REED CASE: A Tragic Tale of a Schooner’s Demise
The Case Reed, a wooden schooner built in 1869 by Bailey Bros. in Toledo, Ohio, was once a bustling vessel navigating the vast waters of Lake Superior. Measuring 137 feet in length, 26 feet in width, and with a depth of 13.9 feet, the Reed Case had a gross tonnage of 330 and a net tonnage of 313. It was a sturdy vessel capable of carrying various cargoes.
On October 19, 1888, tragedy struck when the Case Reed encountered a severe storm while bound from Duluth. The schooner, which was carrying no cargo at the time, dragged its anchor and ran aground on a reef approximately four miles from the entrance of the Portage Ship Canal. The vessel pounded heavily against the relentless waves, causing significant damage.
During the chaotic events, Captain Charles Green, the master of the Case Reed, tragically lost his life. While attempting to come ashore in the vessel’s yawl, the captain’s small boat capsized, resulting in his drowning. Despite the loss of their captain, the remaining crew members managed to survive the treacherous conditions.
The tugboat A.C. Adams played a crucial role in the rescue efforts. It managed to release the Case Reed from the reef and began towing the disabled schooner toward the canal entrance. However, the relentless storm took its toll, and the Reed Case ultimately foundered before reaching safety.
The Case Reed’s owner, C.J. Magill of Chicago, Illinois, witnessed the heartbreaking end to his vessel. The schooner, once a reliable workhorse of the Great Lakes, met its demise during that fateful storm. The wreck of the Case Reed came to rest approximately a quarter-mile from the entrance of the Portage Ship Canal, lying in 15 feet of water.
The Reed Case had experienced other incidents throughout its history. In 1885, the vessel ran aground on Great Duck Island in Lake Huron but was eventually released with the assistance of the steamship E.K. Roberts and a tugboat. In 1887, it was involved in a collision with the schooner John B. Merrill at Beaver Harbor.
Today, the Case Reed serves as a reminder of the perils faced by sailors on the Great Lakes. The schooner’s wreckage beneath the waters of Lake Superior serves as a poignant memorial to the lives lost and the challenges encountered by those who navigated these unpredictable waters. The story of the Case Reed is a testament to the bravery and resilience of sailors and a reminder of the power and unpredictability of nature on the Great Lakes.
