Oswego Morning Herald
June 24, 1879
It is surmised that Mr. M. J. Cummings will name his new schooner, now
being built at Goble & Macfarlane's yard, Leadville, in honor of the young city in
Colorado where he and Mr. Nicholas Finn have a smelter. We trust that she may
"pan out" as well as have the silver mines in the Rocky Mountains.
Oswego Morning Herald,
Wed., July 2, 1879
An Extensive Builder
The schooner, which will be launched from Goble & Macfarlane's shipyard this
afternoon, is the thirty-eighth Mr. Goble has built at this port. There are but few
ship-carpenters in this country who have done as much and as good work as
George Goble. Craft that he built twenty years ago are afloat today and in good
condition.
Oswego Morning Herald
Thurs., July 3, 1879
Launch of the Leadville
A Fine Schooner - The Vessels Goble & Macfarlane Built
Yesterday afternoon at precisely 4 o'clock the lanyards which held the new
schooner Leadville fast to the ways in Goble & Macfarlane's ship-yard were cut,
and the large and stately craft steadily but speedily started for the element with
which she is to battle. The instant the schooner started the immense crowd, not
less than one thousand people, set up a cheer, which echoed and re-echoed.
The schooner appeared to recognize the shouts of joy, and when she touched
the water she bowed low in appreciation of the honor, and proudly flung the water
aside as though it were a plaything for her to dally with. The launch was one of
the most successful ever seen, and reflect much credit upon the builders.
The Leadville, which was built by Messrs. Goble & Macfarlane, for Mr. Michael
J. Cummings, was commenced on the 19th of March, when her keel was laid,
and she ranks in beauty, style and finish with any craft ever launched at this port.
She would have been finished a month ago had it not been for a scarcity of
timber, but if freights hold as they now are her advent was soon enough.
Her dimensions are: Length, 142 feet 6 inches; beam, 26 feet 3 inches; depth
of hold in the shoalest place, 12 feet, and at the forward hatch, 13 feet 4 inches.
She has not been measured as yet, so we cannot give her tonnage, but she will
carry not far from 770 tons. Her load will be 20,000 bushels to Buffalo. She will
be a three and after and will spread 9,357 square feet or 1,079 2/3 yards of
canvas.
Her foremast will be 86 feet in length, her mainmast 88 feet, and her
mizzenmast 76 feet. Her fore and main-top masts will be 60 feet in length and
the little spar aft on the house will have a topmast of 50 feet. Her cabin is 21 x 18,
and is large, commodious and built with an eye for comfort.
She will be fitted out immediately and will be commanded by Captain Daniel
Hourigan, of this city, formerly of the mammoth schooner H. W. Sage, with
Mr.Frank Williams as first mate. That she is strong and staunch is not gainsayed
by anyone. We wish her abundant success, and trust that fortune may smile on
her so pleasantly that the plucky owner may have a mate on the stocks before winter.
To show what Messrs. Goble & Macfarlane have done for commerce we
herewith give the list of vessels they have constructed. Before the firm was made
Mr. George Goble built the bark Great West and schooners Syracuse, Titan,
William Sanderson, Bermuda, W. I. Preston, George Goble, T. S. Mott, Senator
Blood, James Platt, Montana, Bahama, Knight Templar, and tug F. D. Wheeler.
After the firm became Goble & Macfarlane the following were built: Henry
Fitzhugh. Olive Branch, G. C. Finney, Jamaica, Nevada, Florida, Guiding Start,
John T. Mott, West Side, Madeira, tug Alanson Sumner, schooners Nassau,
Daniel Lyons, Atlanta, Sam Cook, M. J. Cummings, J. Maria Scott, Fascination
and Leadville. The total Custom House measurement of the crafts built is 9,375
tons, but the carrying capacity is 19,343 tons.
Oswego Morning Herald
July 28, 1879
The Leadville's Hitch
Captain Hurley, of the schooner Blazing Star, says that the schooner Leadville
was too wide, by about a half inch, to enter lock 3, Welland Canal. By dubbing
her wales, which projected beyond the plank some distance, the trouble can be
obviated.
Captain John M. Griffin and Mr. Goble went to the canal Saturday morning,
and doubtless before this the wales have been reduced so that the schooner
could go on her way rejoicing. Of the many schooners Goble & Macfarlane have
built the Leadville is the first one that could not lock.
Oswego Palladium Times, Monday
Dec. 9, 1912
Gobles at This Port
The Buffalo Express of yesterday had an interesting article on "Long Point
Island, the Graveyard of Lake Erie," and on the front page a picture of all that
remains of the schooner Leadville, which went on the beach there November 23,
1883, a piece of a bow and some ribs sticking out of the sand.
The Leadville was the last canal vessel built at Oswego. George Goble designed
and built her for M.J. Cummings. Captain Patrick Griffin was in command when
the schooner was lost. She had been standing in and out behind the point which
furnished good shelter for hundreds of sailing vessels in those days, when on
one of her tacks in she went a little too close, bringing upon the quicksands, and
was never released.
Captain Griffin and his crew, which included Captain James Langan, of this
city, who was mate, got ashore all right and for several days lived with the
lightkeeper at the Point. The Leadville was a fine schooner.
The schooner White Star, also owned by Mr. Cummings, went ashore the
same night, but in a different place. The Star went on the bottom of Pidgeon Bay,
Captain Steve Murphy commanding. She was released and afterwards turned
into a steambarge.
Submitted by Dick Palmer
