History
In the year 1867, the shores of Black River, Ohio, saw the emergence of a wooden three-masted schooner named the “CLOUGH.” Crafted by shipbuilder John C. Parker, the vessel was a testament to maritime craftsmanship, with a tonnage of 216, later sometimes recorded as 300. Her legacy, however, would be marked by a catastrophic event that forever etched her name in the annals of Lake Erie’s history.
On September 15, 1868, the “CLOUGH” found herself at the mercy of a relentless gale that swept across Lake Erie’s waters. Just 12 miles east of Cleveland, Ohio, disaster struck as the elements unleashed their fury. The schooner, laden with her unknown cargo, was driven ashore with a force that shattered her against the unforgiving shoreline.
Tragically, seven of the eight souls aboard the “CLOUGH” succumbed to the merciless tempest. Among the lost were Captain J.S. Reed, First Mate George D. Demmick, Cook Catharine Sullivan, Chapman, Bleer, and Fitzpatrick, all sailors who found themselves at the mercy of the storm’s wrath. Only Rush Reed, the second mate, emerged as the lone survivor, a testament to both luck and fate.
The news of the “CLOUGH’s” demise reverberated through the maritime community. The vessel, built at a cost of $16,000 in 1867, was now reduced to wreckage on Lake Erie’s shores. Her valiant journey had come to a tragic end, her name forever etched as a symbol of the dangers that mariners faced on the Great Lakes.
Over time, the memory of the “CLOUGH” faded, her tale interwoven with the countless stories of vessels lost to the unpredictable waters. Yet, the echoes of her fate remained, a somber reminder of the bravery and sacrifice that characterized the seafaring life. The bark “CLOUGH,” swallowed by the storm, continues to remind us of the relentless power of nature and the indomitable spirit of those who sailed the Great Lakes.
