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/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== The East Shore News Pentwater, Michigan March 1, 1872 [Marine extracts] ENGELMANN TRANSPORTATION COMPANY The Wisconsin gives the following in reference to the fitting up of the steamers of this line for the coming season's business: The Engelmann Transportation Company expended $8,000 early the present winter in repairs upon the boilers and hull of the propeller IRONSIDES. With the exception of the new wheel and receiving a coat of paint, we believe she is now in good shape for the season's business. The propeller LAC LA BELLE, besides the new wheel, is to have repairs and improvements which will not cost less than $2,000. The steamer CITY OF TOLEDO is being improved to such an extent that she will hardly be recognized by her old acquaintances. The old cabin has been demolished, and a very handsome new one is rapidly taking its place. She has already received a new gallows frame, and will have new wheel houses. Her wheels are to be somewhat reduced in size, with the view of obtaining greater speed. Her engine is also being rebuilt to such an extent that it will be as good as new when the work is completed. The new cabin of the CITY OF TOLEDO is to have thirty-seven state-rooms, which, with the cabin itself, will be furnished with new and handsome out-fit throughout. These repairs and improvements will cost not less than $20,000. The steamer METROPOLIS is to receive arches, new cylinder for engine, and other repairs, amounting in aggregate to $3,000. The propeller MESSENGER has received repairs upon her engine, part new deck, bulwarks, etc., also a fresh coat of paint, at a cost of $1,000. The propeller MANISTEE, we believe, needs nothing beyond a coat of paint, which she will receive in the spring. We are informed that the consumption of white lead for painting the steamers of this line, amounts to about three and a half tons. From the same paper we clip the following in regard to GOODRICH'S LINE. In addition to what our ship building firms have on hand, considerable work is being done by other parties. Capt. Goodrich is putting the steamers CORONA, MUSKEGON, ALPENA and SHEBOYGAN in a state of thorough repair for the business of the approaching season. The outfits of the steamers are being thoroughly overhauled where needed, their decks and hulls caulked, bulwarks renewed in places, the machinery repaired. The SHEBOYGAN is to have a new deck. The MANITOWOC is at Manitowoc, receivng a new deck and having her cabin remodeled to correspond to that of the SHEBOYGAN. The propeller G. J. TRUESDALL is at Chicago, receiving repairs upon her boiler, etc., which will put her in first class shape. The annual expenditures upon the steamers of this line, at this port, average $25,000. This **** is required to keep them in good condition, both in hull and outfit. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The East Shore News Pentwater, Michigan March 8, 1872 [Marine extracts] ALONG THE SHORE . . Grand Haven - The IRONSIDES is again disabled, and will be off duty for some time. ADRIFT - Early yesterday afternoon a three-masted schooner, fore-and-aft rigged, was seen drifting along before the wind about eight miles out in the lake. She was headed to the sea and was rolling and tossing greatly. One of her topsails was loose, and this was all the canvas that could be seen. She was painted a dark color, and had none of the heavy movements that would have been manifested had she been in a water-logged condition. The vessel drifted rapidly, and was lost to sight soon after eleven o'clock. The only fore-and-aft rigged three-and-after at present in commission, besides the schooner TOLEDO, is the schooner LEN HIGBY, of Pentwater. The scow ELLA DOAK carries three masts, but is square rigged forward. As the schooner TOLEDO is at present in port, the conclusion is that the unfortunate craft is the LEN HIGBY. When first seen she might easily have made this port, had she been in shape to be handled, and at best she might have been kept before the wind and run up the lake to Chicago. Owing to the distance that she was from the land, it was impossible to ascertain whether there was anybody on board. The drifting vessel was watched by several nautical gentlemen from the top of the Insurance Building. They came to the conclusion that she was disabled and would probably go ashore on the long point north of Racine. - Mil. News, March 1. DEPTH OF WATER The Engineers of the Chicago and Michigan Lake Shore Railroad have just completed a survey of Pentwater harbor. The depth of water is no- where less than nine feet, and in many places it is as much as twelve. When navigation opens, the depth will without doubt be considerably increased, inasmuch as the fall of snow this winter has been unusually large. Those steamers from Sheboygan will find all things in readiness for the transit line in a few weeks. The "LEN HIGBY." This vessel, as reported last week, went ashore near Milwaukee. Mr. Lyman started for that place on Monday, and hopes to be able to save her from being wrecked. She is very strongly built, and if she can be kept off the rocks that abound in that vicinity, will doubtless be saved. The following regarding her is from the Milwaukee News of the 2d: The schooner seen drifting past the harbor on Thursday proved to be the LEN HIGBY of Pentwater. She was cast upon the ice banks half a mile beyond the South Point, and four miles this side of Oak Creek. The LEN HIGBY left Sheboygan for Pentwater on the 17th ult., with a cargo of supplies, consisting of oats, butter and eggs in the hold, and hay on deck. When partly across the lake an adverse wind and the ice forced her to seek shelter in the harbor at Ludington. After waiting there some days, the wind shifted the ice so that she was able to proceed towards Pentwater. About midway between the two ports the ice again set in upon her, breaking her rudder and carrying her toward the beach. She finally brought up in the ice about forty rods from the beach of Little Point Sauble. Here the crew abandoned the vessel on account of her disabled condition, and proceeded to Pentwater over- land. Before steps could be taken to secure her, the wind again shift- ed, breaking up the ice and carrying her up and out in to the lake. When off Pentwater the crew endeavored to reach the vessel in skiffs, but could not on account of the ice. From this point the HIGBY was carried rapidly westward until she passed this port, and grounded as above stated. Messrs. Jacob and John Saveland went down to the ves- sel Thursday afternoon and found her pounding heavily against the ice banks. The people living in the neighborhood were taking off the sails and other outfit which could be removed. There was no water in her. Yesterday morning they again visited her, this time going on board. They report her aground and nearly full of water. Mr. Lyman, her owner, telegraphed from Pentwater, asking Capt. R. P. Fitzgerald to look after her until he can reach here. Mr. Fitzgerald went down to the wreck, yesterday, in company with John Blend, an experienced wrecking master, who will keep an eye on the vessel and her cargo. It is thought that she can be pumped out and got off without much diffi- culty. The Milwaukee News, of the 5th, contains the following additional News. Work towards getting the LEN HIGBY off from the ice banks where she drifted, went on all day yesterday, apparently with every prospect of success. By night the stern of the vessel had been got some thirty feet clear of the ice, and work was preparing to shift the cargo, when the wind changed round and came from the north, bringing a heavy sea, and the wrecking party had to give up work and come back to the city. It was thought that the wind would dash the vessel on the ice banks and make her a total wreck. The HIGBY was probably worth $4,000 and her cargo from $2,000 to $3,000. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The East Shore News Pentwater, Michigan March 15, 1872 [Marine extracts] The Record states that the Propeller MESSENGER came into that port on Saturday morning, after having been frozen in the ice at Manistee for four or five days. She could have entered Pentwater harbor at the same time without difficulty had she so desired. The "LADY AGNES" is the name of a neat little fore and aft schooner that *. R. Mooney has now nearly finished. Her dimensions are 41 ft keel, 11 ft beam. The Goodrich Transportation Co., has begun to run their propellers along the west shore of Lake Michigan, from Chicago to Ahnapee. The first propeller from Milwaukee to Chicago left on March **. We shall expect to chronicle the *** arrival of boats along the east shore soon, although the ice will not probably leave the small lakes in less than two weeks. The tug ALBION arrived on Monday last, March 11th, and was the first to enter Pentwater harbor this spring. Our friend D. C. Pelton came down on her from Lincoln, and informs us that there is nothing to prevent boats running ** this shore. There is an abundance of water in Pentwater harbor, the shallowest place having a depth of nine feet, and no ice in the channel, or at its entrance. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The East Shore News Pentwater, Michigan March 22, 1872 [Marine extracts] ALONG THE SHORE - Grand Haven. This steamer which arrived her on Sunday, encountered a large field of floating ice which extended several miles out into the lake. There was a brisk breeze and considerable swell and it became necessary to make fast to the inside of the pier near the light house, the vessel being unmanagable on account of surrounding circumstances. The ice was of such a slushy and porous nature that she was almost as helpless as if she were in a large snow bank. In attempting to back so as to gain headway, she was driven aground on the other side of the pier about 100 feet from the light house. In order to lighten her and get her off a considerable portion of her deckload was thrown overboard. The goods thus disposed of consisted of 100 boxes of bacon, 73 barrels of pork, some kegs of tobacco and beer, rolls of leather, and packages of dry goods, the whole value being several thousand dollars, and as we learn from Mr. Malcom, was insured, the through freight on open policy, and the local freight by the shippers. Most of the property was carried away on the floating ice, some sunk, and a considerable quantity was cast along shore. The company are making every possible effort to recover such as is accessible. There is no censure cast upon the officers of the MANISTEE for the accident, which is regarded by all experienced in such matters, as one of the mishaps incident to the perilous winter navigation of the lakes. The MANISTEE arrived uninjured at her wharf about noon Monday, discharged her cargo and left at 10 o'clock at night for Milwaukee. - Herald. The tug RUBY has been purchased by Brink & Baker, and is being fitted up for a steam ferry. The Goodrich line of steamers will be extended along the East Shore this summer, according to our exchanges. They will receive a hearty welcome. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The East Shore News Pentwater, Michigan March 29, 1872 [Marine extracts] NOTE: There is brief mention of marine matters in one column of this issue but, being close to the fold, a portion of it was missed during microfilming. In brief - When the Goodrich line commences there will be 3 3 lines in the area. Vessels are being fitted up following an extremely cold winter which prevented previous work on them. The SOUVENIR and FLEA are being painted and repaired. Other vessels in the harbor are the GERTRUDE, ITHACA and MAID OF THE MIST, also ELLEN M. O'BRIEN and RUBY. THE COLD WEATHER: - It is quite generally understood that the past winter (we hope to say it is now nearly past,) has been one of the most severe ever known in the United States. Navigation on the lakes has been attended with unusual risks, and harbors have been more fre- quently closed by ice than during any season for many years. There is an unusual quantity of ice in the lakes, and navigation will open at a later date than for many years. The reports from Lake Erie show a worse state of affairs than on Lake Michigan. The papers state that at Cleveland and Buffalo no water can be seen lakeward by looking from the tops of the highest buildings. At Erie the lake is frozen all the way across to Long Point, and a man from there said that teams had crossed on the ice, something not done before since 1812. From the mouth of the Detroit River ice also extends as far as can be seen. ===========================================================================