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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. =========================================================================== NAME: Bucephalus OTHER NAME(s): - REASON: foundered DATE: November 12, 1854 LOCATION: Lake Huron, 4-1/2 miles off Bird River. TYPE: propeller HULL TYPE: wooden BUILDER: built 1852, Perrysburg, OH OWNER: Holt & Palmer, Buffalo, N.Y., also Capt. S. Alexander MASTER: Captain S. Alexander TONNAGE: 493 LENGTH: 169 ft BEAM: 28 ft DEPTH: 11 ft CASUALTIES: 10 SURVIVORS: 8 DETROIT, Nov. 16 - The propeller Bucephalus from Chicago to Buffalo, sank in Saginaw Bay on Monday morning at two o'clock, in a gale. Crew took to boats; one capsized, its mates, 8 men drowned. Two more drowned from another boat. Cleveland Morning Leader Friday, November 17, 1854 ---------------------------------------------- LOSS OF THE BUCEPHALUS The propeller Bucephalus, Capt. Alexander, cleared from Chicago, Nov. 7th for this port with a cargo of 14,035 bu. corn, 55 kegs butter, and 39 bags of seed. From Milwaukee 252 bbls. of flour, 264 bags of beans, 50 casks of ashes and 100 kegs of butter. She came on to Beaver Island, and there discharged a quantity of freight destined for that port. The gale on Lake Huron blowing so violently she was compelled to put into Presque Isle, where she laid until Sunday last, when she started out, bound down. During Sunday the gale increased in violence, and she foundered off Saginaw Bay, on Sunday night. The Captain, mates, engineer, and part of the crew, fourteen in all, were saved in one of the life boats. The cook, one wheelsman, the watchman and seven deck hands were lost. The vessel was owned by Holt, Palmer & Co., of this city, and Captain Alexander, and was insured for $19,000. The cargo was also insured, but for what amount we could not ascertain. The Bucephalus was only three years old, and was considered a strong, seaworthy vessel. The Democracy, Buffalo, N.Y. Friday, November 17, 1854 ------------------------------------------------ WRECK OF THE PROP. BUCEPHALUS TEN LIVES LOST -------------- Further Particulars, and Interesting Statements of Capt. Alexander. -------------- We gave yesterday morning, in our marine column, all the particulars that had reached us of the loss of the propeller Bucephalus and a portion of the crew, and the rescue of the Captain, Mates, Engineers, and some of the deck hands, in the gale of Sunday last, on Lake Huron. Capt. Alexander reached our city yester- day morning, and from him we obtain the following interesting statement of the loss of his vessel: The propeller Bucephalus left Chicago, Saturday, November 4th, at 4 o'clock P.M., with fourteen thousand and thirty-five bushels of corn, seed, butter, ashes &c., and proceeded to Milwaukee to complete her cargo. After making the usual stop at Mil- waukee about 5 o'clock A.M. of the 5th, and at once began to take on the balance of her cargo. Having finished loading by 9 A.M. the same morning, and the wind and weather favorable, the left for Port Washington for wood. Shortly after leaving, the wind increased in violence blowing from the south and by noon there was such a sea that they could not lay at Port Washington pier, they backed off and proceeded on their way, calling at Sheboygan. The wind at this time was westerly. At 6 o' clock was on the course for Beaver Island with a fresh breeze from the North-west. At daylight on the 7th, made the Manitous with a strong increasing breeze. Arrived at Beaver Island and remained until the 8th, at noon for fuel when they left for Presque Isle. Arrived there on the morning of the 9th, but had to lay until Sunday, the 12th, at 11 A.M. when they left for Buffalo. Shortly after leaving Presque Isle, the wind veered to the N.E. and it began to snow. At 3 P.M. the wind increased to a strong breeze, and at 5 it was blowing a gale. About this time the foremast gave way, and went over the side. At 6 o'clock the forward gangways were stove in by a heavy sea, and part of her deck load was washed overboard. Everything had been secured, in anticipation of a severe gale, but it increased at such a fearful rate, that it was almost impossible to keep the vessel on her course. The heavy roll- ing of the boat shifted the corn in her hold, and made her unmanageable. The other two gang- ways on the lee side were now stove in, and the Capt. had to keep her before the wind to get the after one secure, and thrown over a portion of her freight which was on deck, to trim the boat. The officers were unable to secure the two for- ward gangways, and all the freight on the deck was washed overboard. The wind continued to increase in violence, accompanied with snow and hail, and after an attempt to keep her on her course proved un- availing, as the boat would not stir, they kept her before the wind as their only safety. About midnight the rudder unshipped, when the boat broached to. All the gangways were stove in, the guards around the stern torn up, and the boat filling with water. Shortly afterwards the fires were extinguised, and the boat fast going to pieces. Capt. Alexander now finding that there was no hope of saving his vessel, ordered the three boats to be got ready for launching. The first boat was put in charge of Peter Shoemaker, form- erly Second officer of the Bucephalus, and in it Daniel Brown, Wheelsman; George Rupperaugh, Henry Worener, George Smith, Michael Stein, and Jacob Marks, deck hands. The boat was swung out pre- paratory to being let down, when one of the men in it cut the rope holding up the stern and all were thrown out and drowned. The second boat was placed in charge of R. Stoddard, the First Mate, and with him A. H. Brown, Engineer, Wm. Peters, 2nd. Engineer, Samuel Chappell, Wheelsman, Richard Sparks, Stew- ard; Peter King, Fireman; Jack Rollinger, fireman; Mrs. Martha Midforth and Miss Emily Marble, pass- engers. The boat got clear of the wreck and put off heading against the wind. The night was so dark that it was impossible to tell where the nearest land lay. The crew, however, pulled nobly some fifteen miles and through good for- tune made the land between two reefs, on either one of which had they struck, all on board would undoubtedly have perished, as the breakers were running mountain high. The men here built a large fire on the beach in hopes of attracting the attention of the third boat. They, however, were too far aft to see the light. The third boat, one of Francis' metalic life- boats, was taken in charge by Captain Alexander. By the time this boat had been made ready, the propeller had sunk to her cabin-deck, and the boat becoming entangled under the ledge of the upper cabin, it was drawn down several feet under water. Through the exertion of the Second Officer, the boat was pushed off clear from the propeller, and came up. All in the boat now got out and hung over the side, while the Captain with a bucket, bailed the boat clear, and again all got in. They then pulled agains the wind, and in three hours, or shortly before day-break, approached the beach, and came in sight of the second boat. Captain Alexander, knowing the coast to be very rocky, and the breakers run- ning so high, suggested that they should keep out until day-break, when they would be able to make the shore in safety, and stating that the chances were, should they then attempt to land, that all would be lost. The men, however, were so benumbed with cold, that they insisted on pulling in, saying that they would rather en- deavor to land, even if they should drown in the attempt, than stay out and perish before day-light came. The men were so urgent, that the Captain had to consent. The first breaker was passed in safety. The second overset the boat, and all were thrown out. White, however, succeeded in getting hold of the painter, and righted the boat. The Captain was unable, at first, to reach up to the side of the boat, and allowed himself to sink and touch bottom, then he sprung up and caught hold of the rud- der, and drew himself into the boat. Wm. Day also swam up to the boat and got in. Emmons and Gerhart had held on to the seat of the boat when it capsized, and came up again in it. The other two, Andrew Rector and John Webber, were drowned. Those in the boat were left without oars for some time, but one happened to float by, and with its aid the boat was got in shallow water. The Captain and Mate then got out and hauled the boat ashore. They landed near where the second boat had made the shore, which was found to be Birds Creek near Point aux Barques. The crew and the three passengers, four- teen in all, were treated with the most humane kindness by the people at Point aux Barques, furnishing them with dry clothing, and everything was done for them which could be. The Captain here chartered a fishing boat and with it brought all of those res- cued to Port Huron, running the distance 90 miles in nine hours; and from there came down to Detroit on the steamer Ruby. The crew speak in the highest terms of praise of the conduct of Captain Alexander, on that trying occassion. The vessel sunk under the crew and the Captain was the last to leave her deck, which he did when the water had reached his waist, taking his chances for life in the smallest and poorest boat. The propeller, as we stated yesterday, was owned by Holt, Palmer & Co., of this city and Captain Alexander, and was insured for $19,000. She was valued at $28,000. The following is a list of those saved: Captain S. Alexander, of Buffalo R. Stoddard, 1st Mate, of Buffalo John White, 2nd. Mate,of Buffalo A.H. Brown, Engineer, of Buffalo Wm. Peters, 2nd Engineer, Buffalo Samuel Chappell, Wheelsman, Buffalo Richard Sparks, Steward, Buffalo, Peter King, Fireman, of Buffalo Jack Rollinger, Fireman, Buffalo Anthony Gerhart, deck-hand, Buffalo Thadeus Emmons, Porter, Elyria, O. Wm. Day, Passenger, Troy, N.Y. Lost: Peter Shoemaker, late 2nd. Mate, Perrysburg, Ohio Daniel Brown, Wheelsman, Beaver Island Anderson Rector, Cook, Colchester, C.W. John Webber, Deck-hand, Buffalo George Rupperaugh, Deck-hand, Buffalo Henry Worener, Deck-hand, Buffalo George Smith, Deck-hand, Buffalo Michael Stein, Deck-hand, Buffalo Jacob Marks, Deck-hand, Buffalo One man, name not known, and who came on board at Port Washington, was missed over two hours before the first boat left, and, it is supposed, was washed overboard. The Democracy, Buffalo, N.Y. Saturday, November 18, 1854 ------------------------------------------- The Propeller Bucephalus In Saturday's issue we promised our readers the full particulars connected with the foundering of this propeller. They should have appeared yesterday, but for reasons which we cannot control, they were delayed. The following statement is from Capt. Alexander, the noble commander of the ill-fated craft, and originally appeared in the Detroit TRIBUNE. Shipwreck and loss of life always possess enough of interest to demand from those saved a statement of facts, and I herewith submit for publication such as now occur to my recollection. The Propeller BUCEPHELUS left Chicago Nov. 4th with 14,000 bushels of corn, to take on the balance cargo at Milwaukie. After leaving that place, we encountered a constant succession of gales, until Sunday the 12th, when after leaving Presque Isle, with apparent fair weather, the wind suddenly changed from West to North East, with light snow, but the barometer showed no indication of a gale until 3 P.M., when it began to fall rapidly and a furious snow storm set in immediatly. At 5 P.M. the wind had increased to a gale, snowing and freezing hard. The sea raising rapidly, causing us to secure everything for a severe night on Saginaw Bay. At 6 P.M. the head of the foremast went over the side. Shortly after, both forward gangways were stove in, the cargo apparently shifted, as the propeller had a heavy list to starboard. Great quantities of water came on deck, and I at once decided to throw over the deck load of grain and seed in bags in order if possible to right the propeller. Before we had accomplised this, the after gangway was stove in, and a few minutes after, the middle one gave way. All the gangways on the lee side being out and the decks completely flooded with water, I determined as our only hope, to run before the sea till we could secure the gangways again. By great exertion the after one (being small) was secured, but the others from their greater length, could not be fastened up. Up to this time (8 P.M.) the propeller had not made much water. The hatches being well secured and the wind lulling a little, and another propeller near by down bound, our deck load mostly all off, I thought we might possibly reach St. Clair River. But when we kept up on our course, the sea yet running heavy, the list of the boat so great - such immense quantities of water constantly rushing in on the lee side, that the propeller would not steer. After keeping the helm hard to port some time, the violent rolling of the boat straining her very much, every sea lifting the guards around the stern from the hull, thereby letting in large quantities of water into the fire hold. I plainly saw that our only salvation was to keep before the sea, and take our chance for the Charity Islands or Pt. Aux-Barques. The helm was accordingly put hard to starboard and the propeller came slowly round before the wind which at this time was blowing almost a hurricane, with hail and snow and the heaviest sea I ever saw on the lakes. At this time we again saw the propeller previously noticed apparently before the wind, (which proved to be the propeller MAYFLOWER.) We had not been before the wind more than half an hour, when, at about midnight, hearing an unusual noise at the stern, I found on examination that our rudder had entirely disappeared, and that the rudder post was hanging at an angle of fifty degrees aft, the motion of the wheel throwing it and the rudder (which must have been still hanging by the chains) into that position. The boat at once broached too, the sea took everything from the main deck, each one lifting the guards, and pouring in torrents of water, although the pump, worked by the pony engine, and also the one by the main engine, were discharging a large quantity of water every minute. But the violent rolling seemed to open every seam, and nothing remained but to get the boats ready, the crew and passengers divided off under the charge of competent officers and to await the proper time to launch. The ladies were put in the largest boat, under command of Mr. Stoddard the 1st mate, his number being nine, leaving seven for each of the other two. Mr. Shoemaker, a German, formerly 2d mate, took charge of the other quarter boat and with him the deck hands who were Germans and one wheelsman were to go. Buckets, oars, axes, and all things necessary, were lashed in the boats. I then took Mr. White, the second officer, and went to the top of the cabin where our life boat was lashed, and made preparation to get it down on the forward deck, an undertaking attended with great danger from the heavy rolling of the propeller. My boats crew consisted of two boys, the cook and two deck-hands (one of whom was very sick with typhus fever.) We finally got our boat forward and almost immediately the propeller sunk! The large boat was launched well, but filled about half full of water, which was soon bailed out. The boat under charge of Mr. Shoemaker, by cutting the stern backly first, was filled and when Stoddard got his boat bailed out and attempted to go back to assist them he found it wholly impracticable from the heavy sea, and therefore, compelled to keep directly before the sea as his only chance for safety. With my weak and inefficient crew, our fate was well nigh sealed. The propeller sunk stern foremost. The awful crash of cabins as the sea came rushing forward, seemed to paralyze all but Mr. White and myself, the result of which was, that our boat slid down under a projection of the cabin-deck and as the propeller sunk took the end of the boat down with it, filling her completely with water. It was a miricle that we excaped being engulphed with the sinking wreck. Mr. White who was in that end of the boat foul of the wreck, succeeded by superhuman exertions in getting her clear and we found ourselves holding on to a boat completely under water. Our situation was truly awful--with the sea breaking over us every moment. There was no alternative left but to get out and hold on to the sides of the boat, till she could be bailed out. This most were loth to do until White set the example, when, after many seas breaking over us, until we were quite exhausted, we succeeded in getting her above the surface. Our hopes revived, We bailed with increased energy and our iron egg-shell, (called life-boat) was once more afloat. We now unlashed our oars, but the men to use them, were not among my crew. White and myself with an oar at each end managed to keep her before the sea, until the boys had practiced an hour or so, so that they could pull quite well. The sick man bailed at the water that constantly kept pouring in while the cook was so completely paralyzed that he could do nothing. After pulling about two hours, we saw land directly ahead. Well knowing the danger of landing anywhere about Pt. Aux Barques with such a furious sea, I determined to wait for daylight. Shortly after this, we discovered a bright light on the shore, and all said at once that the other boats had landed and that the light came from their fire. I tried to explain to them our certain fate if we attempted to land on a coast where reefs extend two and three miles into the lake, but they, well nigh dead from cold and wet, had lost all fear of, or care for reefs and breakers. I therefore finally concluded to drop in taking one oar, the deck hand and porter the other, we started for the breakers. The first one we passed without injury, but the next completely engulphed and capsized our boat, and I felt myself fast sinking, someone holding on to my coat. By some means he lost his hold, and I came to the surface, but my boat was bottom up and no one in sight. I succeeded in reaching the keel and with a great effort turned her over. The sick man and porter were in her, having held on to the seats while under her. Mr. White had been pitched from one end to the other and also succeeded in holding on. The other boy, being a swimmer, reached the boat and was helped in, but the cook and John Weber, the deck hand were gone; We were now in worse condition than ever, about half a mile from shore, oars and bucket gone and every breaker completely burying us beneath its angry crest. We were fortunate however in recovering one oar with which we could keep our boat partially before the sea until we reached shoal water where I got out, and with the help of the porter, dragged her ashore, at Birds Creek, about ten miles North west of Pt. Aux Barques light house. Men were on the look out for us, as Mr. Stoddard had safely landed about an hour before. But Mr. Shoemaker and his boats crew must have perished near the wreck, as there seemed to be a lack of energy and firmness in and launching their boat. The following are the names of those lost: Pete Shoemaker, late 2d officer, Perrsyburgh, Ohio David Brown, wheelsman, Beaver Island Anderson Rector, cook, Colchester, C.W. John Weber, deck hand, Buffalo George Rupperaugh, do do Henry Worener, do do George Smith do do Michael Stein do do Jacob Marks, do do Man name unknown, do Port Washington, Wis. The last mentioned was not seen for some time before the sinking of the propeller. LIST OF SAVED S. Alexander, Master Buffalo R. Stoddard, 1st officer, " John White, do do " A. H. Brown, engineer, " Wm. Peters, 2d do " Samuel Chappell, wheelsman " Richard Sparks, steward " Peter King, fireman " Jack Kellenger, do " Antonio Gerhart, deck hand " Thadeus Wt Emmons, porter, Elyria, Ohio Wm. Day, passenger Troy, N.Y. Mrs. Martha Midforth, passenger - New York city Miss Emily Martin, " " Making twenty-four in all, fourteen saved ten lost. The sons and daughters of Mrs. Midforth at Troy and New York and the relatives of her little orphan grand daughter will be most happy to hear of their safety. But very few saved any of their clothing, nearly all being entirely destitute of a change. Had we not landed among the kindest of people our suffering's would have been great. To the familis of Mr. Kimball, Mr. Fay, Mr. Fillbrick and others we remain under lasting obligations. From Pt. Aux Barques I chartered a fish boat and after much suffering from cold and wet, we landed at Port Huron on the night of the 15th, having come 90 miles in an open boat. The cold heathenish reception we met with at the Temperance Hotel in this place, contrasted strongly with the unbounded kindness of the hardy pioneers of the wilderness around Pt. Aux Barques. Old cast off pants, were offered to the females for a change, and cold victuals were good enough for such "stragglers as they." Buffalo Express, November 21, 1854 ======================================================================== Sources: Cleveland Morning Leader, Friday, November 17, 1854 The Perrsyburg Journal, Perrysburg, OH, November 18, 1854 The Democracy, Buffalo, N.Y., November 17, 18 & 27, 1854 Northwestern Democrat (changed to Maumee Valley Democrat) November 20, 1854 The Buffalo Express, November 21, 1854 The Democracy, Buffalo, N.Y., May 9, 1855 Buffalo Daily Courier, May 15, 1855