History and Construction
The C.G. Breed was a wooden brigantine constructed in 1862 by Davidson & Ellsworth in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Initially owned by Breed & Green of Milwaukee, the vessel was designed to be a robust and versatile ship capable of handling the rigorous demands of Great Lakes shipping. Measuring 140 feet in length, with a beam of 26 feet and a depth of 13 feet, the C.G. Breed was well-suited for carrying large cargoes across the Great Lakes.
In 1863, just a year after its launch, the C.G. Breed was rerigged as a schooner, a common practice at the time to adapt vessels to changing shipping needs. By 1865, its tonnage was re-measured and recorded as 385 gross tons. The schooner-barge continued to serve the Great Lakes under various owners, including A. Green of Milwaukee, Brigham et al. of Milwaukee, Hemmiter of Cleveland, and finally, White/Wight et al. of Cleveland in 1879.
The Tragic Capsizing
On November 14, 1879, the C.G. Breed set out on what would become its final voyage. The vessel, owned by Jesse Farwell of Detroit, was transporting 24,000 bushels of wheat from Detroit to Buffalo, a typical cargo for the Great Lakes trade routes. However, as the schooner-barge sailed approximately 80 miles east of Point au Pelee on Lake Erie, it encountered a sudden and violent squall.
The storm struck with such force that the C.G. Breed was unable to withstand the onslaught. The vessel capsized and quickly sank, leaving the eight crew members on board to fend for their lives in the turbulent waters. Tragically, five of the eight crew members perished in the disaster, their lives claimed by the unforgiving storm and the icy waters of Lake Erie.
Survivors’ Harrowing Ordeal
The accounts of the three survivors provide a chilling insight into the terror and desperation of the moments following the capsizing. Captain Harry Rose, the master of the C.G. Breed, was thrown into the water but managed to find refuge on the floating floor of his cabin. After enduring nine agonizing hours adrift, he was rescued by the schooner Abbie L. Andrews.
Another crew member managed to swim to the foremasthead, clinging to it as the vessel briefly righted itself before sinking completely. After spending 15 grueling hours atop the mast, he was rescued by the propeller Milwaukee. The third survivor’s experience was equally harrowing; he swam to the mainmasthead, but when the vessel righted, the mast snapped, throwing him some distance away. Remarkably, he survived and was found 23 hours later by the schooner Nellie Gardner.
Legacy and Remembrance
The loss of the C.G. Breed serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by mariners on the Great Lakes. The sudden capsizing and sinking of the vessel in a fierce squall claimed the lives of five crew members and left the survivors with memories of a terrifying ordeal. The accounts of those who lived through the tragedy offer a poignant glimpse into the perils of maritime life during the 19th century.
The wreck of the C.G. Breed likely remains at the bottom of Lake Erie, a silent testament to the ship and crew that met their end in one of the Great Lakes’ many storms. The story of the C.G. Breed, like many others from this era, underscores the bravery and resilience of those who sailed the inland seas, facing dangers that were often sudden and unpredictable.
Resources & Links
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Ships Database
- Wisconsin Shipwrecks
Keywords
C.G. Breed, schooner-barge, Great Lakes shipwreck, Lake Erie, Point au Pelee, maritime history, vessel loss, storm wreck, 19th-century shipping, shipwreck remembrance.
Ongoing Research & Monitoring
Further research into the C.G. Breed may focus on uncovering additional details about the storm that caused its sinking, as well as any surviving documentation or artifacts related to the vessel’s construction and service. Continuous monitoring of maritime history archives and shipwreck databases will ensure that any new information about the C.G. Breed is incorporated into its historical narrative.
