1839 – Nov 25, Brig Neptune grounds, Lake Michigan gale, Little Sable Point, MI — 17

–17 Blanchard estimated death toll.*

–19 Logansport Telegraph, Logansport, IN. [Loss of brig Neptune]. 1-11-1840, p. 1., col. 6.
–19 Maryland Republican, Annapolis, MD. “Awful Shipwreck.” 12-24-1839, p. 3., col. 5.
–19 Swayze. Shipwreck!…Directory of…Shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. 1992, p. 167.
–19 Trumansburg Advertiser & Tompkins County Whig, NY. (Ltr. to the Editor), 12-25-1839, 2.
–18 Shelak, Benjamin J. Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan. Big Earth Publishing, 2003, p. 151.
–17 Maritime History of the Great Lakes. “Neptune (Brig), aground, 25 Nov 1839.”
–16 Mansfield, John Brandts (Editor). History of the Great Lakes (Vol. 1). 1899, p. 682.

* Blanchard estimated death toll. Initial death tolls were nineteen based on reporting that only the Captain Sims survived. Later reports, however, brought to light the fact that two others had been found alive on the beach by Native Americans and conveyed to the nearest settlement.

Narrative Information

Mansfield: “Loss of the Neptune and Victor. – A distressing casualty was the loss of the brig Neptune, Capt. John Sims, of Cleveland, at Point au Sable, Lake Michigan, in November. Eleven passengers, comprising four families, were drowned. Five beside the captain reached shore, where they soon after perished. The captain had both feet badly frozen, one of which was subsequently amputated. His mate, John W. Webster, had both legs badly frozen, and they were afterward amputated. The Neptune had on board a general cargo, including, iron, liquor, leather, wagons, etc.”

Maritime History of the Great Lakes: “Neptune (Brig), aground, 25 Nov 1839.”
“Reason: aground
“Lives: 17
….
“Geographic Coverage: Little Point Sable, Michigan…[Lake Michigan]
“Donor: William R. McNeil.”

Shelak: “The next loss [after the Prince Eugene on Lake Michigan] was the brig Neptune. The Neptune boasted two masts and displaced approximately 166 tons. On November 25, 1839, the three-year old brig was bound for Chicago from Buffalo when it encountered a fierce gale. Going ashore at Little Sable Point, the Neptune mishap claimed 18 of the 21 souls and a cargo of general merchandise. Only the captain and two others survived.” (Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan, 2003, p151.)

Swayze: “Neptune. Merchant schooner [sic]. Lake Ontario [sic]: This early schooner’s loss was typical of the hundreds of like accidents that were to follow. On December 23, 1840 [sic], the Neptune was caught by a gale and blown into the shallows. Once she was helpless, storm-driven combers rushed in to finish the job, literally pounding the vessel to pieces. Nineteen of the 20 persons aboard perished in the disaster. The location is give as Point Sable.”

Newspaper

Nov 29: “Muskegon, Ottawa Co., Mich., November 29, 1839.

“Editor of the Free Press:

“Sir – The brig Neptune, John H. Sims, master, was driven on shore at Little Point au Sable, about 30 miles north of the Muskegon river, in the gale of Monday, the 25th inst. There was on board in all, 9 of the crew and 11 passengers, all drowned and perished with the cold, except Capt. Sims, who, with two others, reached the shore.

“One, the brother of the captain, and Webster, the mate, the two who ventured to leave the wreck with the captain, perished immediately on reaching the shore. The brig was full freighted from Buffalo for Chicago, principally merchandise.

“Capt. Sims, who was without…anything to eat from Monday morning till Friday morning, came out to the settlement yesterday. He is badly frost-bitten, but in good spirits. The people from this place go out tomorrow to bury the dead, and save what they can from the wreck.” (Trumansburg Advertiser & Tompkins County Whig, NY. (Ltr. to the Editor), 12-25-1839, p. 2, col. 6.)

Dec 3: “A correspondent of the Detroit Daily Advertiser gives the following melancholy account of a shipwreck upon one of the northern lakes.

“Grandville [MI?] , Dec 3, 1839.

“Dear Sir: — The Brig Neptune went ashore near Point Soible [sic] on Monday of last week [Nov 25], and 19 of the 20 souls on board were either drowned or frozen to death. The Captain, the only survivor, got as far as Muskego [sic] on Thursday. He says that the vessel was very little injured when he left her. – Two others reached the shore with the Captain, but soon froze to death. The Captain has both feet badly frozen. It is from the messenger who came to Grand Haven for a physician, that we learn this much. Not knowing the owner, or where the vessel belongs, I drop this to you that the owner be advised of his loss.” (Maryland Republican, Annapolis, MD. “Awful Shipwreck.” 12-24-1839, p. 3., col. 5.)

Jan 23, 1840: “Webster and Newton, two men supposed to have perished in the brig Neptune on Lake Michigan, were found in the woods by some Indians, and their feet badly frost-bitten, and conveyed by these humane red men to Muskegon.” (Wheeling Times and Advertiser, WV. “Humanity of Indians.” 1-23-1840, p. 2, col. 5.)

Sources

Logansport Telegraph, Logansport, IN. [Loss of brig Neptune]. 1-11-1840, p. 1., col. 6. Accessed 12-15-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/logansport-telegraph-jan-11-1840-p-1/

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

Maritime History of the Great Lakes. “Neptune (Brig), aground, 25 Nov 1839.” Accessed 12-15-2020 at: https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca//50819/data

Maryland Republican, Annapolis, MD. “Awful Shipwreck.” 12-24-1839, p. 3., col. 5. Accessed 12-15-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/annapolis-maryland-republican-dec-24-1839-p-3/

Shelak, Benjamin J. Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan. Big Earth Publishing, 2003. Partially digitized by Google. Accessed at: http://books.google.com/books?id=4CBCcye0n6IC

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

Trumansburg Advertiser & Tompkins County Whig, NY. (Ltr. to the Editor), 12-25-1839, p. 2. Accessed 12-15-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/trumansburg-advertiser-and-tompkins-county-whig-dec-25-1839-p-2/

Wheeling Times and Advertiser, WV. “Humanity of Indians.” 1-23-1840, p. 2, col. 5. Accessed 12-15-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/wheeling-times-and-advertiser-jan-23-1840-p-2/