Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2018 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 Ludington Record Thursday, April 3, 1884 [extracts of marine news] Schooner MARS has been thoroughly repaired under the eye of Capt. Courtland. The Life Saving crew went into commission on Tuesday, the 1st of April, under the management of Capt. Robert Broadbent. The members are Charlie Tuft; Thomas Bailey; D. D. Ludwig; John Stram; John Withey; Wm Beaupre; Joseph Belton and James Hounsell. The prospects for a harbor of refuge were never so good as at present. Gen. Cutcheon has been busy gathering statistics and arguments in favor of it; and has introduced a bill appropriating $140,000 with which to commence opera- tions. In view of the fact that the harbors of refuge at both Portage and Grand Haven are well underway but not yet completed, it will be much more difficult to secure adaquate appropriations; and again, of the two plans for the harbor at Ludington the committee has not yet decided which one to adopt. It is not usual to make appropriations until the plans have been accepted, but we know whereof we speak and Gen. Cutcheon will not fail to do all he can for us. The harbor will assuredly be built in the near future and to his prompt and efficient assistance we will be much indebted. After election we will try and keep the public well informed on the progress of the work. Vessels of all kinds are arriving and sailing daily. Schooner MERCURY left Ludington last evening on her first trip for the year. The friends of Thomas McGrath, the man who was lost off the steam barge C. H. STARKE, Tuesday, April 1, offer a re- ward for the recovery of his body. He was 5 feet, 7 inches in height, had blonde hair, and was about 21 years of age. Any news concerning the body is to be directed to John McGee, 589 Walker street, Milwaukee, Wis. It promises to be a lively season for the F. & P. M. boats. Arrangements have been made to have them proceed to Manistee as soon as possible after arrival here in the morning from Milwaukee, and return the same day in time to connect with the late train and back to Milwaukee the same night. The boat No. 2 made the first trip to Manistee last Tuesday. The principal operators of the road, accompanied by Station master Gaines went to Manistee that trip. Last Monday, Wm. Powers came over from Milwaukee to join the schooner LILLIE PRATT for the season. In the evening he was sitting below a lumber pile on the P.M.L. Co's dock some- what under the influence of liquor, when the lumber pile fell over and crushed him beneath it. He was extricated in an un- concious condition and was removed to the residence of Father PAQUIN and kept there till last night. He was then taken in a stretcher to the F. & P. M. boat and sent back to friends in Milwaukee in a helpless condition. At the time of the accident Dr. MAY was called but did not find any broken bones or signs of severe injury. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Ludington Record Thursday, April 10, 1884 [extracts of marine news] The prospect for good grain freights on the lakes are said to be very poor. The steamers I. M. WESTON and GEO. D. SANFORD, JR., will ply between Pentwater and Frankfort during the coming season, touching at Ludington and Mainistee. The schooners MARS and CONNEAUT will commence to load lumber today. The steam barges are arriving and navigation is fairly open. Alex Betters is making good progress on the schooner near the planing mill. We may expect to see a first class launch some time this summer. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Ludington Record Thursday, April 17, 1884 [extracts of marine news] No marine news in this issue. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Ludington Record Thursday, April 24, 1884 [extracts of marine news] While in mid-lake the other evening the people on the steamer MICHIGAN, which plies between Grand Haven and Milwaukee, were favored with a mirage which brought the lighthouse lights at Milwaukee, Racine and Grand Haven into view at one time, and from the mast-head the lights of the Milwaukee building could be seen. Before daybreak last Tuesday morning, the patrolman from Big Point Au Sauble station, discovered a vessel on fire on lake Michigan, about 15 miles distant. The life saving crew from that station, at once manned the boat and put for the burning craft, which proved to be the tug C. WILLIAMS of Manistee, with the scow MARSTON in tow. The crew had been compelled to leave the tug, and took refuge on the scow. They eventually landed safe in Pentwater. The life boat came to Ludington and got the tug ALBION to return to the burning tug but could not secure the wreck, which sank soon after their second coming. The boats crew, in command of Capt. James Beauvais, left the station before daylight and had rowed over fifty miles of rough sea before they broke their fast. Lake Michigan Harbors Washington, April 18th, 1884 On Friday, the 18th, the Michigan delegation, by invitation appeared before the committee upon rivers and harbors of the house of representatives, to present the needs of Michigan harbors. Mr. Breitang of the Upper Peninsula, first had the floor, and advocated the claims of Ontonagon, Marquette, Grand Marais and other improvements. Next. Gen. Cutcheon addressed the committee on the interests of his district, making a thorough and statistical presentation of each and every harbor therein, but especially dwelling upon the need of harbors of refuge at Portage lake and Luding- ton. He explained the peculiarity of the lake, it being without any shelter or lee from a westerly gale, south of the Manitou Islands, and without a single harbor into which a deep laden vessel could run in a storm. He exhibit- ed the immense commerce of Lake Michigan, in lumber, grain, coal and general merchandise, and its liability to fierce and destructive storms. He referred to the great loss of life and property upon the lake, and presented to the committee a complete state- ment, carefully prepared, of the wrecks and losses upon the lake during the last five years, from the data furnished by the superintendent of the life saving service. It appeared that the loss of property for the five years prior to July last, was about one million dollars, while the loss of life was about sixty, and the loss of both life and property last fall was the severest ever known. The attention of the com- mittee was called to the formation of the east shore into three deep bays or bights, one south of Little Point Sauble, one between Little and Big Point Sauble, and one from Big Point Sauble to Point Betsey. The plan of the engineers embraces three harbors of refuge, one in each bay, namely at Grand Haven, Ludington and Portage Lake, the two latter being in the ninth district. He explained that three were not for the accomodation of local commerce only, but for the commerce of all the lakes. He dwelt upon the great importance of the local commerce of Ludington and Manistee, the latter being the largest shingle manufacturing point in the world, and one of the heaviest lumber manufacturing points in the state, while Ludington, in addition to being a large lumber port, was also the terminus of the F. & P. M. Railway, where more than a hundred million lbs of railroad freight was transhipped last year. Full tables of the loss of property and life, near Ludington, from the time that point was first settled, forty years since, until now, were presented to the committee showing that it was no empty claim that a harbor of refuge was sadly needed there. The two plans for the harbor of refuge at Ludington, were then fully explained, the exterior breakwater, and the widening of the present entrance, and the committee was urged to make an appropri- ation (to commence this work) of one hundred and forty thousand dollars ($140,000), that being the amount estimated by the engineer that should be expended the first year. But as this work would require some years for its completion, the committee was urged to make an immediate appropriation adequate to complete Portage harbor in one year. The history of this improvement, the amount expended, the progress and present condition, the local commerce, and the benefit to the whole lake marine was explained, and this part of his speech was closed, with a strong appeal to the committee in behalf of these two harbors of refuge, upon the ground that they were works of national importance. At the request of the committee Gen. Cutcheon then took up the harbors of Charlevoix, Frankfort (at Mr. Breitung's request) Manistee, Ludington, Pentwater, White River and Muskegon, and explained the commerce and needs of each as commercial harbors. The committee was suprised by the statement that Muskegon is the heaviest lumber shipping point in the world. Gen. Cutcheon closed by thanking the committee for allow- ing him so much more than the usual time alloted, but plead that he was justified by the great commercial importance of the interests involved and the vast maritime interest of Lake Michigan. The committee expressed themselves much interested, and the chairman promised careful attention to the facts pre- sented. All the papers and dates were filed with the com- mittee. Mr. Horr then followed in behalf of Saginaw river, Mr. Hatch for Cross Village harbor and Mr. Yaple in a vigorous appeal for a harbor of refuge at New Buffalo. Mr. Houseman is a member of the committee, and has already presented the needs of Grand Haven and Holland, the only harbors in his district. It is understood that the entire amount of the river and harbor bill will be about ($11,000,000) eleven millions, of which one half will go to the Mississippi and the rest be distributed over the immense coast of the United States. This will give only about twenty-five per cent of the esti- mates to the more important improvements and nothing what- ever to many of the minor ones. The break in the channel face of the south pier, caused by collision with the schooner MARS last November has been repaired this week under the supervision of U. S. asst. engineer Mitchell. ===========================================================================