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, November 7, 1873 [extracts of marine news] Marine Items. The SOUVENIR missed the piers last Sunday morning during a squall, while attempting to enter Pentwater harbor, and went on the beach a few rods north of the channel. Her cargo was taken off in safety, and should we have a few days of fair weather the vessel will be also got off without much injury. We are indebted to Capt. Griffin, of the Bertschy for the following items: Oct. 31st, the schooner MONSOON, in entering the harbor of Grand Haven, went on the beach north of the north pier. No doubt a total loss. Nov. 2d, the schooner DAY SPRING missed the piers at Muskegon and went on the beach south of the south pier. Probably a total loss. Insured for $4,500; valu- ation, $6,500. The scow J. H. PRINCE in following the DAY SPRING went on the beach alongside of her. Nov. 4th, the schooner ENTERPRISE went on the beach at Grand Haven, loaded with lumber from L. G. Mason's mill, bound for Chicago. Vessel and cargo a total loss. Pier Light at Frankfort. Treasury Department, Office Light-house Board, Washington, D.C., October 17, 1873. The Light-house Board, Treasury Department, has issued the following "Notice to Mariners." Notice is hereby given that, on and after the night of the *0th day of October, 1873, a fixed red light will be exhibited from an open frame-work structure recently erected on the outer end of the south pier, harbor of Frankfort, Michigan. The apparatus is a Fresnel lens of the 6th order, illuminating 180 of the horizon. A focal plane is elevated 23 1/2 feet above the level of the lake, which corresponds to a range of visibility of 12 statute miles. By order of the Light-house Board: Joseph Henry, Chairman. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Pentwater News Friday, November 14, 1873 [extracts of marine news] The Burning of the Steamer BAVARIAN (From the Toronto Globe, Nov. 7) The purser, Mr. L. A. McPherson, arrived here by yesterday morning's express from the East, and was waited upon by one of our reporters, to whom he gave the following statement with respect to the catas- trophe. "We left Toronton yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon at five o'clock. When off Oshawa and about fifteen miles from shore fire broke out amid-ships, and the boat was almost immediately in a mass of flames. Three boats were lowered, one of which drifted away before anyone got into it. It was not blowing hard at the time. The other two boats reached land in safety about one o'clock in the morning. One of them was commanded by the first mate, John Henderson, of Charlotte, N.Y., and contained thirteen persons, two of whom were passengers, and the rest members of the crew. The passengers were J. J. Parmenter, Toronto, and master James Clare, of Manitoba; the others were Charles Bradley, second mate, James Finucane, the watchman, two firemen,L. Lecont, wheelsman, William Merchiston and John Revere, waiters, a mess-room boy, a deck hand, whose name I do not know, and Henderson and myself. The other boat was commanded by the pilot, a Frenchman, whose first name is Napoleon, and con- tained nine persons, all belonging to the crew. Among them were the ladies' maid, Ann Gerraghty, and John McGowan, fireman. The names of the others I do not know. "There were fourteen persons left aboard the steamer who could not be got off. The flames spread so quickly that it was almost impossible to do any- thing. One of the small boats was scorched, and one of the mates got his face burnt. Amongst those lost are the Captain, Chas. Carmichael, of Toronto; the Chief-Engineer, William Finucane, of Prescott; the steward, William Spence, of Lachine, formerly of Kingston; Mrs. Sibbald and daughter, of Breckville; Mrs. Ireland, of Kingston, who was returning home from Chatham, where she had been seeing her brother, and Mr. Hillyard Wear, of Chatham, who had been traveling with her. There was very little screaming or anything of that sort, but when we were leaving the steamer I heard something like moaning. Some one said that they saw two women standing on her stern. The last I saw of Captain Carmichael he was in the water holding on to a plank. He called out "Charley, Charley, Charley," to the second mate, and we went over to him; a boy who was near him then got hold of the boat, and, while we were pulling him in, the Captain seemed to paddle away from us, and we lost him. Some one said that he had a life-preserver, but it is not likely he lived long, the water was so cold. A tug was towing the steamer into Whitney when I left. She had on board about 1,300 barrels of apples, about 50 tons of bacon, and a small quantity of other freight when she was burned." The report of the Supervising Inspectors of marine in regard to the IRONSIDES has been made. They find that the vessel was entirely seaworthy, and that she was only half loaded, and they ascribe her loss to the bad seamanship of her Captain, claiming that he should have headed down the lake toward the Manitous, instead of putting her head on to the sea when she became unmanageable. The report has been duly for- warded to Washington. The following testimonial tendered to Capt. Ladner of the CITY OF TOLEDO, we copy from the Evening Wisconsin. The Capt. and TOLEDO have become household words along the East Shore, and they have never dis- appointed the public where it has been possible to avoid it. The testimonial is well deserved and we can heartily endorse every word of it. "We, the passengers upon the steamer CITY OF TOLEDO, at the time of her going ashore at Manistee, Mich., Nov. 3d, 1873, during a terrible gale that had been blowing since the night of her leaving Milwaukee (Oct. 30), hereby desire to testify to Captain W. C. Ladner (in charge of said steamer), in the most em- phatic manner possible, our regard and esteem for his cool courage, seamanlike qualities, and care for all on board during such a trying emergency, and in this imperfect manner do tender him our sincere and heart- felt thanks, firmly believing, to the best of our knowledge that he did all that human foresight could dictate to avert such a calamity, and for success- fully landing the passengers through a highly danger- ous surf by the small boats, too much cannot be said in his praise. Signed, C. Alonzo Smith, Milwaukee H. Hise, Chicago George A. Douglas, Frankfort Miss Barbara Shaver, Frankfort Abel B. Macy, Frankfort Byron Markham, Manitowoc Miss Ella Baldwin, Stillwater S. Blyman, Manistee John Miller, Manistee We are gratified to be able to state that the CITY OF TOLEDO has been taken into Manistee. The steam barge CHAS. RIETZ, full loaded and drawing 9 1/2 feet of water, sought refuge in Pentwater harbor during the heavy weather last Tuesday and entered with- out difficulty. The Captain compliments both our harbor and light in the highest terms. Marine Items. The schooner SOUVENIR was brought safely into Pentwater last Friday, and is not much damaged. She is now hauled out for repairs. Last week Thursday the LAKE BREEZE while attempting to enter Manistee harbor struck on the bar, and was unable to get in without assistance. The revenue cutter ANDY JOHNSON towed the CITY OF TOLEDO into Milwaukee on Monday last in a disabled condition. It is estimated that about $8,000 will put her in good repair. The propeller CHARLES RIETZ, from Manistte, loaded with lumber and with a barge in tow, was compelled to abandon her tow and seek refuge in Pentwater during the heavy weather on Tuesday last. A man by the name of Alex Rotta, was washed overboard from the schooner SINAI, near Frankfort, during the late storm, and was drowned. In trying to haul off the schooner SELT, which went ashore north of the pier at Manistee, she broke in two and is probably a total loss. The schooner SANBORN, owned by Lyman & Wright of Manistee, struck the pier at Manitowoc during the late storm and went to pieces. The crew were saved. She was loaded for Tyson & Sweet. We do not learn whether she was insured or not. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Pentwater News Friday, November 21, 1873 [extracts of marine news] Several vessels were all ready to leave port on Tuesday last, but none cleared on account of the threatening aspect of the weather. A high gale sprang up towards evening, which we fear would have proved most disastrous, had any ventured out. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Pentwater News Friday, November 28, 1873 [extracts of marine news] Neighborhood News - Ludington: Capt. Boswell and engineer Cross have taken the interest of H. B. Smith in the little steamer MAGNET, and propose to continue running her through the winter whenever the weather will permit. She is to be provided with an iron jacket, and under her good management will continue to be a safe and accommodating means of travel. Hereafter she will immediately return to Pentwater after her evening trip to Ludington. - Record. - Manistee We glean the following items from Hoffman's Times - The barge RIETZ, in attempting to come into our harbor this morning, struck on the bar, washed up by the recent storm, swung around the south pier and grounded. ===========================================================================