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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. =========================================================================== THE LUDINGTON CHRONICLE, Ludington, MI Wednesday, April 24, 1907 BODY RECOVERED -------------- Fishermen Find Woman's Corpse This Morning ------------- AN ARCADIA VICTIM ------------- Fourteen Lives Lost in Big Storm of April 12 - Steamer Probably Wrecked Off Little Sauble Point ------------- The finding of the body of a young woman about three miles out from this harbor by Ludington fisherman estab- lishes without a doubt the fate of the barge ARCADIA which was thought to have been wrecked during the storm of April 12. One of the most tragic maritime accidents recorded on the east shore of Lake Michigan is thus brought to light. It recalls vivid- ly to mind the wrecks of the ALPENA, CHICORA and DOTY, each of which disas- ter resulted in the loss of all on board. When Matt Anderson and John Gust- afson started out for their fishing grounds this morning they saw some- thing unusual floating in the water about three miles out. They veered from their course and found the object was a life preserver with the name ARCADIA on it fastened to a corpse. Finding of First Body They fastened a buoy to the life preserver and returned to report to Captain Carlson of the lifesaving station. He immediately consulted Coroner Carroll who requested him to bring the body ashore. It was placed in the house near the station awaiting the coroner's inquest which was held before noon. It was not until yesterday that fears were entertained for the safety of the ARCADIA which cleared Manistee April 12 with a cargo of lumber for the J. O. Nessen Co. bound for Two Rivers, Wis. She had on board fourteen persons, in- cluding her master and owner, Capt. Henry May of Cleveland, his wife, a young woman whose name is unknown who acted as cook, Otto Chavalia, Harry Powers, Charles McIntyre, John Pulls of Manistee, and several other sailors whose names are unknown. Life Preserver From ARCADIA The body found this morning was un- doubtedly that of the cook. She was possibly twenty-five years old and the life preserver strapped to the pulse- less breast bore the name of the steam- er ARCADIA. The corpse was partially clothed and showed evidence of having been dressed in great haste. One shoe was on and the laces properly fastened but the other shoe was but half laced and the strings hanging. A short red skirt of woolen texture and a white sacque completed the toilet. The long black hair was loose and when the body was found a string of beads was fasten- ed on the top of the head. The position of the body told a piti- ful tale and indicated that the woman had hung on something and the upraised right hand and clenched fingers told that she had clung to some part of the ship for safety. The head was thrown back and the face turned as if to avoid something. The expression of the face indicated mortal, agonized fear. Was Craft Disabled? Since it has been feared that the ARCADIA had gone down during the recent storm, various theories have been advanced as to the place she was wrecked and what accident caused her fate. From the find- ing of the wreckage, undoubtedly from the ARCADIA, by PERE MARQUETTE steamer No. 3 last Wednesday near little Point Sauble and since the discovery of pieces of bul- works marked "ARCADIA" on the beach by Capt. Ewald of the Pentwater life saving station and the fog bell with the name ARCADIA on it were found at Whitehall by the keeper of the White Lake life saving station would indicate that the ill-fated steamer went down near little Point Sauble which is about midway between Whitehall and Ludington. Where did ARCADIA Go Down? One theory is advanced in regard to the cause of the accident based on the fact that the cabin over the engine and after portion of the boat has been found that her boiler blew up causing her to sink at once, but from the appearance of the body found this morning it would in- dicate that those on board the ARCADIA had some warning. But whether the above supposition is correct will never be told by the dumb lips of those who went down with her. It is quite likely that the real cause will never be learned as the wreck is fast going to pieces. The ARCADIA was under contract to the Ludington Woodenware Co. last year to tow the company's barge to and from Drummond island for logs. She was a staunch craft and had weathered many a gale. Capt. May who commanded her was an old vessel master but had never han- dled the ARCADIA before. He intended putting her into the coal carrying busi- ness out of Cleveland after having dis- charged her cargo to the Hamilton Mfg. Co. at Two Rivers. The barge was 230 tons gross, 119 feet in length with 26 foot beam. She was built in 1888 in Milwaukee. --------------------------------------- All Get a Raise A general advance in wages on lake vessels has been agreed at Cleveland in the annual settlement with the labor unions by the Lake Carrier's Association. Firemen, oilers and water tenders and wheelsmen, watchmen and seamen were granted an advance of $5 a month from the start of navigation up to Oct. 1. That will make their wages $50 per month. From Oct. 1 to the close wages will be $65, which is the same as last season. Dockhands get an advance of $2.50 for the full season, which will make their wages $30 per month up to Oct. 1, and $40 from that date to the close. The overtime clause, which caused a great deal of friction last year, was cut out of the agreement. --------------------------------------- Will Begin Breakwater Next Year A. F. Brookins, Howard Malcomb and Philip Beauvais, government engineers were at work Monday and yesterday mak- ing soundings at the mouth of the har- bor preparatory to the construction of the breakwater for this port. Chas. W. H. Smith, superintendent of construction work, came Monday and spent much time going over the field. Before he left yesterday for Manistee he stated that work on the breakwater would not be started this year but con- tracts would be let this summer so that material could be gotten on hand ready for work early next year. ----------------------------------------- The small excursion steamer JOHN DEWAR which has been running between Ludington and Manistee until No. 6 comes out had a rough trip going north Monday morning. There was a big wind and sea from the southwest and the half dozen passengers aboard received a bad shaking up until Big Pt. Sauble was reached. It was a big sea for a small boat to encounter but the little craft rode it out in safety. ------------------------------------------ The continuance of the beacon light on the bluff at St. Joe, which had been or- dered by the lighthouse board at Washing- ton to be removed to the north pier has been announced. Strong protests were made by St. Joseph people to the change in the location of the light, which is said to be one of the oldest on Lake Michigan. ------------------------------------------ The little steamer JOHN DEWAR has been put on the Manistee-Ludington run to re- place the PERE MARQUETTE No. 6 while that steamer is undergoing repairs at Manistee. The DEWAR will leave here early in the morn- ing for Manistee and return before the Mil- waukee boat leaves in the evening. She formerly plied between Manistee and Frank- fort. ------------------------------------------- Attorney General Bird has given an opinion to the state tax commission that motor boats, launches and such vessel property should be assessed in the district where they are kept, instead of at the residence of the owner. This will doubtless put considerable values on the rolls in districts surrounding the in- land lakes. -------------------------------------------- The steamer KANSAS of the Northern Michigan Transportation company's fleet has been char- tered by the Crosby line and will run between Muskegon and Milwaukee for a month. She was on that route last spring in the early part of the season. She has just been fitted up for the run which started last week. --------------------------------------------- The schooner ELIZA DAY, capsized off Pyramid Point at Glen Haven, Mich., last week and is a total loss. The crew of four men left the ship just before she went over, and succeeded in get- ting to Sleeping Bear point in their yawl. ---------------------------------------------- The schooner JESSIE MARTIN brought over a full cargo of flour from the Oriental Mills of Mani- towoc last week for Ludington and other Michigan ports. ----------------------------------------------- A special trip will be made to Milwaukee next Sunday night by steamer PERE MARQUETTE 4. ----------------------------------------------- Carferry No. 18 has been tied up at the local P. M. dock this week undergoing minor repairs. ===========================================================================