Collision and Wreck of the Schooner M.P. Barkalow
On Sunday night, shortly before midnight on July 3, 1887, a collision occurred in the river at the entrance to the old river bed in Cleveland. The propeller Nipigon and the schooner M.P. Barkalow, which was in tow of the tug W.D. Cushing under the command of Captain John Archer, were involved in the incident. The Barkalow was inbound from Toledo with a load of grain, while the Nipigon had just finished coaling in Cleveland and was heading out. The collision resulted from a misunderstanding of signals between the tug and the steambarge, with the Barkalow bearing the brunt of the impact. The propeller struck the Barkalow’s starboard bow, cutting into its decks, planksheer, rail, and several stanchions, stopping just a few inches above the waterline. The damage incurred by the Barkalow was significant, and the cost of repairs was expected to be substantial.
The M.P. Barkalow, officially registered under number 90277, was a schooner built in Perry, Ohio, in 1871 by Otis Harper. It had a gross tonnage of 121 tons and a net tonnage of 115 tons. The vessel measured approximately 104.2 feet in length, 22.7 feet in width, and 8.2 feet in depth. Its home port was Detroit.
This collision was not the only mishap the Barkalow experienced during its years of service. On September 18, 1871, the Barkalow, along with two other vessels, found itself on the beach near Point Abino due to thick smoky weather prevalent on the lakes at the time. A tug and lighter were dispatched to assist, and the Barkalow was eventually relieved and brought into port.
Another incident occurred on April 26, 1902, when the Barkalow was caught in a southwest gale while at anchor approximately 1.5 miles west of Put-In-Bay, Ohio, in Lake Erie. The vessel foundered during the storm. It was en route from Marine City, Michigan, to Sandusky, Ohio, carrying a cargo of salt. Tragically, three out of the four crew members on board were lost in this incident.
The M.P. Barkalow faced further misfortune in the past. It suffered significant damage and sank in Toledo in the fall of 1894 when a lowered railroad drawbridge struck it.
Despite the challenges it encountered throughout its career, the Barkalow was successfully raised after sinking and arrived in port under tow from two tugs. It was berthed at the Bennett Elevator in Buffalo, but its extensive damage required substantial repairs.
These accounts depict the tumultuous history of the schooner M.P. Barkalow, which faced collisions, strandings, and sinking incidents during its time on the Great Lakes.
