History
The CATARACT was a schooner built in 1856 in Sandusky, Ohio by Totten. It had a length of 133 feet, a beam of 26 feet, and a depth of 11 feet. The vessel had a tonnage of 349 gross tons. On May 1857, the CATARACT sank in a collision with the propeller KENTUCKY near Long Point Cut, off the coast of Conneaut, Ohio. The exact location is described as WSW of Long Point Light, about 1 mile offshore.
The CATARACT was carrying a cargo of staves, coal, iron, and salt at the time of the collision. The crew managed to escape in a small boat and reached Conneaut safely. Unfortunately, there is no information available about any loss of life resulting from the sinking.
The collision caused the CATARACT to sink in deep water, resulting in a total loss of the vessel. The property loss was estimated to be $12,000. Efforts were made to raise the schooner, but it is unclear if they were successful.
The CATARACTs sinking and subsequent wreck remain a part of maritime history on Lake Erie.
