Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2017 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 L'Anse Sentinel Vol. XII, No. 49 Saturday, December 3, 1892 [extracts of marine news] Today the American Steel Barge Company will launch the first of their "whaleback" passenger steamers, and the excursionists will be given an opportunity to see this grand sight. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The L'Anse Sentinel Vol. XII, No. 49 Saturday, December 10, 1892 [extracts of marine news] The steam barge NORTHERNER came in to port Thursday from Duluth and will lay up here for the winter. The steamer, NORTHERNER, of Ward's line, grounded on Keweenaw Point, before arriving here, and sustained considerable damage to her bottom. She was bound for the north shore with a cargo of kerosene oil, 1,500 barrels of which she had to throw into the lake to get off the shoal. On account of this mishap she was compelled to put in here for shelter and it is thought she will remain here all winter. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The L'Anse Sentinel Vol. XII, No. 50 Saturday, December 17, 1892 [extracts of marine news] The two lifeboats of the WESTERN RESERVE, which went down in Lake Superior Aug. 31, have been taken from Life Saving Station No. 12 to Sault Ste. Marie. They are both in good condition. Steamer NORTHERNER It was noted in our last issue that the steamer NORTHERNER had run on a reef on Keweenaw Point, sustaining some injury to her hull and machinery, and that after having jettisoned about two thousand barrels of oil, she made this port to lay up for the winter. It seems, however, that her owners of lessees had different intentions, as she was ordered to Duluth to lay up but considerable delay was occassioned in clearing on account of the reluctance of the crew to proceed. They considered her an unlucky boat, and as a sailor's superstition has nearly the force of conviction, they all but positively refused to go further in her at this season of the year. In consequence of this she was delayed here until Monday morning. Up to this time Capt. McKinnon was in command of the boat, but it had been arranged that Capt. John McCullough, of Buffalo, who had been engaged to sail the boat next season, shoult take command and sail her to Dululth, the transfer to take place Monday morning before she cleared this port. About 7:30 in the morning, while the officers and a portion of the crew were at breakfast, fire was discovered in the lamp room in the forward part of the boat. The flames spread rapidly, and there appeared to be not much effort to extinguish them, so the boat was abandoned by both officers and crew in about half an hour. The L'Anse fire department responded to the alarm and had two streams playing in a short time but being unable to reach the seat of fire their efforts at saving the boat were of little avail and their attention was directed to saving the dock and warehouse. The steamer had in her hold about 1,500 barrels of kerosene oil, and when the flames licked up this combustible material the burning ship pre- sented a scene at once grand and terrible. The seething flames shot up to the clouds and then vanished in volleys of smoke as black as Egypt- ian darkness. Dore's representations of the in- fernal regions could hardly surpass this uncanny picture of destruction. The doomed boat continued to burn until late Monday night when the little that was left above the keel sunk to the bottom, and during all this time the L'Anse fire company worked incessantly to save the railroad company's dock and warehouse, and succeeded. At one time, however, their success looked dubious. A large amount of oil found its exit from the boat and spread over the surrounding water. This immedi- ately ignited and for a short time the bay pre- sented the appearance of a burning lake. This communicated the flames to the substructure of the dock and required most vigorous effort to stay the destroyer. Considering the fact that this large boat burned immediately along side of the dock it is a credit to the L'Anse fire- men that the dock and warehouse were saved. Just why the officers of the boat did not scuttle her and back her out into deep water is one of the mysteries connected with the affair. They had ample time to do so had they so desired, as it was a long time before the flames reached the engine room. Intead of doing so the engineer, under instructions from Capt. Rounds, representing the insurance company, gave her a turn ahead and ran her nose aground. The origin of the fire is a matter of con- jecture. It was given out at first that the porter dropped a lighted lamp in a box of fine straw packing in the lamp room, but the evidence taken before Notary McKernan would justify a strong suspicious that the boat was deliberately fired, and the actions of the officers and crew confirm the suspicion, but as yet the responsi- bility has not been traced to any particular person. The NORTHERNER was built at Marine City in 1876, and was rebuilt in 1887, after her first baptism by fire at Kelley's Island. Her regis- tered tonnage was 1,136 tons and she was rated in Inland Lloyds as A2, value $50,000. She was insured for $35,000 and the cargo was also covered by insurance. Her owner is C. E. Blakes- lee, Rochester, but was chartered for this trip by Eber Ward of Detroit. What remains of her hull lies in about fifteen feet of water aft and six feet forward. Quite a number of Baragaites went over to L'Anse to see the burning steamer NORTHERNER. It was quite a sight and could be plainly seen even from this distance. ==========================================================================