Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2016 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. =========================================================================== Pentwater News Pentwater, Oceana Co., Mich. Friday, April 4, 1873 Volume III, Number 116. The Detroit Free Press publishes a record of the Northern Lake disasters since 1818, in which it appears that 80 side-wheel steamers have been burned, involving a loss of 1,098 lives and property to the amount of $1,608,125. Since 1845 there have been 68 propellers burned, involving a loss of $1,400,300 and 315 lives. During the same time 47 tugs were burned, valued at $141,650. And even this record is not a complete one. Sheboygan Items - We see from the Times of the 29th that the pro- peller ST. JOSEPH arrived at this port on the preceding Wednesday, going as far north as Kewaunee, and returning on Friday. Our neighbor has a little the start of us, but considering the misfortunes with which the Englemann company has had to contend during the winter, we do not wonder that they are a little behind the Goodrich company in getting their boats out this spring. The steamers IRONSIDES and CITY OF FREMONT reached this harbor Monday night, after a good deal of hard work by the IRONSIDES break- ing ice just outside the pier. Those on board say the ice was nearly fifty feet thick where the river current had lodged the ice under that formed in the lake. The IRONSIDES brought about 600 tons of freight, mostly provisions, and the FREMONT had about 450 tons of the same kind of loading. Both boats commenced taking on freight as soon as unloaded, for the return trip, which was delayed on account of the heavy snow storm which began on Monday night. Both boats left, how- ever, on Wednesday night at 11 o'clock. The IRONSIDES had on board 2,500 barrels of salt, and the FREMONT had 1,800 barrels of salt and plaster, with about 200 tons of merchandise on deck. The MANISTEE and MESSENGER have both reached Milwaukee, but little the worse for their long warfare with the elements. The MANISTEE left Milwaukee on Thurs- day morning at 8 o'clock, but had not reached here at the time of going to press. -- Herald. First Arrival of the Season. The tug ALBION arrived at Pentwater on March 30, and cleared for Hamlin with a scow load of machinery in tow. A propeller was also seen outside on the same day, supposed to be bound for Manistee. DEATH OF CAPTAIN STANNARD. - The many friends of Captain William W. Stannard will be pained to learn of his death, which sad event took place at Milwaukee on Saturday. The deceased last commanded the steamer METROPOLIS. He was universally esteemed by all who knew him. The Ferry across Pentwater Lake is now in operation. The ice is becoming unsafe, and one or two warms days will cause a considerable portion of it to disappear. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pentwater News Pentwater, Oceana Co., Mich. Friday, April 11, 1873 Volume III, Number 117. The Ferry is in operation across Pentwater Lake, under the control of Martin S. Perkins. Ice is nearly all out of Pentwater Lake, so as to admit of vessels coming in to the docks without difficulty. The Dredges are already for work, and Col. Strohmann is expected to return by the next train, to superintend our harbor improvement. The MESSENGER made her first trip to Pentwater last Tuesday morning -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pentwater News Pentwater, Oceana Co., Mich. Friday, April 18, 1873 Volume III, Number 118. Pentwater Harbor is in good condition this year, with ample depth of water for the steamers of the Englemann line. We regret to add that the above can not be said of all the harbors on the lake. PENTWATER HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS - We learn from Col. Strohman that the last appropriation of $20,000.00 will be awarded on or about May 5th. Advertisements for proposals have already bee published. The work for the present year is briefly as follows: The completion of the pier and dock on the south side of the channel; the extension of the north pier by sinking two large cribs each fifty feet in length; and such dredging as may be necessary. The south pier will probably not be extended any further, there being already twenty feet of water on that side of the channel. Some few repairs will be made on the north pier, but no extensive improvements are regarded as necessary at present. The sand bluffs are to have their share of attention, so as to prevent, if possible, the drifting of sand into the channel. but the exact course of procedure has not yet been de- termined upon. The Government light will probably be placed on the south pier. Pentwater Light. The following correspondence explains itself, and shows that our worthy President is carefully looking after the interests of our village.: Pentwater, Mich., April 8th, 1873. O. M. Poe, Esq. Engineer 11th L. H. Dist., Detroit: - DEAR SIR: - We are anxiously waiting the arrival of the Pier Lights for this point, of which we had the promise through your advice of the 16th of Sept. last, to Capt. S. M. Mansfield. May we not look for them at an early day? Very Resp. Yours, J. G. Gray, Pres't. Reply. Detroit, Mich., April 10, 1873. J. G. Gray, Esq., Pentwater, Oceana Co., Mich. - SIR: - In reply to yours of the 8th inst., I have to say that a working party will leave here for Pent- water in a few days for the purpose of putting up the Pier head Light at that harbor. The lens has just arrived from France. Very Respectfully, O. M. Poe, Major of Eng'rs, Brevet Brig. Gen. U.S.A. Eng'rs 11th L. H. Dist. The METROPOLIS made her first trip to Pentwater last Tuesday. She is commanded this season by J. L. Griffin, formerly mate of the propeller MANISTEE, - with J. Johannas as Clerk. She will leave Pentwater for Manistee daily on the arrival of the Chicago Night Express at 10:40 A.M., and returning leave Manistee at 6:00 P.M., connecting at Pentwater with the morning train at 7:45 A.M. We understand that the CITY OF TOLEDO will run daily between Pentwater and Grand Haven, and the MESSENGER between Pentwater and Milwaukee. The above is, we understand, only temporary, and the boats will run as usual from Grand Haven to Manistee as soon as the line is complete. Welland Canal will be opened on the 21st. inst. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pentwater News Pentwater, Oceana Co., Mich. Friday, April 25, 1873 Volume III, Number 119. Neighborhood News - Grand Haven. The SAGINAW, a beautiful side-wheel steamer, which was purchased of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company by the Englemann Transportation Co., made her first trip to Grand Haven on Monday last. She is to form a daily line between this port and Milwaukee the present season. This will be a fine chance for those wishing to visit Grand Haven from Milwaukee and return the same day. -- Herald The CITY OF TOLEDO broke her rudder chains on Wednesday last, and arrived off Pentwater harbor about six o'clock in the afternoon, during the prevalence of a high northwest wind. She signalled for a tug and the MESSENGER, Capt. C. Lamont, went to her assistance, and took her line. Just as she was entering the channel the line parted, but fortunately she made the harbor in safety. The sails and rigging of the schr. SOUVENIR have been brought to Pentwater. The vessel is imbedded in the sand, but is not much in- jured. She will probably be afloat again in a few days. The METROPOLIS broke her wheel at Manistee last Sunday morning, laying her up until Wednesday for repairs. Marine Items. The following are the arrivals and departures at this port for the week ending Wednesday, April 23. Arrived. April 16 - Schr R. B. CAMPBELL, Chicago 17 - Schr BELOIT, Chicago 18 - Schr NORTH STAR, Chicago 23 - Schrs BLACK HAWK and CAMPBELL, Chi. Cleared. April 16 - Schrs R. B. CAMPBELL, Chicago 16 - Schr FAWN, Milwaukee 17 - Schr BELOIT, Chicago 18 - Schr DEFIANCE, Claybanks 18 - Schr NORTH STAR, Chicago 19 - Schr B. & B., Port Washington 23 - Schr R. B. CAMPBELL, Chicago 23 - Schr BLACK HAWK, Michigan City. The Steamers METROPOLIS, CITY OF TOLEDO and MESSENGER made their usual trips during the week. The tug LEVIATHAN got the schooner DELAWARE off the beach near Holland, and towed her to Grand Haven, a few days since. The mouth of the Chicago river is being dredged so that vessels drawing 13 to 13 1/2 ft. of water can enter. The ice is still intact at Green Bay, but is pretty shaky, and will probably be broken up in a few days. There is considerable water on the ice at Mackinac, and slush and soft ice beneath. The Vermont boats, it is expected, will be in Chicago this week. The new schooner MARENGO, at Milwaukee, last week had a cargo of 38,000 bushels of wheat on board. She drew 12 feet 8 inches of water. TO ENTER PENTWATER - Vessels bound for Pentwater, in going into that harbor, should keep to the south pier well aboard one-third of the way in, then sheer over to the north pier, and keep the latter best aboard until inside. The depth of water over the bar at Pent- water in 9 1/2 ft; inside the depth is 8 1/2 ft. The lake at Pent- water is entirely clear of ice. Manistee Harbor - Work on the improvements of this harbor have been resumed. The Government pile driver is at work driving the few re- maining piles required by the contractors, on which to place their superstructure. Messrs. Bird & Mickle expect to finish their part of the work by June 1. There are 600 line feet of pile revetment, 14 feet wide, filled with edgings and slabs, and covered by stone a foot in thickness, extending from the inner end of the north pier along that side of the river eastward. A white light will be kept on Perry's pier, fourteen miles north of Manistee, after May 1, during shipping season of '73. The light is at an elevation of 24 feet from surfarce (sic) of the water. The sale of the propeller ST. JOSEPH by the Goodrich Company took place at Chicago a few days since, the Cleveland & Saginaw Company being the purchasers. The price paid was $30,000. EAST SHORE HARBORS OPEN - White Lake is open, with eight feet of water over the bar. Muskegon Lake is open. The schooner GAMECOCK arrived at Muskegon on Tuesday. The Goodrich Tranportation Company are now running steamers regu- larly on all their lines on Lake Michigan, excepting to Green Bay, the bay not being open to navigation. Vessels continue to meet with large masses of floating ice in Lake Michigan. Mr. T. W. Kirby writes from Grand Haven April 15: "Lake Michigan, at this point, is all ice as far as the eye can see." ===========================================================================