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. =========================================================================== The Chicago Tribune December 5, 1935 FAMED OLD LAKE BOATS RUINS AS RESULT OF FIRE. ------------------------ One is Last of Three Masted Schooners. Sturgeon Bay, Wis., Dec. 4. - [Special] Fire raged through the graveyard of forgotten ships here last night and destroyed seven ves- sels, many of which at one time made maritime history on the Great Lakes. Among them was the Lucia A. Simpson, the last of the three masted lake schooners. The other six vessels destroyed, too old for active service, were steamers. They were the Crosby, Petosky, Swift, Waukegan, Kenosha, and a tug, the Beaver. The fire started on the Petosky, once part of the Goodrich Transportation company's large fleet. Carried by a high wind, it spread rapid- ly through the "graveyard" fleet, moored on the banks fo the bay. The Lucia A. Simpson was the oldest of the fleet. Built in 1875, the Simpson joined the "white winged fleet of the Great Lakes," which then numbered 3,500 sailing vessels. For more than fifty years it carried lumber from the northern ports to Milwaukee and other cities on the lakes. It was fitted out at the begin- ning of the 1929 season on a salvage venture which had as the object the recovery of part of the millions of dollars in coal cargoes sunk with vessels in Lake Superior. Although the Simpson left port bravely, manned by a crew of old time windjammer fresh water seamen, her years betrayed her. A few miles out of Milwaukee she ran into a fresh northeast blow and her seams opened. Only for the timely arrival of a tug she would have foundered. She was towed to the "graveyard" and joined the ranks of the all but forgotten vessels. The Crosby at one time was a well known vessel on Lake Michigan. She ran between Milwaukee and east shore ports. The Wauke- gan and Kenosha, built for minesweepers dur- ing the war, never left the lakes and later were purchased by the Hill Line for package freighters. The line passed to the control of the West Ports Line, later absorbed by Goodrich. The Swift also was known to Chicagoans. She formerly was owned by the Nessen Trans- portation company of Chicago and carried passengers and freight out of there for many years. ==========================================================================