Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2016 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== VESSEL NAME: Walter H. Oades OTHER NAME(s): - OFFICIAL NO: 62445 DATE OF LOSS: 20 August 1888 CAUSE OF LOSS: Collision LOCATION: Lake Erie, 2 miles from Southeast Shoal light. RIG TYPE: Schooner HULL TYPE: Wood BUILDER: Capt. John Oades, at Detroit - 1869 OWNER(S): N. S. Stone et. al., Oswego MASTER: ? TONNAGE: 230 gt DIMENSIONS: 170 ft CASUALTIES: none Collided with the the schooner R. HALLARAN and sank in 30 minutes while the R. HALLARAN kept going. Her crew escaped to the lighthouse in the yawl. Called "one of the most unlucky boats on the lakes," by the Marine Record at the time of her loss. The following is an extract from Mansfield's "History of the Great Lakes." "Loss of an Unlucky Vessel. -- The schooner WALTER H. OADES collided, August 20, with the schooner R. HALLORAN, two miles from the Dummy, Lake Erie, and sank in half an hour. There was no loss of life. The captain, his daughter and the crew reached the lighthouse and were cared for. The OADES was built in Detroit by Capt. John Oades, in 1869, and measured 219 tons. She was one of the most unlucky vessels on the lakes. While she was under construction a fire broke out on her, and one side was almost consumed. When nearly ready to launch the ways settled and she fell three feet, necessitating heavy expense in getting her into the water. Then she ran ashore at Rondeau point, after which she was sold by her builders. Later, while she was at anchor in St. Clair river, she was ran into by a big steamboat. She went on the bank in shallow water, and while the wreckers were at work she slipped off into deep water. She was repaired and while waiting settlement with the insurance companies she was ran into and lost her jibboom. At one time she was thrown upon the Buffalo breakwater by a heavy sea, and her minor mishaps would fill a book. When she was lost there was no insurance on her as the agents refused to take the risk because she was "unlucky." ======================================================================== Sources: Merchant Vessel List, 1882 Marine Record, 23 August 1888 R. L. Polk Marine Directory, 1888 Mansfield, J. B. "History of the Great Lakes" Last update 19 January 2016