The schooner GAZELLE, hailing from Buffalo, experienced a mishap when it ran ashore at Little Point Sauble during a southwester on October 9, 1867. The incident caused considerable damage to the vessel.
The GAZELLE had an interesting history, which caused some confusion among records. According to some sources, she was built in Maumee in 1832 and measured 135 tons burthen under the old measurement system. However, another account suggested that the vessel was actually built in Maumee in 1846 and measured 103 tons burthen. The latter version was considered to be more accurate and was supported by records indicating the GAZELLE’s rebuilding in 1851, making it only 21 years old at the time of the accident.
The discrepancy arose because there were multiple vessels with the name GAZELLE on the Great Lakes. One of the GAZELLEs built in 1832 hailed from this port and had been wrecked years prior to the 1867 incident. The vessel that ran aground in 1867 was confirmed to be the GAZELLE built in 1846.
The GAZELLE that ran aground in 1867 was a vessel of some historical significance, as she was among the last lake craft still in service up to 1840. The vessel was owned by Messrs. Portch & Co. of Sheboygan.
In a peculiar twist, there were conflicting reports and corrections published in various newspapers regarding the history of the GAZELLE, with some uncertainty surrounding the specific details of her past and which GAZELLE vessel was truly involved in the accident. The shipwreck was an intriguing topic for maritime historians and researchers, with multiple possibilities and historical nuances to explore.
