Service History
The two masted schooner
E.M. Carrington was built in Port Huron, Michigan in 1866 by A.S. Stewart. The port of hail was Sandusky, valuation in 1874 was $5,000, insurance class was B1.
August, 1869: Schooner
E.M. Carrington, loaded with railroad iron, ran ashore on Point au Pellee Island, Lake Erie. Got off in damaged condition.
November 17, 1873: Beached at AuSable, Michigan. Ashore in a gale.
1874: Repaired.
1876: Steamer
R.N. Rice and schooner
E.M. Carrington collide near Cleveland, Ohio.
1878: Repaired.
October 16, 1880: Wrecked in "Alpena Gale" at Muskegon, Michigan; recovered.
Last Document of Enrollment Surrendered: Milwaukee: 6/30/1881: "Total Loss".
Final Voyage
On November 15, 1880, at about 7am, the schooner
E.M. Carrington rolled over during a southerly gale, drowning her crew of five men.
The
Carrington had left Muskegon on the morning of the 14th, with a load of lumber for Milwaukee. She left in the company of the schooner
Phoenix similarly laden for Kenosha. Shortly after leaving Muskegon, a northwest gale was encountered by the two vessels, and at approximately 3 pm the
Carrington hoisted a distress signal. Rather than shortening her canvas and allowing the
Phoenix to approach, the
Carrington kept on her westerly course without slowing down. Apparently, Capt. Sands was hoping to reach the Wisconsin shore, but wanted another vessel close by in case the worst should happen. A third vessel, the scow
Christie, also observed the distress signal, and her master later reported seeing some of the
Carrington's men at the pumps, while others were jettisoning her deckload.
On the morning of November 15, the crew of the
Phoenix again spotted the
Carrington. By this time, it was blowing a southerly gale, and at about 7 am, the
Carrington apparently rolled over. Due to the severity of the gale, the
Phoenix was unable to assist her.
The Milwaukee Sentinel of November 20, 1880, reported that the wreck of the
Carrington had been found floating bow up by the steamer Muskegon and was last seen 45 miles southeast of Milwaukee.
Today
Brendon Baillod states that there may be a possibility that the
E.M. Carrington was towed in and salvaged.
