The brig SULTAN met its tragic fate during a gale off Euclid, approximately 8 miles from Cleveland. The incident occurred on September 27, 1864. The vessel, which was bound from Cleveland to Buffalo, was wrecked in the storm and became a total loss.
During the disaster, three crew members, namely Monroe Ellsworth, Barney Carrol, and Stephen Johnson, attempted to escape the sinking vessel by using a small boat. Unfortunately, only the bodies of Monroe Ellsworth and Barney Carrol were washed ashore near the scene of the disaster. The body of Stephen Johnson was later found and recovered by the propeller ship GRANITE STATE, which brought it to the city for burial.
The brig SULTAN had an interesting history, having been originally built in Chicago in either 1847 or 1848. It was later rebuilt in 1863 at Buffalo.
The incident serves as a somber reminder of the dangers faced by sailors and vessels navigating the Great Lakes during severe storms. Shipwrecks and losses were not uncommon in the region due to the unpredictable weather and challenging conditions on the open water.
