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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. =========================================================================== The Marine Record June 23, 1887 BURNING OF THE STEAMER CHAMPLAIN ---------------- The steamer Champlain, of the Northern Michigan Line, bound for Cheboygan, from Chicago, was burned at midnight on Thurs- day, between Norwood and Charlevoix, at the mouth of Grand Traverse bay. The boat was running ten miles an hour, when flames suddenly shot up from beneath the engine, driving the engineer from his post with his clothes on fire. He ran to the hurricane deck, plunged into a tank and then returned to his work, but was too late to stop his engine or connect the hose. The alarm was given, the sleeping passengers were roused, and when life-preservers were fastened on all they gathered on the forward deck. Two lifeboats and liferafts were lowered, but the steamer was running so fast that they got away. In ten minutes from the time the boat caught fire the passengers were all compelled to jump into the lake. There were fifty-seven persons, passengers and crew, on the Champlain, and of these thirty- seven are known to be saved. Captain Casey says that within ten minutes from the time the fire broke out the boat was in flames. The Captain gave immediate orders for low- ering the lifeboats and headed for Fisher- man's Island. She grounded a mile from shore, however, and the passengers were forced into the water, many of them, in their excitement, jumping overboard. The books were lost. The clerk, Henry Brennan, died of exhaustion after being picked up. Miss Ella Wilson of Petoskey, says she retired about 10 o'clock, and was roused by a lady who said the boat was on fire. She first went aft, but came back and reached the bow, where she was let down by ropes into the water. She saw a gentleman clasp his little son in his arms and jump overboard. Both sank and were not seen again. Miss Wilson and a male companion floated for some time and finally reached a piece of wreck, to which they clung until rescued by Captain Casey. W. B. Allbright, of Chicago, heard a shriek about midnight. It was the cry of the scorched engineer. He looked after the safety of some lady passengers, and then, with Mr. Russell, of Jackson, jumped into the water and struck out for shore. Mr. Russell became chilled and dis- couraged and started back. Allbright saw no more of his companion until he discovered his dead body on the beach. Allbright was rescued after two hours, though he would have been left to his fate had not a friend recognized his voice, and insisted upon his being taken aboard a boat which was even then loaded to the water's edge. The passengers and crew of the steamer Champ- lain when she left her dock on Tuesday, June 14, at 9 o'clock were the following: Miss Mary Anderson, Traverse City Mrs. Mary Wakefield, Charlevoix Mrs. M. Keogh, Chicago William Samson, Mackinac Ella Wilson, Petoskey George Miller, Charlevoix Mrs. Ella Smith, Charlevoix Mrs. Bedford, Charlevoix Mrs. Martin LeBoe, Ella and Agnes LeBoe, the wife and children of the steward. The crew were: Edward Casey, Captain, Manistee Ira Bishop, first mate, Pulaski, N.Y. James Thorpe, second mate, Milwaukee Martin LeBoe, Steward, Chicago Henry Brennan, clerk, Chicago John McCaffrey, engineer, Manistee Four Indian deck hands, from the Peninsula Frank Scully, a helper in the kitchen, Cheboygan Antoine Sparrow, fireman, Milwaukee. The other passengers got on the vessel at various points along the route. Captain Casey has been in the Champlain since 1882. A year before that time the St. Albans was lost off Milwaukee while he was her captain. Before going into the St. Albans Captain Casey com- manded the propeller City of Toledo. Henry Brennan, the clerk of the Champlain, who is among the missing, was 24 years of age. He graduated from the docks, having been in the employ of the company for seven years. Before going in the Champlain he served a year in the office and two years on the steamer Lawrence. Mrs. Mary Keogh, who perished in the flames, was the invalid wife of Martin Keogh. Mabel, her daughter, was saved. The steward, Martin LeBoe, had early last week made arrangements for an excursion for his wife and two little ones to Cheboygan and return. Accordingly Mrs. LeBoe, Ella, aged 3 years, and Agnes, aged 5 years, accompanied the ste- ward on the trip. Late advices from Charlevoix say the steward and his wife were saved but the two little ones perished. LIST OF THE KNOWN LOST Ella C. Smith, of Charlevoix Robert Wilkes, of Charlevoix Mrs. M. Keogh, of Chicago R. McKeel, of Charlevoix steward LeBoe's two children, aged 3 and 5 respectively, Chicago Captain Lucas, of Petoskey Henry Brennan the clerk, a fireman, a second cook, and a cabin boy, of Chicago Mr. C. H. Russell, of the Jackson, Mich. Corset Co. A gentleman and a boy from Milwaukee, bound for Mackinac One waiter and four Indian deckhands A lady and daughter from Frankfort, names unknown. RESCUED FROM SHORE Those saved floated an hour and a half, when they were rescued by a yawl and fish-boats from the shore. Several of those saved were badly burned. The following are among the saved: Captain Casey Mates Harry Bishop and Joseph Thorpe Wheelsmen S. Bishop and James Parr Watchman James Markey Engineers John McCafferty and Warne, the former badly burned. P. Katon, first cook. Roy Hamilton Miss Keough, of Chicago, a waitress Mrs. Jangalls, of Petoskey Mrs. H. Bedford, George Miller, Mary Wakefield, Wm. Stevens, Henry Wilkes, Fred Wrisley, all of Charlevoix. W. B. Allbright, of Chicago Steward Martin LeBoe and wife, of Chicago Mrs. Kane, stewardess Antoine Sparrow, of Charlevoix, and one white deckhand. R. Wittlemore, of Milwaukee Miss Ella Wilson, of Petoskey E. Fall, of Bear Lake There are seven others not accounted for. The fire was caused by the explosion of a lamp, which was knocked off a table by a fire- man. Seven bodies have been found, and two more bodies were found in the burned hull. J. F. Burke of Chicago, telegraphed P. J. Klein from Charlevoix, that fourteen of the twenty-two bodies had been recovered. Some of them were buried Monday, and the day was one of general mourning at Charlevoix. The burned hull has been towed into shallow water at Round Lake. She is burned down to the 10 foot mark aft and the 3 foot mark forward, and will probably prove a total loss, although the insurance companies will send an agent to look her over. The lost vessel was built at Ogdensburg in 1868 for Burke & Klein, at a cost of $30,000, by the Keating Shipbuilding Co. Her gross tonnage registered 437.92. Her length was 135 feet over all, 26 foot beam, and 11 foot depth of hold. In 1874 she was rebuilt at Manitowoc at a cost of $15,000. She was equipped at Chi- cago with a new boiler and compound engines. Her freight, valued at about $12,000, was mostly of the package order, and will prove a total uninsured loss. ==========================================================================