The Sinking- December 7, 1854...

Buffalo Morning Express, December 24, 1854

We copy the following statement of the loss of the ill fated prop. Westmoreland from the Commerical of last evening:

The Westmoreland left Chicago on Saturday December 2nd at 1:00 AM and reached Milwaukee about noon, took 500 bbls flour and sailed for Port Washington to take on wood, on Sunday about 8 o’clock, but shortly after getting underway a heavy snow storm came on and at 12 o’clock Capt. Clark finding it impossible to make that port, the propeller was put about and returned to Milwaukee, where she remained until the morning of Wednesday the 6th. She then left again for Buffalo, the weather being fair. About 4 o’clock on the same day a thick now snow storm came up with wind from the north west and a heavy sea. At 4 o’clock on Thursday morning she ws discovered to be leaking slightly when the bilge pump being unable to keep her free from water, two additional hand pumps were kept going, but about 6 o’clock the leak increasing on account of the boisterous weather and the large quantity of ice which accumulated on the boat, we commenced hoisting water from the hold with the firemans buckets, but all efforts were unavailing and the water continued to rapidly gain upon us.

At 8 o’clock we were in sight of the Manitou Islands-probably about six miles from the southern point-the boat making little headway: the fires beginning to be dampened by the water in the hold. About 10 o’clock the fires went out and the boat commenced and continued to drift for four hours until nearly 3 o’clock when she began to go down rapidly. The Captain had previously ordered the small boats to begot ready and now took charge of the small yawl, launched it, and Capt. Clark, Mr. Wright, 1st engineer, Salstonstall, passenger; S. Priest, cook; Jas. Hannegan, deckhand and William Breckenridge, 2nd engineer went into it. At the same time with the launching of the small yawl, the life boat, in charge of Paul Pelkey, the 1st mate was also Launched. Into this boat were taken Andrew McNeal, 2nd mate of the prop. Saginaw and William Fleicherer, watchman of the same propeller, Donald McIntosh, wheelsman of the Westmoreland and three Germans, names unknown, (two passengers and one hand from the prop Pocagontas). The 2nd mate Samual Adams was also at the same moment endeavoring to get the large yawl boat afloat, but the propeller “listed” so that the boat got foul between the cranes and the cabin, becoming totally unmanageable.

As the life boat came alongside, the 2nd mate sprang into the water by her side, catching hold of the boat and got in. as the life boat was now filled and having as many as she could carry, both boats pulled for shore. Before they were ten rods distant the propeller went down with a crash, the cabins parting from the hull as she sank. The two pulled about 8 miles to the south before the wind and landed at Platte River Bay, Michigan. While going ashore the life boat swamped and lost two men but she was righted and the remainder got aboard. We remained there two days, camping out, and then started for the Manitous to the North – we got down about 8 miles, but the wind blowing very fresh, we went ashore, a little to the north of the Empire Bluffs.

We stayed here three days – the weather very cold. We built large fires and a temporary tent, there being no inhabitants within 12 miles. About the time of landing, Paul Pelkey and Mr. Salstanstall, a waiter, and a German started to go down the shore to go over to the Manitous for a boat to come after them. After being gone three days, the 1st engineer, 2nd engineer and myself started on foot for Manistee which was about 30 miles distant. We arrived there within three days after starting. The Captain and others remained behind with the intention of getting to the Manitou Islands which they would easily accomplish as soon as the weather abated. At Manistee, we found the schooner Whirlwind which brought us over to Racine without charge. The landlord of Congress Hall at Racine received us hospitably and graciously furnished us with an “extra” and carried us on our way to Chicago where we arrived last Tuesday evening and from there we were franked over every road to this city.

The bulk of the cargo of the Westmoreland was from Chicago, 28000 bu oats, 322 bbls flour, 28 bags grass seed, and 150 quarters beef shipped by Haskins and Hadley and 500 bbls flour and some other articles from Douseman & Co., Milwaukee. There was a partial insurance of about $8,000 on the cargo: a portion was in the Commercial and Merchants Insurance Co., Milwaukee.

The Sailor’s Magazine, 1854

Marine Disasters

We cut the following illustration of “sorrow on the sea,” from the Buffalo Coml Advertiser.

“The loss of life on the propeller Westmoreland falls heavily on our citizens, and many a home has been rendered desolate and many a fireside sad by the mournful event. Yesterday afternoon a man entered our office and enquired if we had any particulars on the wreck of the propeller. We had that minute received a report from the west, and read to him the names of the lost. At the sound of the first he grew deathly pale, and staggering back against a table, nearly fell to the floor. We had read to him the name of his own brother, and the strong, hardy man was nearly smitten to the heart. He spoke no word, although he made an attempt to say something; but as the big tears rolled down his checks and the rising in the throat checked his utterance, he pulled his cap over his eyes and staggered from the room. We felt acute regret that we did not use more caution in reading to him the names of the dead.

Shortly afterwards we had another visit. It was from the wife of one of the crew. With quivering lips and blanched cheeks she stammered out the inquiry as to the names of the saved and lost, ending with the prayer, “For the love of GOD, don’t tell me he is dead!” We glanced over the list, with such a painful feeling as we hope not soon again to experience. The name met out eye-it was among the saved, but we scarcely had voice to give her the joyful intelligenc. With a wild cry, the poor woman clasped her hands and burst into tears. This time, thank God, they were tears of joy; still they were almost painful from the intensity of feeling they evinced. The two incidents were somewhat more exciting than the ordinary events of the day in an editor’s room.