The schooner COMMERCIAL, constructed in 1833 by J. Baldwin in Conneaut, Ohio, encountered a mishap on Lake Erie. The vessel was a wooden two-mast schooner with dimensions of 52 feet in length, 18 feet in beam, and 5 feet in depth, with a tonnage of 52.
On June 22, 1840, the COMMERCIAL was sailing off Conneaut, Ohio, on Lake Erie. Unfortunately, the schooner was involved in a collision with the passenger steamer GREAT WESTERN. The collision occurred when the steamer struck the COMMERCIAL midships. As a result of the impact, the schooner was sunk.
Fortunately, the crew of the COMMERCIAL was rescued by the GREAT WESTERN before the schooner went underwater. The collision was attributed to the obscured lights on the schooner, making it difficult for the steamer to detect the vessel in time to avoid the collision.
The COMMERCIAL was carrying a cargo of 250 barrels of salt at the time of the incident. The vessel was owned by David Ford, Nathaniel B. Harmon, John Reed, all of Conneaut, and John Prince of Buffalo. The captain of the COMMERCIAL was identified as Harrison Howard.
This unfortunate event showcases the challenges and risks faced by vessels navigating the Great Lakes during the 19th century, where collisions and other accidents were not uncommon due to factors such as limited visibility and unpredictable weather conditions.
