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Shipwrecks of the Lakes by Dana Thomas Bowen w/ dust jacket
Shipwrecks of the Lakes by Dana Thomas Bowen
Hard cover with dust jacket (has some damage around edges)
Copyright 1952
368 pages
CONTENTS
DEDICATION XV
PREFACE 1
A WORD OF EXPLANATION 7
THE TWELVE WORST DISASTERS OF THE GREAT LAKES 9
ONE-AN EARLY LAKE ERIE HOLOCAUST (1841) 11
TWO-THE BURNING OF THE STEAMER G. P. Griffith (1850) 18
THREE-THE PROPELLER IN THE PARK (1853)23
FOUR-THE Ocean Wave (1853) 34
Five,--Lady Elgin (1860) 38
Six-THE Seabird FIRE (1868) 47
SEVEN-THE Morning Star AND THE Courtlandt (1868) 51
EIGHT-AN OLD LADY REMINISCES (1869) 58
NINE-THE SCHOONER Souvenir (1877) 64
TEN-THE Alpena STORM (1880) 67
ELEVEN-TUG BOAT RIVALRY (1880) 71
PICTORIAL SECTION 79
TWELVE-THE Carlingford AND THE Brunswick (1881) 113
THIRTEEN-THE Algoma (1885) 122
FOURTEEN-THE City of Green Bay, Havana, AND California (1887) 134
FIFTEEN-THE Quinte FIRE (1889) 142
SIXTEEN-Nashua, W. H. Gilcher, AND Ostrich (1892) 145
SEVENTEEN-THE NEW AND THE OLD (1895) 153
EIGHTEEN-THE Elma AND THE PICTURED ROCKS (1895) 160
NINETEEN-THE C. J. Kershaw, Moonlight, AND Henry A. Kent ( 1895)171
TWENTY-THE Idaho FOUNDERS (1897) .. 179
TWENTY-ONE-THE WRECK OF THE John B. Lyon (1900) 191
TWENTY-TWO--THE Joseph S. Fay AND THE D. P. Rhodes (1902) 198
TWENTY-THREE-THE WRECK OF THE William F. Sauber (1903) 204
TWENTY-FOUR-Sevona, Pretoria, Tosco, AND Olive Jeanette (1905) 212
TWENTY-FIVE----THE Cyprus DISAPPEARS (1907) . 229
TWENTY-SIX-THE Clarion FIRE (1909) . . . 234
TWBNTY-SEVEN-THE WRECK OF THE W. C. Richardson (1909) 240
TWENTY-EIGHT-THE CARFERRY Pere Marquette 18 (1910) 244
TWENTY-NINE-THE Benjamin Noble (1914) 250
THIRTY-THE WRECK OF THE Oscoda (1914) . . 254
THIRTY-ONE-J011/1 Owen, H. E. Runnels, AND Myron (1919) 264
THIRTY-TWO-THE FERRY STEAMER Omar D. Conger (1922) 281
THIRTY-THREE-THE KEWEENAW COLLECTS (1922, 1926 AND 1927) 285
THIRTY-FOUR-THE Lakeland SINKING (1924) 303
THIRTY-FIVE-THE ROCK OF AGES WRECK (1933) 308
THIRTY-SIX-THE Admiral AND THE Cleveco (1942) 313
THIRTY-SEVEN-Hamonic, Noronic, AND Quebec (1945 TO 1950) 322
THIRTY-EIGHT-THE WRECK OF THE Jules LaPlante (POEM) 337
THIRTY-NINE-LIST OF GREAT LAKES SHIPWRECKS 340
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS361
INDEX OF SHIPS 363
LORE OF THE LAKES 369
MEMORIES OF THE LAKES 369
ILLUSTRATIONS
THE PROPELLER IN THE PARK 81
THE BURNING OF THE STEAMER Erie 81
THE STEAMER Seabird HOLOCAUST 82
SCHOONER Augusta 82
THE STEAMER Lady Elgin 83
THE STEAMER Alpena 84
THE STEAMER Algoma 84
THE FREIGHTER Brunswick 85
FIRE ABOARD THE STEAMER Winslow 85
THE STEAMER Chicora 86
STEAMER Tecumseh ON THE BOTTOM 87
THE FREIGHTER W. H. Gilcher 87
SCHOONER WRECK ON THE BEACH 88
STEAMER WRECK ON THE BEACH 88
STRANDED SCHOONERS Moonlight AND Kent 89
THE STEAMER Idaho 90
THE SCHOONER Lydia STRANDED 90
THE FREIGHTER John B. Lyon 91
A RESCUE 91
STEAMER William F Sauber AND CAPTAIN 92
SUNKEN STEAMER George G. Hadley 92
BUFFALO HARBOR ABOUT 1906 93
STEAMER Sevona AND WRECK 94
SCHOONER Josephine Dresden ASHORE 95
FREIGHT STEAMER Joseph S. Fay 95
FREIGHTER Cyprus 96
AFTER HALF OF STEAMER W. C. Moreland 96
STEAMER Cambria ON THE BEACH 97
SUNKEN LUMBER STEAMER N. J. Nessen WITH LUMBER STEAMER F. W. Fletcher STANDING ALONGSIDE 97
SCHOONER Mars ASHORE ON SOUTH Fox, ISLAND, LAKE MICHIGAN 98
STEAMER Huronic ASHORE ON LUCILLE ISLAND, LAKE SUPERIOR 98
CARFERRY Pere Marquette ON LAKE MICHIGAN 99
WRECK OF STEAMER John Plankington IN DETROIT RIVER 99
STEAMER Benjamin Noble READY FOR LAUNCHING 100
STEAMER John Owen 100
STEAMERS Erie AND Dover AFTER A FIRE . 101
STEAMER Brewster SUNK IN ST. CLAIR RIVER . 101
LUMBER STEAMER H. E. Runnels . 102
LUMBER STEAMER Myron 102
WRECK OF PASSENGER FERRY STEAMER Omar D. Conger 103
PASSENGER STEAMER Arrow AFTER FIRE103
WRECK OF STEAMER Maplehurst 104
STEAMER Turret Chief ASHORE ON KEWEENAW POINT 104
STEAMER City of Bangor, THREE VIEWS 105
STEAMER Altadoc, THREE VIEWS 106
WRECK OF STEAMER Novadoc, LAKE MICHIGAN 107
SANDSUCKER Hydro SUNK AT CLEVELAND 107
STEAMER Eastland CAPSIZED AT CHICAGO 108
WOODEN STEAMER St. Magnus CAPSIZED AT CLEVELAND 108
STEAMER Lakeland 109
STEAMER Tashmoo SUNK IN DETROIT RIVER 109
STEAMER George M. Cox ON ROCKS OF ISLE ROYALE 109
STEAMER Hamonic, Two VIEWS 110
STEAMER Noronic, TWO VIEWS 111
STEAMERS J. P. Morgan, Jr. AND Crete 112
HERE are the true tales of dozens of thrilling Great Lakes shipwrecks told in an interesting manner; dozens of photographs too. Heroic rescues from Duluth to the St. Lawrence make fascinating reading. Shipwrecks are recounted, covering a period of over one hundred years, from the old wooden immigrant steamers and the lofty-masted sailing vessels, up to the present ships of today. Much lake lore is woven into the tales of the wrecks, but nothing has been retold from Mr. Bowen's previous books, LORE OF THE LAKES and MEMORIES OF THE LAKES.
Many years of gathering these interesting stories and photographs were spent by the author. Lake captains, engineers, owners, sailors, yachtsmen, and shore-dwellers were chatted with and their gripping tales are told herein.
An excellent Pictorial Section in the center of the book shows engravings of many famous shipwrecks of the lakes, and a generous listing of wrecks is given in the back section of the book for ready reference. Over 600 ships are mentioned, each accurately placed.
PREFACE
Tales of shipwreck have a definite fascination and a universal appeal. They are not only exciting and thrilling but usually contain some element of mystery. They recount the struggle of man to survive, pitting himself and his ship against the elements of destruction, calling forth his utmost skill, his strength and his ingenuity, often with his very life as the high stake. Some men emerge heroes, while others are never heard from again.
It is the author's earnest hope that the tales in this book do not tend to frighten any person away from the glorious wonders of the five Great Lakes. That is far from the intention of this book.
Almost all of the disasters recounted could not have happened even a few years later than they actually did occur. Shipping quickly turns its losses into lessons. Careful study by many separate agencies of each marine disaster always follows. What happened? Why did it happen? If at all possible these answers are found. Then ways and means and laws are made to prevent the same thing from again happening.
A navigator today is bound by certain ironclad regulations made to cover almost every imaginable circumstance. Years ago he was largely on his own. Often he unfortunately guessed wrong, and a shipwreck resulted. There is little need today for guesswork.
The officers of ships today have many fine safeguards. Skippers of yesteryears would indeed marvel at the many safety instruments in the wheelhouse of a modern lake steamer. Hundreds of founderings, collisions, and strandings, and thousands of lives would have consequently been saved, had the old-time masters had modern direction finders, telephones, and radar at their service. When thick weather, fog, heavy rain or snow blotted out the old-timer's vision, he poked along, trusting mostly to luck. Today the ship captain can locate his ship exactly, and can look all about him for many miles, despite bad weather. He can learn the depth of water under his ship by the turn of a button. He has a helpful telephone on his desk, just as any other executive ashore. Reliable and pertinent weather data is always available.
A government book of rules and regulations has been formulated based on marine experiences covering years of navigation. Most marine men believe that if this book is followed to the letter there would be very few major ship disasters, or minor ones either.
It is the author's intent in writing this book to bring out the sterling qualities of the Great Lakes sailor, both the early ones and the present day, also to tell of the hardships and sufferings they sometimes had to endure, and their heroic struggles to carry on when all seemed lost, and their courageous and thrilling rescues made when disaster threatened.
Captains and engineers and their crews do not quit sailing when one of their own is lost. There are many men afloat today who have lost a father, brother, or son, in the business of lake shipping, but still they carry on.
Today the ships of the Great Lakes are the finest and best equipped vessels afloat in the world. Ship builders vie with each other in building the finest and safest ships that sail. Safety of the passengers and crews are the first consideration of ship owners.
Voyages upon the Great Lakes are unsurpassed anywhere. The ports of call are usually large cities, most of them having their beginnings from the lake trade. The great open stretches of fresh water are exhilarating, invigorating, and at the same time restful. Travel the Great Lakes and enjoy for yourself the interesting experiences that await you.
For any writer to attempt to put into a single book the tales of all the shipwrecks of the Great Lakes is sheer folly. Even if it might be possible to obtain or compile just a listing of the names of the wrecked ships, with dates, locations, and causes, it is doubtful that it could be condensed into a single usable book. There have been so very many casualties over the years, especially when the lake commerce was in its infancy, with its wooden sailing vessels and early wooden steamboats.
During the year 1871, for example, it is reported that one thousand one hundred and sixty-seven disasters were recorded. In the two decades between 1878 and 1898, the United States Commissioner of Navigation reported five thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine vessels wrecked on the Great Lakes, and of these one thousand and ninety-three were total losses.
Other interesting statistics from governmental department sources show that during the navigation season of 1905, a particularly bad year on the lakes, there were two hundred seventy-one vessels damaged to a greater or less extent, of which number fifty-four were total losses through stress of weather, and twenty-three through other causes. The 1905 losses were eight times as large as those for the 1904 season.
In this book are told only a selected number of the outstanding shipwrecks of the Great Lakes. Many other wrecks were equally as spectacular. To make the selections was difficult. In previous books of the author will be found the tales of many others.
Accuracy has been of paramount importance in preparing this book. Often the records did not tally, particularly in the number of persons lost and in the dates of the occurrence, especially in the early shipwrecks. It is doubtful that any complete listings were kept of the early passengers that traveled on the lakes ships, and even if kept, the records would most likely be lost with the ship in question. But a reasonable estimate can still be made in such disasters, and herein it is believed that the figures are fairly accurate.
Occasionally the date of the loss of a ship will differ. Many ships perished at a time unknown by anyone on shore. In such cases only an estimate can be given, and some authorities may differ on this point. Aside from these details these accounts are the actual happenings.
In reading the various chapters one cannot help but admire and respect the sailormen of the Great Lakes in their line of duty, from the earliest down to the present. They have been, and still are, a hardy set of men, taking their allotted ships and cargoes where and when duty demands, regardless of personal sacrifice or inconvenience. Bravery on shipboard is as inherent today as it was in the early days. Hard work and heroism go hand in hand on the Great Lakes.
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