1884.

Loss of the New Dominion. - One of the most disastrous events of the season in loss of life was the foundering of the schooner New Dominion in Lake Erie October 26. She carried down to death six of her crew.

The steamer Massachusetts discharges 1,618 tons of ore at Chicago in six hours, September 22, which was considered a notable performance at that time.

During the season of 1884 a large quantity of grain was damaged, including 126,800 bushels of wheat, 111,500 bushels of corn, 57,565 bushels of oats, 11,000 bushels of barley and 6,700 bushels of rye, making a total of 313,565 of all kinds.

Other Events of 1884. - April: Navigation opened April 3, between Cleveland and Detroit. Tug P. Smith explodes her boiler at Vermilion; three men killed. Steamer Business damaged by collision with schooner I. N. Foster at Cleveland. Tug Caroline Williams burned and sunk at Big Point Sable. The railway steamers Great Western and Michigan Central collide on Detroit river. May: Tug Alanson Sumner burned at Oswego. English-built steamship Alberta arrived at Detroit en route to Owen Sound. Steamer Argyle sunk during a severe storm. Schooner M. J. Cummings severely damaged in a storm on Lake Ontario. Steambarge Alcona severely damaged by explosion of her boiler at Detroit. June: Yacht Verve arrived at Chicago from Scotland. A raft containing 3,000,000 feet of logs broken up on Lake Erie, which caused much annoyance to vessels. Schooner Nellie P. Downey sunk near Oswego. Steamer Imperial sunk at Chicago. Steambarge S. C. Hall sunk at Sand Beach. Steamer Prince Edward burned on Lake Ontario. July: Tug N. P. Sprague, 27 years old, sunk off Point Pelee. Steamship Alberta and steamer J. M. Osborn collide on Lake Superior; the latter was sunk; three lives lost. Revenue Cutter Fessenden sunk near Prentiss Bay. Steambarge J. M. Osborne sunk by collision with the Alberta near Owen Sound. Tug Relief burned at Sandusky. Steamer Daisy burned at Hamtranck. August: Schooner Eugenia capsized on Lake Michigan. Schooner Alaska aground at Bois Blanc island. Schooner Defiance sunk at Port Dalhousie. Propeller Chicago exploded her boilers at Buffalo. Tug Pacific exploded boilers at Ashland, Lake Superior, the engineer losing his life. September: Barge W. R. Taylor sunk at Huron Bay, Lake Superior. Steam- barge Henry Howard burned off Herson's island. Propeller Potomac sunk at Buffalo. Tug Black Ball sunk by collision with the barge A. E. Wilds at Chicago. Tug Myrtle sunk near Put-in-Bay. Tug Bartlett sunk at Bay City. Schooners Thomas Howland and Eliza Gerlach collide at the Sault. Schooner Capella wrecked at Chicago. Steamer Saguenay burned on the St. Lawrence river. Schooners John T. Mott and Monticello collide in Pigeon bay, Lake Erie. The former was coal laden and proved a total loss. Heavy northwest gale on the lakes, September 24, doing much damage to shipping. Schooner Golden Rule capsized in Lake Superior; the captain and one man drowned. October: Steamyacht Pastime arrived at Detroit from New York City. Steamer Onoko made the trip from Chicago to Buffalo, discharged 100,000 bushels of corn and took on a cargo of coal in four days and three hours. Schooner King Sisters, built in 1862, wrecked on Gull island, Lake Erie; she had on a cargo of wheat. Propeller Scotia (iron) wrecked at Keweenaw Point, Lake Superior. Golden West, corn laden, was wrecked on Snake island, Georgian Bay, after 23 years of service. Schooner Christine Neilsson wrecked at Bailey's Harbor; she was 13 years in service. Propeller City of St. Joseph was destroyed by fire at Benton Harbor, Lake Michigan. Schooner Arabia, built in 1852, was wrecked at the entrance to Georgian Bay with a cargo of corn. Schooner Kittie Grant wrecked on Lake Michigan, involving a loss of four lives. Scow Bedford sunk in Detroit river. Schooner Westside wrecked near Port Colborne by collision. Propeller B. W. Blanchard severely damaged by fire at Milwaukee. Schooner Shandon sunk in Georgian Bay. Steambarge Victoria sunk at Kettle Point, Lake Huron. Propeller Georgian sunk in Georgian Bay. Steamer Olive sunk after burning to the waters edge at Toledo. November: Steamer N. Bowlin sunk off Washburn. Propeller Peerless damaged by fire to the extent of $500 at Chicago. Barge Plymouth Rock burned at Detroit. Canadian propeller Cuba sunk in Alexandria bay. Tug Phoenix burned at Detroit. Steamer Grace Grummond burned at South Haven, Lake Michigan. Low water in Welland canal caused frequent delays. Schooner L. Van Valkenburg arrived at Milwaukee after a passage of 36 days from Buffalo. December 6: Navigation closed at all points, and ice in large quantities running in Detroit river; 31, tug Admiral explodes her boiler at Chicago, by which all hands lose their lives. The Flint and Pere Marquette steamer, No. 1, carried against the piers in Ludington in a gale, breaking off her check valve, scalding a fireman fatally and another seriously. The boat sunk in 14 feet of water, involving a total loss of cargo; the vessel was subsequently raised.

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Volume II

Some of the transcription work was also done by Brendon Baillod, who maintains an excellent guide to Great Lakes Shipwreck Research.