On November 1, 1891, the steam screw PASSAIC, a vessel operating on Lake Erie, met with a tragic disaster. During a fierce gale, the PASSAIC ran aground and foundered near Dunkirk, breaking into pieces. The vessel was carrying a valuable cargo of lumber at the time of the incident.
Thankfully, the crew members aboard the PASSAIC managed to escape the sinking ship and reached safety by boarding the barges that were in tow. These barges, named LIMA, HATTIE, JENESS, and SUPERIOR, were also laden with lumber and had ridden out the storm at anchor.
Despite the crew’s safe evacuation, the steamer PASSAIC was completely wrecked, and its whereabouts were not immediately known. There was no insurance on the hull of the vessel, which was valued at $12,000, but the cargo was insured.
In the aftermath of the wreck, a Dunkirk customs official was trying to obtain permission from the cargo’s consignees to collect the lumber that was coming ashore in large quantities at Van Buren Point. No bodies had been found among the wreckage that washed ashore.
The crew members from the PASSAIC who had boarded the barge HATTIE were found to be working diligently to pump water out of the barge. They recounted their harrowing experience, mentioning how they had to bail water from a small yawl until exhaustion and cold drove them to jump overboard and seek refuge on the barge.
The exact location of the sunken PASSAIC remained uncertain, and efforts were made to locate the wreck. The steamer had a substantial amount of uninsured lumber in its hold, adding to the complexity of the situation. The possibility of the vessel drifting into shallower waters near Dunkirk or Van Buren Point was considered, and discussions were held regarding the potential of raising the wreck if it was found.
The loss of the PASSAIC was another significant addition to the list of Lake Erie wrecks for that season. The incident caused considerable grief and financial losses for the owners and operators of the vessel, highlighting the inherent risks faced by vessels and their crews when navigating the Great Lakes.
The steam screw PASSAIC, which had been built in Buffalo, New York, in 1862, had a long history of service on Lake Erie before meeting its tragic end on that stormy November day in 1891.
