History #
The CITY OF PAINESVILLE was a three-masted wooden bark that met a tragic end after a collision in Lake Erie. Built in 1867 by Bailey Bros. in Fairport, Ohio, the vessel had dimensions of 132 feet in length, 34 feet in beam, and 13 feet in depth, with a tonnage of 601. It was primarily used for transporting cargo and was carrying coal at the time of its loss.
On October 18, 1874, while sailing off Ashtabula, Ohio, the CITY OF PAINESVILLE was running as a consort to the propeller COLIN CAMPBELL. In a heavy wind, it was let go to sail on its own as it could make better time under its own canvas. However, shortly after, the vessel collided with the schooner HALSTEAD and sank in approximately 70 feet of water.
Fortunately, there was no loss of life in the incident, and the crew of the CITY OF PAINESVILLE escaped to the HALSTEAD in their boat. The vessel, along with its cargo of coal, was reported as a total loss, amounting to $75,000. Interestingly, the owner, W.H. Ingram of Buffalo, had recently canceled half of the vessel’s insurance.
Prior to its tragic end, the CITY OF PAINESVILLE had faced other incidents, including being stranded north of Manistee in November 1869 and near Escanaba in 1872. The vessel had a long and eventful history, changing ownership and navigating through various ports.
The collision and subsequent sinking of the CITY OF PAINESVILLE were reported in several newspapers, highlighting the details of the incident and the efforts made to rescue the crew. The vessel’s loss was a significant blow to its owner, both in terms of the value of the ship and the cargo it carried.
