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Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== MARINE DISASTERS on the WESTERN LAKES during the NAVIGATION OF 1871 with the LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY, VESSELS BOUGHT AND SOLD, NEW VESSELS AND THEIR TONNAGE; ALSO, THOSE WHICH HAVE PASSED OUT OF EXISTENCE, WITH A SKETCH OF EARLY MARINE HISTORY, AND VESSELS LAID UP AT VARIOUS PORTS. --------------------------- Carefully compiled by CAPT. J. W. HALL, Marine Reporter at Detroit. --------------------------- DETROIT: Free Press and Job Printing Establishment. 1872 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -67- MARINE INCIDENTS OF 1871 ----------------------- MARCH 8 - Navigation open between Detroit and Malden, steamer DOVE makes the first trip. A fire in Trowbridge block, foot of Bates street, destroys the outfit of 14 vessels. 12 - Tug G. R. WILSON arrives from Toledo with schooner MIAMI BELLE. 13 - Navigation open to Port Huron; propeller TREMONT arrives. 15 - Navigation open to Toledo; propeller barge EASTABROOK passes down. 19 - Navigation open to Saginaw; steamer MARINE CITY arrives at Tawas. 20 - Navigation open to Cleveland; steamer RICE leaves Detroit. Sloop MONITOR arrives at Oswego; first arrival of the season. Naviga- tion open to Lake Superior; F. TREMPE arrives from Sault. APRIL 1 - Navigation open to Buffalo; propeller ARAXES first boat in. 4 - Straits of Mackinac open; propeller FREMONT arrives at Milwaukee. 5 - Steamer W. F. GRAVES passed Detroit; first craft from Chicago. 6 - Propeller OLEAN arrives at Detroit from Buffalo; first boat up. Welland Canal open for the passing of vessels. Total loss of the schooner THOS. KINGSFORD, cargo grain, at Port Wauboschance. 9 - Tug SATELLITE capsizes in Lake Huron; Chesley B. Stewart drowned. 19 - New iron steamer ALASKA arrives at Detroit on her first voyage. 22 - Launch of the mammoth schooner JAMES COUCH at Port Huron. 25 - Launch of the schooner JOHN BURT at Detroit. MAY 4 - Eight men drowned from a life-boat at Fort Niagara, Lake Ontario. 7 - Launch of the four-masted schooner WINSLOW, at Detroit. 14 - New steam barge MARY JARECKI arrives at Detroit. 19 - Arrival of the U.S. steamer MICHIGAN at Detroit from Erie. 25 - Tug B. R. JONES exploded at Port Huron, eight persons killed. 27 - Launch of the mammoth schooner D. P. RHODES, at Detroit. 31 - New steam barge H. B. TUTTLE arrives at Detroit on her first voyage. JUNE 13 - Bark MAITLAND, cargo of corn, sunk and total loss in the Straits, by collision with the schooner GOLDEN HARVEST. 20 - Tug W. A. MOORE, capsized in Saginaw Bay; crew saved. 28 - Propeller ALEX. WATSON, burned on River St. Clair; total loss. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -68- MARINE INCIDENTS OF 1871 ----------------------- JULY 4 - Propeller MAINE, burst her boiler in River St. Lawrence, killing five persons. 11 - Steamer J. S. FAY passes Detroit on her first voyage, bound up. 13 - St. Clair Flats Canal opened for the passage of vessels. 18 - Propeller J. BARBER burned on Lake Michigan; two lives lost. 30 - Schooner J. S. NEWHOUSE took fire and scuttled on Lake Michigan; a total loss. AUGUST 6 - Schooner STELLA capsizes in Lake Michigan, and eight lives lost. 21 - New steamer MANITOBA arrives at Detroit on way to Collingwood. Loss of schooner WINFIELD SCOTT by capsizing near Death's Door. 24 - Wrecked propeller OLIVER CROMWELL raised at Mackinac Straits after fourteen years submersion. SEPTEMBER 2 - Launch of the steamer GORDON CAMPBELL, at Detroit. 16 - Four sailors drowned while attempting to land in a small boat from bark S. R. POMEROY, at Menominee, Lake Michigan. Launch of the propeller VANDERBILT, at Port Huron. 17 - Propeller DICTATOR sunk at North Manitou by collision; recovered. 22 - Schooner C. H. HURD, grain laden, founders with all on board ex- cept the captain, on Lake Michigan. 29 - Propeller FREE STATE, grain laden, became a total loss in the Straits. OCTOBER 3 - Steamer CUMBERLAND passes up Detroit River on her first voyage. 8 - Loss of the bark H. S. FAIRCHILDS, by collision in Lake Erie; cargo grain. 9 - Propeller MOHAWK gets ashore on Lake Huron, and throws over 1,000 barrels of flour. Five vessels destroyed by the great fire at Chicago. Five vessels pass Detroit, 14 days on the passage from Chicago. Schooner GEORGE J. WHITNEY becomes a total loss at Sugar Island, Lake Huron. Schooner EXCELSIOR goes down with all on board, except one, on Lake Huron. 12 - Propeller R. G. COBURN founders on Lake Huron, with upwards of thirty lives. Schooner PLOVER founders in Lake Superior with cargo of grain; crew saved. Loss of the new schooner JOHN BURT at Leland, Lake Michigan; crew saved. 21 - Loss of the schooner R. P. MASON and five lives, in Lake Michigan, by capsizing. 22 - Tug PROTECTION arrives at Detroit from Buffalo, en route to Mobile 26 - Propeller DEAN RICHMOND burned on Mud Lake; one life lost. 28 - Tug ECLIPSE burned at Lakeport, Lake Huron. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -68- MARINE INCIDENTS OF 1871 NOVEMBER 1 - Propellers CHINA and POTOMAC damaged seriously at Bar Point, same time. 7 - U.S. steamer FESSENDEN tows three vessels from Detroit to Lake Huron, laden with supplies for sufferers by fire on the shore. 10 - Schooner JULIETTE founders in Lake Erie; crew lost, save one man. 15 - Scow H. G. WILLIAMS sinks at entrance of Cleveland harbor; three lives lost. Bark P. C. SHERMAN, brig SAXON and schooner RESOLUTE, lost during a fearful gale at Long Point; three lives lost. Schooner ELI BATES, laden with ore, lost with all on board, in Lake Erie. Several vessels go ashore at points on Lakes Erie and Ontario. Bark TWILIGHT lost at Rock Falls, Lake Huron, and eight lives. Loss of the schooner E. M. PORTCH at the Beavers, by springing a leak. Schooner W. L. PRESTON lost on Lake Ontario. 16 - Propeller EVERGREEN CITY becomes a total loss at Long Point. 20 - Loss of the schooner E. B. ALLEN on Lake Huron, by collision at Thunder Bay. 24 - Schooner JESSIE ANDERSON, grain loaded, goes down with all hands off Long Point Cut. 25 - Cold weather sets in at this date, and makes ice in the river. DECEMBER 8 - Navigation closes; weather cold and freezing. ===========================================================================