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 Pentwater News Friday, September 5, 1873 [extracts of marine news] - No marine news in this issue. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Pentwater News Friday, September 12, 1873 [extracts of marine news] Neighborhood News Grand Haven Last Wednesday afternoon a beautiful barge was launched from the ship yard of the Mechanics' Ship Yard Co. in this city. A large company assembled to witness the launch, and everything being in readi- ness at 3:10 she gracefully slid into the water, as her banner was flung to the breeze displaying the name CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS. The CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS was built by the Mechanics' Ship Yard Company for Kirby, Furlong & Co. She is 130 feet long, 36 1/2 feet beam, and 9 feet depth of hold. She has a carry- ing capacity of 250,000 feet of lumber. She has a beautiful model, and is built every way staunch and strong. After the launch Senator Ferry was called out, and made a stirring speech, first calling for the cheers for the barge. When he had concluded, three cheers were given for Senator Ferry, three for the builders, and three for the Grand Haven Barge Company. - Herald. We notice by the marine item that Capt. David Cochrance, formerly of the MANISTEE, succeeds Capt. John Griffin, of the MESSENGER. If anyone is to take GRIFFIN'S place, we do not know of a person who would suit better than Capt. Cochrane. We regret exceedingly that other arrangements make it necessary that Mr. Griffin should leave the line. Since he has been among us he has won many friends by his uniform disposition to accommodate and make all who travel with him comfortable. That he has succeeded, his many friends here will attest. In leaving the line he will carry with him the well wishes of all and a hearty wish for his future success in whatever position he may be called to fill. The following are the arrivals and departures at this port for the week ending Wednesday, Sep. 10. ARRIVED: Sept 4 - Schr LENORA, St. Joseph Schr R. B. KING, Chicago 9 - Schr R. J. SKIDMORE, Chicago Schr NORTH STAR, Chicago Schr D. R. OWEN, Chicago Schr HONEST JOHN, Chicago 10 - Schr RADICAL, Chicago Schr NINA BAILEY, Chicago Schr SOUVENIR, Chicago Schr MINNIE CORLETT, Chicago Schr J. H. STEVENS, Mich. City Schr ORA, Milwaukee CLEARED: Sept. 4 - Schr MINNIE CORLETT, Chicago Schr LENORA, Chicago Schr R. B. KING, Chicago 9 - Schr R. J. SKIDMORE, Chicago Schr NORTH STAR, Chicago Schr D. R. OWEN, Chicago Schr HONEST JOHN, Chicago 10 - Schr RADICAL, Chicago Schr J. H. STEPHENS, Sheboygan Schr ORA, Benton Harbor Schr NINA BAILEY, Benton Harbor Schr SOUVENIR, Mich. City Schr MINNIE CORLETT, Milwaukee Also the usual steamers of the Engelmann Line. Capt. Ewing will take the tug B. W. RICE to Muskegon Lake next week, where she will ply in the future. The schooner GERTRUDE went ashore in a gale on Thursday last about five miles below here. We under- stand that she is not broken up and can be got off without much damage. The gale of last week caused a delay of the shore boats, but everything is in shape again and the boats are regular. CHANGE OF COMMAND. - Capt. David Cochrane succeeds Capt. John Griffin in the command of the propeller MESSENGER. To be better prepared for fire, all steamers are compelled to be provided with wire tiller ropes, or iron rods or chains, for the purpose of steering the vessel, and to use wire bell pulls for signaling the engineer. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Pentwater News Friday, September 19, 1873 [extracts of marine news] AWFUL DISASTER. Foundering of the Steamer IRONSIDES off Grand Haven. The Ill-fated Vessel Sinks in Forty Fathoms of Water. SEVENTEEN LIVES LOST. The Most Terrible Storm Known for Years. Numerous Minor Vessel Accidents Reported On the East Shore. GRAND HAVEN, Mich., Sept. 15. - The steamer IRONSIDES of the Englemann line, one of the largest steamers on the lakes, foundered and sunk when five miles off this port at noon to-day. Her signal of distress was hoisted at 9 o'clock this morning, but so terrible was the sea and heavy the wind that no assistance could possibly reach her. She labored in the trough of the sea from about 7:30 a.m. till the time she sunk. The passengers and crew, of which there were nineteen of the former and thirty of the latter, manned the life boats and left her about 11 a.m., the last boat leaving her at 11:50 a.m. When the last got about a quarter of a mile from her, she went down. There were six boats filled with the crew and passengers. One of the boats, having five men and four women, capsized, and only one man reached the shore. Four boats have reached the shore up to 11 p.m. The boat with Captain Sweetman, his wife, and five passengers has not yet been heard from. It is feared they are among the lost. Thirty-two persons are known to have been saved and seven- teen bodies have been recovered. THE LOST. The following is a partial list of those lost, whose bodies have been recovered and identified. Captain Sweetman Robert McGuire, Engineer Henry Hasolberg and wife John Driscoll, steward of the boat John Hilles, of Milwaukee Charles Wimmell, agent of C. E. Harling & Co., New York Mrs. H. A. Valentine and child, of Milwaukee Mr. John Denison, of Spring Lake, Mich. Mr. J. B. L. Dewitt, of Milwaukee James Brown Harry Hughes Ed Tyle The others are not yet identified. THE SAVED. The following are among the saved as far as can be ascertained up to the time of writing: N. E. Watkins, clerk of the boat O. Kilsinger Samuel Watkins John Gee, Daniel Driscoll and James Driscoll, of Milwaukee. Geo. Cowan, second engineer of the boat M. L. Chichester H. N. Ward and Miss Ward F. N. Ripley, of Lowell, Mass. James Smith Mr. Whiting Mike Crosson Charles Sleif Charles Bedford Al Pitman Frank Conkey Andrew Watts Filer Riley Mr. H. Went Mr. Schulte William Savage Mr. Gorlen Dan Hew*** Charles Wilcox One of the bodies recovered was a little boy, about 6 years of age, probably the son of Mrs. Valentine, of Milwaukee. He was neatly dressed, had light hair, blue eyes and a beautiful, intelligent face, which, except for its paleness, looked as though he had fallen quietly asleep. WHEN SHE SANK the IRONSIDES was in plain sight of the harbor until she went to the bottom. Senator Ferry was one of the first to discover her signal of distress, about 10 o'clock, but it was too late, and even then there was no boat here which could ride the terrible sea to carry relief. The propeller LAKE BREEZE bravely undertook the terrible task, but was herself disabled before getting half a mile out of the harbor. There has been great excitement all the afternoon. Hundreds of people thronged the beach and aided in rescuing several of the passengers, providing them with clothing, brandy, and other comforts. THE CLERK'S STATEMENT The following is the statement of Mr. N. E. Watkins, of this city, clerk of the IRONSIDES. We left Milwaukee at 9:40 last night with nineteen passengers and a crew of thirty men, and were due in Grand Haven between 5 and 6 this morning. The cargo consisted of 13,000 bushels of wheat, 500 barrels of flour, 125 barrels of pork, and some miscellaneous articles, which was a very light cargo, since the boat could carry 1,100 tons. A moderate breeze was blowing from the southwest, which constantly increased until it became a perfect gale before daylight. I did not get up until 9 o'clock, when the boat was rolling fear- fully. I immediately went below and found the men work- ing at the pumps. The water had already put out the fires and the engines were useless. I then went to the office, got the passenger register, money, and manifest, and went on the hurricane deck, where I found Captain Sweetman getting a fore-sail on her. He was thoroughly self-possessed, and the men obeyed orders promptly. We then made about three miles toward the shore. The signal of distress had been raised at 9:30. About 10 o'clock the passengers all put on life-preservers, for it was evident the boat must go down. At 11:20 the captain ordered the boats to be manned. In the first boat all the lady passengers except one were placed. In the second boat were ten or twelve of the passengers and crew. I took charge of the third boat, which car- ried seven passengers, including one lady, and two of the crew besides myself, all of whom were saved. After I had pushed off I saw two other boats leave the wreck, in one of which I supposed the captain to be. My boat was hardly half a mile from the IRONSIDES when she sunk, stern foremost, about five miles from shore. It was 12:10 when she disappeared. She was estimated to be worth $115,000; was thoroughly overhauled last winter, and was considered one of the staunchest boats on the lakes. MR. RIPLEY'S STATEMENT. Mr.F. N. Ripley, of Lowell, Mass., a very intelligent young man, who was one of the saved, gives the following additional particulars: "The sea became so rough a little after midnight that I could not sleep, though accustomed to the water. Before daylight the boat rolled so desper- ately that every moveable thing was smashing about the vessel, and it was impossible to cross the cabin. It was between 7 and 8 o'clock when we came in sight of the har- bor, and it was so rough that it seemed unwise to attempt an entrance. We could see the lighthouse and the vessels on the beach, and wondered that no one came to our relief. It was a sad sight to see the passengers standing in silence, with their life-preservers on, knowing that in a few moments they would all be at the mercy of the breakers; but all were calm and self-possessed. Captain Sweetman be- haved with the utmost coolness and courage, and the crew obeyed every order readily. We were all washed out of the boat when within thirty rods of the shore, but were res- cued by those on the beach in a most gallant way. I was picked up unconcious, but am all right now. The captain said it was the roughest sea he had ever seen on the lakes. Those familiar with the shore here say that the IRONSIDES went down in not less than forty fathoms of water. OTHER DISASTERS. There was also a line of barges from Chicago in the tow of the propeller NEW ERA, which reached here this morning. The NEW ERA made the port, but the following barges went on the beach north of the north pier: C. O. D., GOLDEN HARVEST and APPRENTICE BOY, all owned in Grand Haven. The NEW ERA also had the barge ALLEN in tow, but she broke lose before getting here, drifting to the north- ward and making Montague all safe. The schooner MAGNOLIA, of Chicago, went on the beach north of the pier at 6 o'clock this morning, running hard on, bow first, the swinging on her broadside. She is all right but high and dry. The schooner C. C. NORTH also went ashore, and lies in a bad shape. The scow C. C. BUTTS, of Chicago, went ashore at nearly the same time, and is hard on the beach. The C. O. D. was towed off this evening. The rest are all closely together. The wind has subsided, and the sea has gone down fast. The following vessels made port all right this forenoon: Scow TRIO, schooners GUIDE, J. P. WARD, HONEST JOHN, LUMBERMAN, CURLEW, GEM, SPRAY, PATTY FISHER. MARINE ITEMS. The following are the arrivals and departures at this port for the week ending Wednesday, Sep. 17. ARRIVED: Sept 10 - Schr. ORA, Milwaukee Schr. RADICAL, Chicago Schr. NINA BAILEY, Chicago Schr. SOUVENIR, Chicago Schr. MINNIE CORLETT, Chicago Schr. D. R. HOLT, Chicago 15 - Schr. NORTH STAR, Chicago Schr. R. J. SKIDMORE, Mich. City CLEARED: Sept 10 - Schr. ORA, Benton Harbor Schr. NINA BAILEY, Sheboygan Schr. SOUVENIR, Mich. City Schr. MINNIE CORLETT, Milwaukee Schr. RADICAL, Chicago Schr. D. R. HOLT, Chicago 15 - Schr. NORTH STAR, Chicago Schr. R. J. SKIDMORE, Chicago Also the usual steamers of the Engelmann Line. The Engelmann propeller LAKE BREEZE broke her wheel last week and has been on the dock for repairs. Mariners should take notice that the south pier at Ludington extends three hundred feet beyond the lighthouse. The steamer JOHN H. DIX collided with the iron propeller RUSSIA on Saturday last, near Detroit. The DIX is damaged to the extent of about six thousand dollars. The damage to the RUSSIA is not known but probably slight as she continued on her course. We hear of several minor disasters on our shore. A schooner went ashore just north of the pier at Ludington, and we hear that three went ashore at Whitehall. Also one sunk between the piers at Muskegon. The barge WINDSOR, owned by Messrs. Gifford & Ruddoc went on shore just north of the Manistee light house, in the gale Thursday evening. The tug WILLIAMS drew her off in good condition, the next morning, and she loaded and immediately started for Chicago in tow of the said tug. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Pentwater News Friday, September 26, 1873 [extracts of marine news] The IRONSIDES Disaster An Associated Press dispatch of the 16th gives the following detailed account of the recent Lake Michigan horror: The propeller IRONSIDES left Milwaukee on Sunday night, September 15, on time, but owing to the day being Sunday the list of passengers was not very large, there being but nineteen on the register. There were thirty-two seamen, and one not regist- ered. The steamer hove in sight of Grand Haven at 7 a.m., but did not attempt to make the port on account of the high sea and number of vessels and barges which went on the beach in attempting to make the port. The steamer headed seaward again, and at 9 o'clock appeared to be about nine miles out. She was seen to have fires in her engines till 10 o'clock, when no more smoke was to be seen from the smoke-stacks. The foresail was then raised, but she had been leaking considerably, and the water gained on the men at the pumps so fast that at 11 o'clock it was evident she must go down. The passen- gers were all supplied with life preservers, and stood ready at a moment's warning to take to the boats. At 11:20 Capt. Sweetman, who was commander, ordered the life-boats to be got in readiness and launched. The first boat contained all the ladies but one. The second contained ten or twelve of the crew and passengers. In the third there was Mr. Watkins, the clerk of the boat, one lady named Mrs. Ward, five passengers, and two of the crew. There were two more boats soon to leave the steamer after the third had left, but it is thought that the last one did not leave in time to get far enough from the steamer before she went down, and was drawn in the whirlpool and swamped. The steamer sank at 12:20, going down stern first. The first boat which left the steamer containing the majority of the ladies was capsized, and only one of the passengers succeeded in reaching the shore. The second and third boats succeeded in reaching the shore, but only with the assistance of those on shore, who, hearing of the terrible calamity, rushed to the beach by multitudes on tugs which voluntarily car- ried all persons back and forward across the river as fast as possible. The beach was lined with people for about two miles, but the fourth and fifth boats could not be reached in time to offer any possible succor. So high was the wind that the boats were driven ashore before any per- son could get to them. As the boats approached the shore, and all were overturned in the surf, strong men and expert swimmers formed lines in the water, and in this manner everybody, dead or alive, that was seen, was recovered. So terrible was the sea that no assistance could possibly be rendered to the doomed steamer and her living freight. The propeller LAKE BREEZE, which was in port and owned by the same company, made an attempt to go to the assistance of the boats, but was disabled in the attempt, and narrowly escaped going on the beach. Among the barges and vessels which went on in the morn- ing she dropped her anchor and lay there till towed off in the afternoon. All the bodies recovered, which were not cared for by friends who recognized them, were tenderly cared for and dressed for burial by committees of ladies and gentlemen of Grand Haven, who voluntarily and willingly offered their services in taking care of the bodies until they should be identified and cared for by friends. The underwriters estimate that the loss or damage to vessel property on the lakes during the recent storm will amount to $500,000 with insurance for about one-third that sum. The propeller ACORN, of the Vermont Central line of steamers, en route from Ogdensburg to Chicago, was burned to the water's edge on the evening of the 17th, at Collins' dock, about five miles above Alexandria Bay. The fire caught in the fire-hole. The passengers, fifty in number, and the crew were all saved with difficulty. She was heavily laden with a cargo of general merchandise, which was lost. The CITY OF TOLEDO, Capt. Ladner, will hereafter run between Milwaukee and Grand Haven with the SAGINAW, for carrying passengers. The Engelmann Transportation Co. have bought another boat for freighting alone, to run between those ports. Capt. Griffin will, we understand, have command of the new boat. The MESSENGER will run from Milwaukee to Manistee. New boats will be put on the route as soon as they can be had. The superstructure of the new pier of Ludington was badly damaged by the late gale on the lake. MARINE ITEMS The United States Revenue Cutter ANDREW JOHNSON, was in our port on Tuesday last. The CHICAGO BELLE, towing spiles from the north, cut loose from her tow and sought refuge in our harbor on Wednesday night. Her tow is on the beach north of the pier. The terrific storm which swept over Lake Michigan on Sunday night created great havoc among the shipping. About twenty-five vessels of the Chicago lumber fleet are ashore on the east coast, and several larger craft crippled and wrecked on the islands at the foot of the lake. The underwriters estimate the loss by the recent storm at $500,000. A special telegram to the Evening Wisconsin, from Racine, dated noon to-day, says: "The schooner R. J. SKIDMORE collided with the ARGO, between Kenosha and this port, at 8 o'clock last night. Both put for this port. When the SKIDMORE entered the mouth of the harbor, she grounded, and was towed to the dock where she lies with *** water over her deck. The SKIDMORE is loaded with lumber from Pentwater for Chicago. The ARGO lies in the middle of the river, opposite the railroad dock and is being pumped out by the crew." Notice to mariners is given by the Lighthouse Board that on and after the night of the 20th inst. a fixed red light will be exhibited from the red brick tower on the southeast point of St. Helena Islands, in the Straits of Mackinaw, Michigan. The aparatus is a Tresnel (sic) lens, of the three and a half order, and illuminates the entire horizon. The focal plane is elevated above the level of the lake, which cor- responds to a range of visibility of a light over fifteen miles. Notice is also given that on or about the night of the twelfth inst., the fixed light now exhibited from the town at Pt. Aux Barques, Lake Huron, will be removed, and in its stead will be shown a revolving white light, having an interval of ten seconds between the brightest flashes. ===========================================================================