1880.

A Memorable Storm. - One of the storms that have great cause to be remembered in lake-shipping circles swept over Lake Michigan October 16, 1880. The weather on October 15 was warm and pleasant, the thermometer ranging from 60° to 70°. Light northerly winds prevailed over Lake Superior and southerly over Lake Michigan. The storm began about midnight on the 16th with easterly shifting to southwesterly winds at the Straits of Mackinac, and southwesterly from Grand Haven southward. Violent southwesterly gales on Lake Michigan raged all day of the 16th and part of the 17th. The temperature dropped from 65° to the freezing point, and snow fell as far south as Chicago. The loss of life was very great, nearly 100 souls going down on the Goodrich liner Alpena, Grand Haven to Chicago. This vessel was last seen about 30 miles from Chicago. In all about 90 vessels were wrecked or badly damaged, and 118 lives were lost as the result of this storm.

Loss of the Alpena. - The greatest lake disaster of 1880 was the loss of the Goodrich line steamer Alpena, which went down on Lake Michigan October 16, during the severe storm alluded to above. the Alpena left Muskegon and Grand Haven on the evening of the 15th for Chicago with a fair passenger list. She had been sighted several times up to the following morning. Then, after several days of uncertainty and suspense as to her fate, wreckage drifted ashore near Holland. The Alpena was in command of Capt. Nelson Napier, who had a crew of about 22. The passenger list was about 35. A number of bodies were recovered, and the wreckage was strewn along the shore for a distance of 70 miles.

Disaster on Detroit River. - The new pleasure steamer Garland came in collision with the elegant steamyacht Mamie just below Grassy Island light on the Detroit river July 22. The bow of the Garland struck the Mamie just back of the wheelhouse and rode right over her amidships. There was some delay in launching a lifeboat from the Garland, and, before it had cleared, the Mamie went down; of the 24 persons aboard 17 were lost. On the Mamie was a party consisting of Rev. Father Bleyenberg, of Holy Trinity Church, Detroit, 16 lads, who acted as acolytes or altar boys of the church, and a few friends. She was returning to Detroit from a trip to Monroe. On the Garland was a large party of Detroit Stove Works employees.

Foundered on Lake Huron. - The Canadian propeller Simcoe left Chicago November 19 bound for Collingwood and sank on Lake Huron during a gale about noon, November 24. The decks were constantly flooded and the fires were extinguished at 9 o'clock on the fatal day. It was impossible to make sail, and the crew worked manfully at the pumps and at lightening the vessel. When she commenced to founder an attempt was made to launch the lifeboat, but before it got free the propeller went down stern foremost. The upper deck and pilot house floated, but were quickly broken into fragments. The mate and two of the crew succeeded in freeing a yawl and rescued two floating sailors. They were benumbed by the cold and water, but succeeded in rowing ashore, a distance of 15 miles, landing at Providence bay. They were badly frozen when they reached shore. A number of lives were lost.

Other Events of 1880. - Barge Emerald sank in Saginaw river. Schooner Athenian totally wrecked at Oscoda. Schooner Z. G. Simmons sunk at Manistee by collision. Canadian schooner New Dominion filled with water and sank at Buffalo. May: Schooner Albatross sunk in the Welland canal. Propeller Maine burned at Port Huron. July: The Propeller Cleveland took fire off Charity islands and became a total loss. The canal schooner City of Green Bay returned to the lakes after being absent on salt water for several years. During that time she visited various ports in Europe and in South America. August: Schooner Consuelo, sunk at Kelley's island, abandoned. Tug D. McFarland sunk near Port Maitland. Barge Saginaw wrecked on Lake Erie. Steamer Henry Chisholm launched at Cleveland; said to be the largest boat on the lakes. Steamer Marine City burned near Alcona. September: Schooner Hetty Taylor, sunk near Sheboygan, abandoned. Schooner Ida Bell waterlogged on Lake Erie off Cleveland. Schooner Abbie L. Andrews severely damaged by collision with the dock at Port Huron. Schooner Jane Bell wrecked near Geneva, Ohio. Tug Jerome sunk by explosion at Grand Haven. Schooner Harvest Queen foundered on Lake Huron. Tug Katie sunk by collision at Black Rock harbor. Tug Challenge burned at East Saginaw. Schooner America sunk by collision at Two Rivers. October: Propeller Wm. J. Livingston foundered near entrance to Sturgeon bay. Schooner Ardent a total loss at Hedgehog harbor, Green bay. Steambarge Trader waterlogged and towed to Grand Haven by the steambarge S. C. Hall. Tug Toledo sunk at Bay City. Schooner David A. Wells foundered in 50 feet of water near Chicago. Schooner Melvina sunk in St. Clair canal. Steamer Alpena wrecked on Lake Michigan. Scow Iasco sunk at Ashtabula. Propeller Canisteo sunk by collision with the George Murray off Waugoshance. Schooner Tranchemontague totally wrecked at Oswego by collision with the piers. Schooner Sweetheart sunk near St. Clair river. November: Schooner Willard wrecked at St. Joseph by collision with the piers. Schooner Norway foundered near Belleville. Barge Orontes sunk at Toledo by collision with barge McGilver. Propeller Jarvis Lord sunk near Toledo. Barges Eldorado, Wesley and Bay City foundered near Erie. Schooner Falmouth foundered at Buffalo. Barge Dictator sunk on Lake Erie. Schooners Annie Wright, American and Mont Blanc frozen in at Maumee bay. Tug Uncle Sam sunk at East Saginaw. Tug Annie, of Chicago, sunk on Lake Michigan.

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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.