Wreck of schooner Milan

 Rochester Republican 

      October 18, 1848 


      LOSS OF THE SCHOONER MILAN of OSWEGO 

      We are indebted to Capt. Robert Richardson for the following particulars of the foundering of his vessel on Wednesday morning, about fifteen miles off the mouth of Oak Orchard Creek on Lake Ontario. The Milan sailed from Oswego at 11 o'clock on the morning of the 9th, with a crew of seven men, bound for Cleveland, with a cargo of 1000 barrels of salt. About half past 2 o'clock on the morning of Wednesday, while the master was on the watch, the men in the forecastle were awakened by the splashing of water therein, and it was found that there was 18 inches of water on the floor. The vessel at this time was about ten miles from the South shore, North of the "Devils nose." 

    The crew immediately resorted to the pumps, and commenced removing the salt from the forward hold. Meanwhile the water continued to gain upon them, and an effort was made to run the vessel ashore, but the wind being southerly she made but little headway. At five o'clock she was put about for the north shore of the lake, some fifty miles distant; but she had not made five miles before she went down headforemost, giving the crew barely time to escape in the small boat, which they rowed towards the American shore, and were taken on board the schooner Church of Sacketts Harbor at 11 o'clock and brought into this port. 

  The Captain had on board the vessel at the time of the disaster a fine Newfoundland dog, who was carried down by the waters as they gathered over the vessel as she sunk, but afterwards arose to the surface, swam to the yawl, and was finally saved. The Milan was owned by Capt. Richardson and Herrick & Brown and was insured for $3000 in the Columbus Company. The cargo was insured for $900 in the Oswego Company. We are indebted to T.B. Hamilton, Esq., of this city, agent for the underwriters, for his politeness in assisting us to the above particulars. 


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