Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2015 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/ ========================================================================= USGenNet Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Ludington Record-Appeal Thursday, December 26, 1901 VOL. XXXV. - No. 19 CARFERRY 16 STRUCK BAR PERE MARQUETTE CARFERRY MUSKEGON NOW ON BEACH. ONE MAN SCALDED TO DEATH Fatal Accident at Ludington Harbor - Steam Pipe Bursted - Nearly $200,000 Worth of Property in Danger. Probably the worst marine disaster that ever occurred at Ludington was the stranding of carferry Pere Mar- quette 16, (the MUSKEGON) at the channel entrance last Saturday night shortly before 12 o'clock. As a result of the big ferry striking on a 15 foot bar one man is dead, two are badly burned and the boat and her cargo valued at nearly $200,000 are in immi- nent danger of becoming a total loss. The MUSKEGON arrived from Milwaukee after a rough trip, having brought over a full load of 26 loaded cars, eight of which contained perishable provisions. The wind was south, blow- ing about 45 miles an hour, and a dangerously high sea was running. In order to enter the piers the ferry was forced to run in the trough of the sea. This caused her to roll fright- fully for a few minutes and when about 350 feet outside the entrance she sunk low in the hollow of a big wave strik- ing the bar with terrible force. In- stantly the main steampipe was broken and the hold of the boat was filled with the dense cloud of scalding hot steam. The ferry lost her headway and became unmanageable and the dynamos were dis- abled, leaving the ship in total dark- ness. Wild Rush for the Deck. For nearly half an hour the wildest confusion prevailed. Each man's life was in his own hands and it was for many a desperate race to reach the promenade deck and escape from the scalding steam which filled the hold. It required some time to get all 35 of the crew together. It was then learn- ed that Michael Taeff, a Chicago coal- passer was missing. His body, terri- bly burned, was afterwards found in the coal bunkers from where he had been unable to make his escape. Taeff had only made one trip on the boat and was not well acquainted with the ladders and exit passages. Two others, Wm. Weber, a fireman from Osceola and Frank Leow, a Milwaukee coal passer were badly burned and are now in the local marine hospital. Leow's condition is very serious. Carferry was Scuttled. After striking the bar the MUSKEGON became unmanageable. She drifted rapid- ly shoreward until stopped by the end of the north pier. Fearing that his boat would pound herself to pieces on the structure Captain Geo. L. Thompson order- ed the sea cocks opened and the boat was sunk in 16 feet of water near the end of the north pier. Two distress signals had been sounded and soon after Superintendent Mercereau and Chief Steward Magmer reached the scene. Nothing could be done in the darkness, the sea being so high and the ice so dangerous that no craft could pos- sibly live. Promptly at day break, how- ever, the Ludington lifesavers prepared for the task of getting the crew of the MUSKEGON ashore. Captain Weckler was ab- sent, hence the direction of the men fell to Ben Carlson. Those who assisted him were George Robinson, Will DeYoung, Oscar Wilkenson, Peter Carlson and Levi Schrader. To the credit of the boys it may be said that their work was perfecton itself, so thorough had been their training. Great Record for Breeches Buoy. The lifesavers work quietly, swiftly, - there was no excitment, no words. The first shot fired from the beach, a dis- tance of over 300 yards failed to reach the boat because the line parted. The second shot was successful, the line falling across the MUSKEGON'S deck be- tween the bow and pilot house. Quickly the men hauled in the whip and in an in- credibly short time the cable was secure- ly stretched from the ferry's bow to the pier. Then one by one the 34 live men and one dead man were hauled on the line over the ice. No chances were taken; it was simply a question of time, about three hours in all being consumed. Captain Thompson was the last man to leave the wrecked steamer and he did so only with the greatest reluctance, Although the Railway company attaches absolutely no blame to Captain Thompson for the disaster, the latter naturally takes his misfortune very hard. Strong Wooden Boat. The MUSKEGON is the only wooden car- ferry owned by the Pere Marquette com- pany. She is about ten years old, having been formerly known as SHENANGO NO. 2. She ran on Lake Erie. The boat was insured with Inland Lloyds company for her full value, $160,000. She is an exceptionally strong wooden boat and her owners are very anxious to save her, chiefly because of their present heavy trans-lake traffic. No expense has been spared to release the MUSKEGON. The tugs W. H. MEYER of Milwaukee, FRANK CANFIELD of Manistee, the MANN and SPORT of Ludington and the YORK STATE are at work on the job. Cap- tain James Reid of Sarnia, perhaps the most successful marine wrecker on the lakes is in charge of the operations. Three powerful steam pumps have been placed aboard the boat, the sea valves have been closed and the patches made so that the steamer is now in shape to pump out on very short notice. Only a few hours of quiet weather is needed, the wreckers think, to release the steamer, but on the other hand, if a northwest storm arises the stranded craft is likely to go to pieces. No- thing has been done toward releasing the ferry since Tuesday night, the sea being too high to allow tugs to remain alongside. -------------------------------------- OUR HANDS ARE UP. Ludington harbor has received a severe blow. At a moment when we felt secure - when disaster was unlooked for, were are visited by the worst wreck yet recorded in the annals of local marine history. One life has been lost and a Pere Mar- quette carferry and cargo, valued at $200, 000, now lie hopelessly stranded on the beach and will probably prove a total loss. Our pride has been humbled because we had faith in our good harbor. But when lives are lost and valuable property de- stroyed, it is high time we threw off the garb of self consciousness and hold up our hands. The good name of our harbor can be redeemed by the graces of the govern- ment and it is this assistance we now seek. The disaster is not without its salutary lessons. It furnishes a forceful illustra- tion of the need of extensive government work at this point and should have a strong effect upon the action of congress in re- gard to the $75,000 appropriation estimate now before that body. The tragedy and its causes and effects offer an argument strong- er than could be framed in words. The loss in this single disaster will probably amount to more than the cost of the entire proposed improvement. Ludington harbor is the most important on the east shore of Lake Michigan. It is an all winter port, and the navigation headquarters of a railroad that does the largest trans-lake business of any railway system in the country. It is highly important that it should be kept in the best possible condition at all seasons of the year. It was well known that a bar existed at the mouth of the harbor, but none dared speak of it. True, the other Pere Marquette car- ferries have successfully avoided the bar, but with the presence of such a menace to navigation, accidents like that which dis- abled the MUSKEGON last Saturday are liable to befall any boat. The magnitude of the marine interests centered at this port makes it imperative that strenuous effort be made in the immediate future to secure from the government an appropriation adequate to the needs of our growing lake commerce. With more and larger boats we must have improved harbor facilities. Ludington harbor has too long been neglect- ed by the government. The last official re- port of the engineer in charge of this dis- trict shows that a total amount of but $385, 000 has been spent on Ludington harbor since the government commenced the work of improve- ment. Over $750,000 has been spent at Grand Haven, a harbor of far less maritime impor- tance, as can easily be shown by the official tonnage records of the last ten years. It surely cannot be that congress or the treasury department is predisposed to ignore the needs of this port. Such being the case we may rightfully look for liberal treatment at the hands of the con- gress now in session. At the present time there are practically no funds available for the use of this harbor. The proposed appro- priation of $75,000, if allowed, will be bare- ly sufficient to allow for the necessary dredg- ing next year to maintain a channel and to con- struct a protecting pile revetment for the in- side channel washouts which have also become a serious menace to navigation. What then will become of the pier extension project proposed by the engineers? The conclusion is obvious - the proposed $75,000 will be gratefully re- ceived, but it is not enough. We want all we are entitled to and the influence to secure this should be forthcoming. ---------------------------------------------- The body of Michael Taeff, the man who lost his life in the MUSKEGON disaster, was burried at the Catholic cemetery this afternoon. ----------------------------------------------- MARINE NEWS: Carferry's Rough Trip. Carferry Pere Marquette 17 made last Saturday what was perhaps her roughest trip since coming out last August. The gale was from the south so that the ferry was obliged to run directly in the trough of the sea all the way from Mani- towoc. There were a number of passengers on board all of whom experienced the full benefit of the boat's terrific rolling. It was absolute- ly impossible to serve any meals aboard the boat and everything movable was securely strapped. Most of the passengers were huddled in the main cabin interchanging commiseration with doleful faces. Only with the greatest difficulty could persons walk on the boat so heavy was the roll- ing. To the passengers the experience was one that will never be forgotten while even the older members of the crew were in no wise pleased with the unpleasant voyage. ----------------------- Marine Notes The steamer LIZZIE WALSH has been sold by Almond G. Cutler to Viola Cutler for $550. Congressman William Alden Smith has intro- duced a bill to establish a steam fog signal station at the entrance to Holland harbor. Lyman Hill is relieving Harry Jacks as purser of carferry 17 this week while the latter enjoys a brief vacation with his parents at Chicago. Government Inspectors Honor and Bloecker of Grand Haven were here this week inspecting the tug SANFORD. The fish tug has just had new boilers put in. Steamer Pere Marquette 5, which has been laid up for several weeks, has been fitted out for sea this week and is now ready for service. Capt. John Doyle is in command as usual. L. Dempsey of the Manistee Lumber company and Captain John Stufflebeam have purchased the steamer FRANCIS E. SPINNER which, since being stranded, has been in the ship yard at Manitowoc. It is supposed that the steamer is wanted for the salt carrying trade. The disaster which befell the MUSKEGON last week calls to mind a similar one which happened to the F. & P. M. No. 1 at the same place and with like results on December 30, 1884, just 17 years ago. The No. 1 struck a bar at the entrance to the channel and broke her steam- pipe, scalding one man to death and severely burning several others. The steamer laid in the ice until February 8, 1885, when she was released and towed into port. ===========================================================================