have been drowned [seven names are listed]…Besides these, many passengers whose names were unregistered, were undoubtedly lost.” (Lloyd 1956, 203-205.)

Swayze, Great Lakes Shipwrecks C: “Chesapeake
….
Type at loss: sidewheel steamer, wood, passenger & package freight
Build info: 1838, Maumee, Oh
Specks: 172x24x10., 412 t. [tons]
Date of Loss: 1847, Jun 8 (1846, 1855 also given in error)
Place of loss: about 5 mi off Conneaut, OH
Lake: Erie
Type of loss: collision
Loss of life: 13 of about 97 [notes “other sources say 1, 6, 7 and 8. At least 9 died, as one newspaper names them.”]
Carrying: dry goods, groceries
Detail: This fully-laden passenger steamer rammed the schooner John F. Porter (qv) on a dark night and began to sink. Ran to shore, but foundered a mile short, in about 40 feet of water. The lake was fairly calm, and the passengers and crew tried to make their ways to shore separately and in small groups, in boats and makeshift rafts. Most made it, and many were picked up along the way by the steamer Harrison. One source says she was used as an offshore gambling casino at the time.
….”
Newspapers

June 12: “We are indebted to Capt. Howe, of the Hendrik Hudson, for extras of the Cleveland Plaindealer and Herald, containing the very full particulars, which we give below, of the melancholy disaster on Lake Erie.

“The Chesapeake and Constellation were coming up from Buffalo, and about 2 o’clock this morning, when off Conneaut, the schooner Porter, bound down, took a sheer to escape the Constellation, and came in contact with the Chesapeake. It is said her wheelsman, after escaping the Constellation, was ordered to make the Chesapeake light in her fore rigging, and as the latter made off, she followed up until the engine of the steamer was stopped and water backed, but the speed of the schooner soon overtook her, and struck her in the bows or bowsprit. At the instant of the collision the hands of the Porter sprang aboard the steamer and the vessel continued its course out into the lake. Capt. Warner, thinking that neither vessel was much injured, put about for the Porter, in order to return her crew, but as he neared her he saw she was sinking, and by the time the small boat was lowered she disappeared.

At this moment the captain was informed the steamer was leaking. All hands were called to the pumps – the water gained, and the passengers were set to bailing. The firemen forsook the hold and the steam went down. The captain ordered them back, and steam was again raised, with orders to run her ashore; but the water came rushing in at the fire holes, the firemen again left, an the engine stopped. Her anchor was let go to maintain her position, as the wind was blowing fresh from shore. From this time to the moment of her going down, was occupied in preparing floats to get ashore.

“The Captain advised all to stick by the wreck, but many notwithstanding left, and nothing as yet been heard from them; among whom was the Chief Engineer. After about half an hour she went down head foremost in forty feet water, her upper deck rising with the water. On this the passengers that remained held fast. The Captain describes the scene here as awful – such shrieks, he says, as he never wishes to hear again. At this critical juncture the Harrison hove in view and passed them, not hearing their cries for help. She put into Conneaut about 1½ miles distant from the wreck, and then was informed by the Clerk, who, with about fourteen others had made shore in the small boat, that her assistance was needed. She immediately put for the wreck, and rescued all on board.

“The moment they struck, the officers and hands on the Porter jumped on board the Chesapeake. The boat and vessel soon separated, the boat backing off. The Porter was not supposed to be seriously injured, and the boat of the Chesapeake was lowered to put the crew on board the schooner, when the vessel went down.

“About this time it was found that the Chesapeake was fast filling, and unsuccessful efforts were made to stop the leak. The boat was headed to the sore and all steam crowded. – The pumps were set agoing, and effort was made to keep down the water y bailing. Captain Warner had the jib lowered over the bow, which was drawn into the opening, and partially aided in staying the rush of waters. Notwithstanding every effort, the water gained so rapidly that the fires were soon extinguished, and when about a mile and a half from shore the boat lost her headway. The wind was blowing quite fresh from the south-west, considerable sea was running, and the anchor was let go to prevent drifting into the lake.

“The Chesapeake’s boat was immediately manned and filled with as many passengers as it could carry, four of them ladies, and started for Conneaut for assistance. The wind was so heavy that the boat drifted some two miles below the pier. Mr. Shepard, clerk of the Chesapeake, ran up the beach and reached the pier just as the steamer Harrison was entering the post. Capt. Parker promptly went to the rescue of the sufferers with the Harrison, took off the survivors on the wreck, and picked up all that could be found afloat in the lake on hatches, planks, cabin doors, &c. A small boat from the shore rescued some who were nearly exhausted from long buffeting of the waves, upborne on these forlorn hopes of drowning men.

“After the Chesapeake was brought to anchor she continued to sink gradually, notwithstanding every possible effort, by pumping and bailing, to keep her afloat, and at half past 3 o’clock the hull went down bow foremost in 40 feet water. The upper cabin parted from the hull, and the upper deck remained out of water. On this such of the persons on board as had not previously left the boat, were gathered and saved. None were lost who followed the advice of Capt. W. and continued with the wreck. But as the boat sank deep in the water and it became certain that she must go down, a number prepared floats and took their chance for escape on them. Of these eight are known to have been drowned, and it feared that others met with a like melancholy fate.

“The passengers numbered between forty and fifty, an unusual proportion ladies, and several children. No ladies or children were lost. The presence of mind, energy and fortitude of the ladies throughout the trying scene is described as remarkable. Perilous as was their situation, they heeded the advice of the officers, at their request, urged their protectors to go below and assist in keeping the vessel afloat, and made to outcry until it was apparent that the Harrison in passing had not discovered the wreck, when one of them asked permission of the captain to also hail their best hope of rescue, with the remark that woman’s shrill voice could be heard farther than man’s. Woman’s cry of agony, too, was lost in the voice of the louder sounding sea. The lady of Capt. Warner was on board, and before the boat went down she was taken to the mast head, and remained there until the Harrison came to the rescue.

“The officers of the Chesapeake did everything men could do to inspire confidence and exertion, and to save life in the terrible exigency. Mr. Andrew Lytle, Steward of the boat, was particularly active in preparing floats for the use of any who shoes them, and barely escaped. When the boat sunk he struck out on a state room door, but soon after saw the safer place was on that portion of the wreck still above water. The wind and waves drifted him so rapidly that he could not return, and lying flat on his buoy he continued to struggle and float, the waves frequently dashing over him, until picked up after daylight, nearly exhausted.

“The night was gusty, clear above, but misty on the water, and seamen say approaching lights appeared much farther distant than they really were.

“Passengers lost all their baggage, not a single trunk being saved. The mail to Sandusky City also lost. About 30 tons of freight, mostly dry goods and groceries, for Sandusky City, onboard. The Clerk’s books, and about $8000 in money in his charge, sunk with the boat. The Chesapeake belongs to Messrs. D. W. Barney & Co., of Cleveland. The Porter was loaded by Messrs. A Seymour & Co., with 4000 bushels of Corn, 70 bbls. Of Pork.

“There were about 45 passengers on board. – How many got ashore after the wreck went down is not known.

“Of those known to be drowned are the following of the passengers: [We put into separate lines.]

Mrs. Hock [or Houck ], Watertown, N.Y.;
G. [George] Van Doren, Sandusky;
E. Cone, Bellville, O.;
S. York, Tiffin, O.
“Of the crew,
R. Sutherland, Chief Engineer;
Orson Waite, 2d porter;
R. McNab [or McMann ], deck hand.

“It is greatly feared that Mr. D. A. Folsom, of Rochester, N.Y., formerly of this city, is also among the lost. When the small boat was leaving the wreck, he urged his wife to enter it with their child. She was unwilling to do so without he accompanied her. With true and noble disinterestedness he refused to embrace the opportunity to save himself, so long as ladies and children were left on board the sinking craft; but knowing the mother’s yearning heart towards her child, he placed it in the boat. The mother clung to it, and he bade her farewell from the gangway. Soon after Mr. Folsom, in company with a young man, a hand on board, entrusted himself to the waves on a hatchway and plank fastened together. His companion was rescued after daylight, so nearly exhausted that life was restored with difficulty.

“Mr. Van Doren was a merchant at Lower Sandusky, and leaves a family to mourn their unexpected bereavement. He committed himself to a raft with four others, withstood the buffetings of the waves for some time, but at last sank to sleep in their cold embrace.

“There has, no doubt, been a fearful loss of life, and much property….

“The following card will show who are saved…

“The undersigned, passengers on the Steamer Chesapeake, wrecked during the night of the 9th inst. Near the port of Conneaut, take great satisfaction in bearing testimony to the humane and gallant conduct of Capt. L. B. Parker, of the Steamer Gen. Harrison, in rescuing them from a watery grave….

(Weekly Wisconsin, Milwaukee. “Terrible Collision of Lake Erie!! Steamer Chesapeake & Sch’r Porter Sunk!” 6-12-1847, p. 1.)

Sources

Alexandria Gazette and Virginia Advertiser, VA. “News of the Day.” 6-16-1847, p. 3, c.1. Accessed 11-16-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/alexandria-gazette-jun-16-1847-p-3/

Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. Boston: Mariners Press Inc., 1972.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, NY. “The Lake Disaster.” 6-15-1847, p. 4. Accessed 11-16-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/brooklyn-daily-eagle-and-kings-county-democrat-jun-15-1847-p-4/

Erie Observer, PA. “Total Depravity.” 7-10-1847, p. 2, col. 4. Accessed 11-16-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/erie-observer-jul-10-1847-p-2/

Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping News Archive. Report News (June 2009). Accessed at: http://www.boatnerd.com/news/archive/6-09.htm

Historical Great Lakes Vessel Accident Database, 1847. (Broken link.)

Huron Reflector, Norwalk, OH. “Perilous Voyage on a Table – Death of Mr. Van Doren.”.” 6-22-1847, p. 2, col. 1. Accessed 11-16-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/norwalk-huron-reflector-jun-22-1847-p-2/

Huron Reflector, Norwalk, OH. “The Steamboat Disaster.” 6-15-1847, p. 2, col. 4. Accessed 11-16-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/huron-reflector-jun-15-1847-p-2/

Lloyd, James T. Lloyd’s Steamboat Directory and Disasters on the Western Waters. Cincinnati, Ohio: James T. Lloyd & Co., 1856. Digitized by Google. Accessed at: http://books.google.com/books?id=JlYqAAAAYAAJ

Lytle, William M., compiler, from Official Merchant Marine Documents of the United States and Other Sources; Holdcamper, Forrest H. (Editor, and Introduction by). Merchant Steam Vessels of the United States 1807-1868. “The Lytle List.” Mystic, CT: Steamship Historical Society of America (Publication No. 6), 1952. Accessed 8-16-2020 at:
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015018039084&view=1up&seq=8&size=125

Mansfield, John Brandts (Ed. And Compiler). History of the Great Lakes (Vol. 1). Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co., 1899. http://www.linkstothepast.com/marine/chapt36.html — Google digitized: http://books.google.com/books?id=iHXhAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Swayze. “Great Lakes Shipwrecks C.” Accessed 11-16-2020 at: http://www.boatnerd.com/swayze/shipwreck/c.htm

Swayze, David D. Shipwreck! A Comprehensive Directory of Over 3,700 Shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. Boyne City, MI: Harbor House Publications, Inc., 1992.

Wabash Express, Terre-Haute, IN. “The Chesapeake and the Schooner Porter.” 7-7-1847, p4, c1. Accessed 11-16-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/terre-haute-wabash-express-jul-07-1847-p-4/

Weekly Wisconsin, Milwaukee. “Terrible Collision of Lake Erie!! Steamer Chesapeake & Sch’r Porter Sunk!” 6-12-1847, p. 1. Accessed 11-16-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/weekly-wisconsin-jun-12-1847-p-1/