Captain Edward Carus

Captain Edward Carus, master of the new Goodrich steamship Company's passenger steamer Georgia, built at Manitowoc by Burger & Burger during the winter of 1897-98, has been in that employ off and on since he first commenced to follow the lakes, in the several capacities from boy to master. The fact that he has been chosen to bring out the last elegant new addition to the fleet is evidence of the esteem in which he is held by the management of the company for which he works.

Captain Carus was born in Manitowoc, Wis., on April 15, 1860, a son of Frederick Carus, who was one of the pioneers of Manitowoc, and for many years a fur trader among the Indian tribes in that region. The father was a German exile, having taken a leading part in the revolution of 1848 in that country, escaping to the United States soon after the uprising was quelled. Many of his comrades were cast into prison and some suffered death. Captain Carus' school days terminated when he reached the age of fourteen years, as he then shipped as porter on the steamer Alpena, owned by the Goodrich Steamship Company, plying in the passenger trade between Milwaukee and Ludington, and he went as watchman the next three seasons on the same steamer. In the spring of 1878 he transferred to the steamer F. J. Truesdale, plying between Chicago, Escanaba and Green Bay ports. This was followed by a season in the steamer Oconto, running over the same route, as wheelsman. In the spring of 1880 he shipped before the mast in the schooner C.C. Barnes, leaving her at Buffalo and joining the schooner Samuel J. Tilden. On leaving her, he went by way of the Erie canal to New York, where he shipped in the steamer Crescent City, plying between that port and Havana, touching at Charleston, Savannah and other intermediate ports. The next spring he returned to the lakes and shipped before the mast in the schooner C.C. Barnes, but afterward changed to the steamer Menominee as wheelsman; she being a winter boat, he remained in her until the spring of 1882, when he was appointed second mate, having taken out his license in 1880. During the next three seasons he was mate of the steamer Corona, plying between Manitowoc and Green Bay ports. In 1886 he was appointed mate in the steamer Joseph L. Hurd, of the Lake Michigan & Lake Superior line. In the spring of 1887 Captain Carus was appointed master of the passenger steamer Nellie, which carried the United States mails between Harbor Springs and the Beavers. In 1888 he again entered the employ of the Goodrich Steamship Company, as mate of the Depere. The next spring he came out as master of the steamer Hunter, owned by Mr. Booth, and sailed her until June, when he assumed command of the steamer Muskegon, and sailed her until the fall of 1892, going as master on the Sheboygan the next spring, but closing the season on the Menominee. He sailed the Muskegon again in 1894 between Chicago and Green Bay ports. His next command was the City of Ludington, which he sailed until the fall of 1897 over the same route. In the spring of 1898 the Captain fitted out the splendid new steamer Georgia, brought her out, and is in command of her at this writing. Socially, he is a Royal Arch Mason, and a member of Council No. 42, Loyal League.

On October 1, 1890, Captain Carus was married to Miss Mary, daughter of J. G. Bahr, of Manitowoc, Wis. He has acquired a fine property in his native city, and has recently built for the occupancy of himself and wife a spacious modern residence.

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Volume I

This version of Volume II is based, with permission, on the work of the great volunteers at the Marine Captains Biographies site. To them goes the credit for reorganizing the content into some coherent order. The biographies in the original volume are in essentially random order.

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