Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2016 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and 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. =========================================================================== The Chicago Tribune Monday, May 21, 1883 MARINE NEWS. ----------- A Violent Northwest Gale Creating Numerous Disasters Among Shipping. ---------- Vessels Hurled Against the Breakwater at the Entrance to the Harbor ---------- Owing to the Darkness the Details Not Obtainable - The Lights on the New Breakwater Extinguished. ---------- A New Steamboat Completed - Craft Arriving Uninjured - General Telegraphic News. ---------- Lake Disaster - A Violent Gale Sweeps Over Lake Michigan. Mariners have been congratulating themselves on their lucky escape from the frightful devastation caused by the storm which swept over the Northwest Friday night; but last night a gale of almost unequaled proportions has put an end to their rejoicing. All day yesterday the wind blew stiffly from the northwest, and as night approached gained in velocity until it became a perfect hurricane. Rumors of disasters all along the shore were reported on the docks and about half-past 9 o'clock last night word was telephoned from the Life-Saving Station that a schooner had been dashed against the breakwater. Immediately every tug that was not already at the mouth of the harbor steamed down the river to lend whatever aid they could to vessels arriving in distress. One of those tugs a TRIBUNE reporter boarded, and on arriving at the en- trance to the basin the storm was found to be far more violent than anticipated. The waves were running mountains high, and huge break- ers were dashing over the piers, completely hiding them from view. The night was dark and murky, but through the gloom could be seen a number of vessels bounding up and down upon the furious billows, utterly unable to get in the harbor. Out at the detached breakwater a large-sized schooner was pounding against the piles and looked as if she would be dashed to pieces. A tug went to her rescue and suc- ceeded in taking her in tow and getting her away from her perilous position. Her name was not learned, but it was reported that her side was badly stove in and her davits and small boat carried away. About half an hour later the schooner PERSIA made an attempt to sail inside, but a furious blast struck her broadsides and carried her over against the breakwater, but as she fortunately struck against several spring piles she was not stove in. The Captain jumped on to the breakwater and succeeded in making a line fast. This held her for a time, when the line suddenly parted, and she commenced to drift to the southward. The life-saving crew pulled to her assistance with a new line, which was made fast to the tug HACKLEY and the unfortunate schooner taken in tow. Scarcely had the tug got under way, however, when the tow-line snapped like a piece of twine, and the PERSIA was again at the mercy of the elements. An effort was made to prevent her drifting by dropping the anchor, but she slipped her cable just as she was caught the second time by the HACKLEY, which brought her safely into the harbor. She sustained but little damage beyond losing her headgear and jibs. A short time afterwards the schooner R. P. MASON, laden with cedar posts, struck the new exterior breakwater now in course of construction, and every one who heard the crash that followed ex- pected that she would immediately sink from view. Three of her crew managed to jump off on the breakwater just as the schooner bounded away and was lost in the darkness. A tug went to the assistance of the men and found them clinging to piles and almost drowned. They were taken to the Life-Saving Station, where restoratives were given them, and at 1 o'clock this morning were fully recovered. They stated that they were trying to sail into the harbor unaided, as they could get no tug. They had a jib, staysail, and a closely- reefed foresail up, but it was almost impossible to make her obey her helm. The wind tossed them around like a feather, and the heavy sea dashed over the deck, carrying away a large portion of her deckload. All of a sudden they were impelled forward by a frightful gust of wind, and the bow of the schooner struck the breakwater with a tremendous force, and bounding back she again struck broadsides, and the men say that from the crash that followed she must have been smashed in. They thought she was about to sink, and jumped for their lives, but narrowly escaped drowning. There were three others of the crew, including the Captain, left on the boat. At 2 o'clock this morning it was reported that the MASON was anchored inside the harbor, but she could not be seen from the Life-Saving Station. A careful search was made for the lights that are supposed to be placed on the new breakwater, but no sign of them could be found. The Captain of the life-saving crew says that he could distinguish them early in the evening, but that they had gone out when the storm became so high. The rescued crew of the MASON say that they did not see any lights at all. This is certain- ly a gross piece of negligence for which the Government officials having charge of the construction of the breakwater are respon- sible, and it is a disgrace that the entrance to the largest port on the lakes is not better protected. The new breakwater is one of the most dangerous obstructions for navigation that navigators have to contend with. The lake was running higher at Evanston last night than it has been for six years. The wind was east of north, blowing almost a gale, and vessels were making for this port under full sail. MILWAUKEE, Wis., May 20. - (Special.) The wind got around to the northeast about noon today, and tonight is blowing a gale from that quarter with a heavy sea, but up to a late hour tonight no vessels have sought shelter here. The fleet began to arrive this evening and a large number of vessels are expected before morning. The steam-barges OCEANICA and R. A. PACKER, and schooners PORTER, MOONLIGHT, MARENGO, and JOSEPH PAIGE, coal-laden, arrived from below. As yet no disasters have been reported at this port as oc- curring during the storm of Friday night. STURGEON BAY, Wis., May 20. - (Special.) The scow SPEED ran into the sheet piling at the canal this morning with all sail set, and cut a big hole in her port side forward. She at once filled, but the cedar with which she is loaded keeps her up. The fleet that has been windbound in the canal for several days left last night. The schooner LOMIE A. BURTON got stuck in a sand dump near the head of the bay today, and was detained several hours before being pulled off by a tug. A heavy northwest wind is blowing. The schooners LOTTIE MAY and CELIA are windbound here. CHEBOYGAN, Mich., May 20. - (Special.) - The schooner J. I CASE lost her canvas last Friday and will be towed to Chicago by the tug WINSLOW. The schooner BARBARIAN made port this morning with her jib-boom and bowsprit gone, the result of a collision last night in the straits. She will be repaired here. Weather heavy; northwest wind, accompanied with snow. MILWAUKEE, Wis., May 20. - (Special.) - At 2 o'clock this morn- ing the wind is blowing a terrible gale, accompanied by brief show- wers of sleet and rain. It is expected that many disasters have occurred on the lakes. It has just been reported that a large three-masted schooner whose name is unknown has been driven ashore a few miles from here. Parties have gone to the rescue. --------------------------------------------- THE NEW STEAMER UNITED EMPIRE The new screw steamer recently built at Sarnia by Parry & Dyble for James H. Beatty has arrived at Detroit, and will there be fit- ted out. She is attracting considerable attention in marine circles and is said to be a model of perfection. She is peculiar in many respects, and is thought to be the strongest wooden vessel ever built for lake navigation. Her dimensions are as follows: Length of keel, 215 feet; length over all, 260 feet; breadth of beam, 36 feet; depth of hold, 15 feet; carrying capacity, 1,200 tons on a draft of twelve feet of water. Her frames are made from six-inch flitch and extend upward above the promenade deck on each side to carry two double steel arches. These arches are composed of steel plates, brought from England for the purpose. The plates are placed on each side of the frames, joined together by steel butt-straps and riveted with steel rivets. An angle iron riveted to the arch extends over the tops of the frames so as to take the pressure from the bolts. The whole is fastened together by bolts passing through the inside plate, through the frame, through the inside plate, and riveted. Theses arches extend the entire length of the ship and are not quite as high amidship as the cabin roof. The arches are three foot six inches in width. She has also a double steel arch amid- ships in her hold. The most novel feature in the steamer is her steel ceiling. She is ceiled from the keelson past the turn of the bilge in the usual way with oak. At this point her steel ceiling commences and extends upward for seven feet. This steel is also fastened together with butt-straps, and the bolts from the plank- ing outside pass through it and are riveted. The arches are also riveted to the ceiling at each and where they cross. This will without doubt secure the stiffest vessel possible without making her entirely of iron or steel. The other parts of this steamer are about in the usual way, being very strong and substantial. She has three freight gangways, one gangway for cabin and one for steerage passengers. She is expected to accommodate 200 cabin passengers. Her cabin is 228 feet long and fourteen feet wide clear of the staterooms. She has sixty-one staterooms, and these are furnished with spring beds, an opera chair, and other usual pieces of furni- ture, together with a neat rack on the wall which holds a pitcher of ice water. The berths are hung with raw silk curtains, the rooms are carpeted with English body brussels, and are so arranged that two rooms may be thrown into one by means of sliding doors. Instead of setting a long table, this steamer has eleven small extension tables, at each of which ten persons can sit. Each passenger will have a number which will entitle him or her to a seat at a certain table, and if the passenger is late the place will remain vacant. This is done to avoid crowding and scrambling for places. The cabin is carpeted with English body brussels, and is finely finished off in every respect. The pantry is in the centre of the cabin amid- ships, and is furnished with all the latest conveniences in the way of plate-warmers, etc., and is well ventilated. She carries six life-boats. She has a square pilot-house and texas, with sleeping accommodations for the watchmen, wheelsmen, and mates. All the hatches are double and furnished with separate reels, and there is a steam fire-fighter in each hold. At the after hold there is an elevator, similar to those used ashore for hoisting baggage and freight, and there is also a steam elevator for hoisting up the ashes from the fire-hold. The lamp-room is on the main deck and is entirely of iron as a precaution against fire. The engine is a fore-and-aft compound and is expected to develop from 1,200 to 1,500 horse power, the cylinders being 3* and 68 x *2 and is furnished with steam from two steel boilers 12x12, capable of work- ing at a pressure of 100 pounds to the square inch. Her wheel is thirteen feet in diameter with nineteen feet pitch. In coming down from Sarnia yesterday she made the distance in five hours, making fifty-six revolutions to the minute with sixty pounds of steam. The engine is placed nearer amidships than is usual in screw steamers, giving her a hold for merchandise aft, and also leaving plenty of room for the proper accommodation of second-class passengers, who are provided with comfortable rooms with berths and other con- veniences entirely unknown in other lake steamers. The new steamer will run between Sarnia and Duluth, extending her trips to Detroit during the excursion season. She will be officered as follows: Captain E. Robertson; First Mate D. Vail; Second Mate Phil Broderick; Chief Engineer, Thomas Pettigrew; First Assistant, John Kelley; Second Assistant, Hugh McDermit; Clerk, John McEdwards, George Bunsey. --------------------------------------------- The California Rebuilt During the winter season the Canadian propeller California has undergone a general transformation, amounting to almost a complete rebuild. She is now pronounced as one of the most seaworthy craft hailing from a Canadian port. Thirty-five feet and six inches have been added to her hull, and she is now 179 feet six inches over all. Her cabin has been lengthened twenty-five feet, giving her 125 feet clear and ample accommodation for 100 passengers. A bathroom and lavatories have also been added, and a ladies' parlor, which will be heated by steam during the cold weather. New ceiling has been put in throughout, together with new deck-frame, decks, steel arches, and double centre arches. She has also been furnished with a new steel boiler one-half inch in thickness, and 11 feet 6 inches diameter by 10 feet 6 inches long, warranted to stand a pressure of 80 pounds. She has been constructed to meet the requirements of craft passing through Welland Canal, and will carry 25,000 bushels of corn in addition to passengers and other freight. --------------------------------------------- Lake Erie ERIE, Pa., May 20. - (Special.) - Arrived - Propeller LYCOMING, from Chicago, 800 tons merchandise for Erie; propeller CONEMAUGH, from Chicago, 58,000 bushels of corn and merchandise; propeller WINSLOW, from Portage Lake, passengers and merchandise; propeller NYACK, from Buffalo, passengers, machinery and merchandise; pro- peller ALASKA, from Buffalo, merchandise and salt; propeller NAHANT from Chicago, 50,000 bushels corn. Cleared - Propeller CONEMAUGH for Chicago, merchandise; propeller LYCOMING for Buffalo, 38,000 bushels corn; propeller WINSLOW for Buffalo, merchandise and machinery; propeller NYACK for Duluth, passengers and merchandise. --------------------------------------------- LAKE HURON PORT HURON, Mich., May 20. - (Special.) - Passed up - Propeller MANISTIQUE, 1:30 a.m.; C. F. CURTIS and barges, 4:35 a.m.; FRED McBRYER and barges, D. W. RUSH and consorts, 8:15 a.m.; PRUSSIA, 3:10 p.m. Port - R. HOLLAND and barges, MARY PRINGLE, YOSEMITE and barges, 3:10 p.m.; H. J. JEWETT, 11:30 a.m.; OSCEOLA, 11:40 a.m.; steamer PEARL, 8:15 a.m.; FLORA, 8 p.m. Down - Propeller OTSEGO, 3:15 a.m.; W. H. BARNUM, 6:15 a.m.; NELSON MILLS and barges, 7:45 a.m.; OGEMAW, 10 a.m.; ROANOKE, 9 a.m.; JAMES P. DONALDSON and barges, 11:30 a.m.; M. M. DRAKE, with GEORGE C. FINNEY, 3:20 p.m.; JAMES DAVIDSON, 5:25 p.m.; ANNIE SMITH with JAMES C. KING, 5:30 p.m.; ARIZONA 6 p.m.; HANDY BOY, 6 p.m.; EAST TAWAS, Mich., May 20. - (Special.) - A heavy northeast gale prevails. A steam-barge supposed to be the SALINA, with six barges of lumber in tow, has just made an anchorage, one barge displaying colors. Several other craft are coming in. The schooner J. H. MEAD, loaded with salt for Sheboygan, cleared this morning. The schooner SNOWDROP arrived from Port Huron today. EAST TAWAS, Mich.,May 17. - (Special.) - The propeller ARUNDELL pulled at the schooner BISSELL, ashore here, but could not release her. Lines were got out to the dock, and a heavy sea setting in during the night, they succeeded in heaving her to the dock, where she is now unloading. Cleared - Bound down - Steam-barge MILLS and four barges for Cl****, four for Donaldson, and four for Tonawanda; schooner HARRIET ROSS, for Detroit; schooner YANKEE BLADE, from Milford, Ont. Arrived - To load salt for Green Bay, steam-barge CITY OF MT. CLEMENS, loading at Tawas City. --------------------------------------------- Dock and Other Notes. A Green Bay lumber firm has bought the tug JAMES McGORDON from her Muskegon owners for $10,000. The schooner HIGGIE, which took a cargo of corn from this port to Kingston, is the largest craft that ever passed through Welland Canal. The BOSCOBEL and PESHTIGO barges arrived early yesterday morn- ing, and the tug FAVORITE and Menominee barges came in about 11 o'clock last night. The tug R. WITBECK, recently purchased by E. S. Minor from the Marinette Barge Line Company, has been thoroughly overhauled and gone into commission on Sturgeon Bay. The little side-wheel steamer CITY OF STURGEON BAY, which was built during the last winter by the Sturgeon Bay Lumber Company, has gone into commission in towing and picking up logs. The new tug F. H. STANWOOD, built at Saugatuck by John Martel for Miller & Hartley, arrived in port yesterday and will be fitted out. She has a neat appearance and seems to be stanchly built. She is to be run on the canal. The cold, raw, northwest wind that prevailed all day yesterday was not at all tempting to vessel Captains, and consequently there were but few departures. Quite a number of craft arrived, and re- ported a rough time on the lake, although none of them sustained any injury so far as could be learned. The attention of mariners entering Toronto harbor is called to the fact that there has been a change in the character of the light located at Gibralter Point on the island. It has been changed from a fixed to a flash light, revolving once in thirty seconds. Several errors have already occurred owing to ignorance of the change. The Government steamer WARRINGTON has arrived at Sturgeon Bay with 40,000 brick and other building materials, and a large force of carpenters and masons, who have already commenced work on the new ligthouse to be constructed on Sherwood's Point, at the mouth of Sturgeon Bay. The work is superintended by Charles Dobson, who has been in the employ of the Government for many years building lighthouses. Yesterday afternoon the propeller PEERLESS, of the Lake Michigan & Lake Superior Line, arrived in port, having made the round trip between Chicago and Lake Superior ports. Her Captain reports having considerable difficulty with the ice, which extended as far as he could see in every direction. The most trouble that was experienced was off Whitefish Point, where for several days they were imprison- ed by immense floes of floating ice. The boat sustained no damage, however, beyond the loss of time and a general scraping off of paint from contact with the ice. The fears entertained for the safety of the propeller LAWRENCE were groundless, as that stanch craft steamed into port at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon as sound as a dollar and discharged a large cargo of freight and about twenty passengers. Capt. Thorpe says that they encountered the squall about 8 o'clock Friday evening when off Little Point Au Sable. They were then about eight miles from shore, and the Captain states that during his entire experience in navigating the lakes he never met with such a violent gale as blew for about twenty minutes. The boat was immediately put about and run into Ludington, where she sheltered until yesterday morning. Hagan & English, of Green Bay, have entered into a contract with the Government to deliver 3,000 cords of stone at Milwaukee, Two Rivers, Menominee, Cedar River, and other ports for harbor works. The stone will be quarried at the Government quarry near the mouth of the bay, and a gange of twenty men are now engaged on the work. The material will be transported to the several places named by the steam-barge MINNIE and the tug HENRY MARSHALL, which will tow scows. The MARSHALL is the new tug built at Green Bay during the last winter by Thrall, Hagan & English, and named after the Deputy United States Marshal, who resides in Milwaukee. Shortly after 4 o'clock yesterday morning the propeller CITY OF ROME, with a big cargo of grain on board, left the dock and started down the river, but at Adams street bridge she ran her bow into the mud and was unable to stir. Three tugs were summoned to her assist- ance, but their combined efforts were of no avail, and she was abandoned until later in the day. About 10 o'clock another attempt was made to release her which proved successful, and the propeller started on her trip to Buffalo. --------------------------------------------- Port of Chicago. The arrivals and departures at this port yesterday were as follows: ARRIVALS. Prop. NEBRASKA, Buffalo, sundries Prop. DELAWARE, Erie, sundries Prop. BOSCOBEL, Peshtigo, towing Prop. MAINE, Muskegon, lumber Prop. W. L. WETMORE, Escanaba, iron-ore Prop. A. SOPAR, Muskegon, lumber Prop. C. M. CHARNLEY, Sturgeon Bay, towing barge No. 2, lumber Prop. PEERLESS, Hancock, sundries Prop. I. M. FORREST, Muskegon, lumber Prop. LAURENCE, Cheboygan, sundries Prop. TEMPEST, White Lake, lumber Prop. VANDERBILT, Buffalo, sundries Schr. LAURA JOHNSON, Racine, stone Schr. BELLE RICHMOND, Racine, stone Schr. CLARA, Menehaunee, lumber Schr. JASON PARKER, Muskegon, wood Schr. O. M. JOHNSON, Muskegon, wood Schr. R. S. FARR, Musekgon, lumber Schr. O. E. WYMAN, Cheboygan, lumber Schr. OTTER, Frankfort, lumber Schr. VENTURE, Pentwater, lumber Schr. LYMAN M. DAVIS, Muskegon, lumber Schr. BRUNETTE, Escanaba, iron-ore Schr. OLGA, Me*******, lumber Schr. L. PAHLON, Manistee, lumber Schr. ACTIVE, Peshtigo, lumber Schr. PESHTIGO, Peshtigo. lumber Schr. C. HARRISON, White Lake, lumber Schr. S. H. FOSTER, Cleveland, coal CLEARANCES. Prop. CITY OF ROME, Buffalo, *0,000 bu corn Prop. JOHN PRIDGEON, Buffalo, 56,000 bu corn Prop. C. M. CHARNLEY, Sturgeon Bay, towing barge No. 2 Prop. BUCKEYE, Muskegon, light Prop. ARMENIA, Montreal, 23,150 bu wheat and 150 brls alcohol Stmr. GRACE GRUMMOND, South Haven, sundries Stmr. MANITOWOC, Cape Vincent, 35,340 bu wheat Schr. NOQUE BAY, Peshtigo, light Schr. ADVANCE, Peshtigo, light. ==========================================================================