1871.

The great Chicago fire, in which several vessels and much shipping and dock property were destroyed, together with elevators, etc., will long be remembered on the lakes. The fire broke out about 11 o'clock on the 8th of October, and raged without abatement until the entire business portion of the city was laid in ruins. From Harrison street (south) to Division street (north), and from the river to the lake, and four miles long by one wide, the flames swept everything before them, besides burning away into the outskirts of the city, rendering homeless 100,000 people and destroying $300,000,000 worth of property. About 2,500,000 bushels of grain in elevators were destroyed.

On October 9 the new propeller Navarino, while lying alongside the North pier at Chicago, was destroyed by the great conflagration; no lives lost; value of steamer, $75,000. She was owned by the Goodrich Transportation Company. Other vessels destroyed on this date by the Chicago fire were the schooner Glenbula, owned by Magill and others; schooner Eclipse; the barkentine Fontanella, owned by Beckwith, J. D. Bothwell and others; the schooner Butcher Boy, owned by John Murray and others, partially destroyed; the Canadian bark Valetta, owned by Captain Larkin, and the schooner Alnwick.

This great fire and forest fires at the same date, which ravaged the lake region, caused a dense smoke to overhang the lakes for a number of weeks, made navigation exceedingly hazardous, and many vessels went ashore. On October 10 the tug Despatch ran into Point aux Barques reef with five barges in tow. The tug was a total loss. The schooner Seneca Chief, 150 tons, was burned to the water's edge while a fire was raging at Manistee a few days after the Chicago fire. She was built at Buffalo in 1846. The bark Major Anderson went ashore October 12 and proved a total wreck. She was owned by Capt. John Prindiville, of Chicago, who suffered great loss by the fire in that city. The Anderson for several years belonged to the Winslow line, and came out in 1861. She was 568 tons burden.

Smoke and Disaster. -- The navigation upon the lakes during the year 1871 was attended with unusual difficulty, and rendered extraordinarily dangerous by the prevalence of dense smoke caused by fires in the forests of Wisconsin, Michigan and Ontario, which with frequent and severe gales, rendered disasters to shipping in that region frequent and destructive both to life and property.

There were many casualties for the year, and while a great proportion of the number of disasters for the year occurred to sailing vessels, and to persons and property connected therewith, a few also fell upon the steam marine, with terrible severity to life and property.

Loss of the Coburn. -- One of the greatest disasters of the season was the loss of the propeller Coburn, Captain Demont, of E. B. Ward's Lake Superior line, October 18, in Saginaw bay, whereby 16 passengers, the captain and 15 of the crew, including every officer, except the second mate, were lost. There were upward of 70 persons on board, about 40 passengers, and a crew of 35. Among the passengers were eight women and five children, and two families in the steerage. The Coburn was bound from Duluth to Buffalo with wheat and flour. Shortly after passing Presque Isle harbor, the wind commenced blowing from the north- east, and there was so much smoke on the lake that the engine was checked down, and the steamer held head to the wind. A few hours later the wind veered to the southwest and blew a terrific gale. The Coburn labored heavily, but shipped no water of consequence until her rudder was torn off when she drifted into the trough of the sea, making her roll heavily, shifting her cargo. Holes were cut in her bulwarks, and the crew set to work throwing her cargo overboard, but the waves washed over her, tore off her smokestacks, and she began settling. Soon the fireman's gang was stove in and the water rushed into the hold in immense volumes. Ten men got into one of the yawls and seven into the other, leaving the life-boats bottom side up, untouched. When the Coburn went down Captain Demont stood just aft of the texas with his hand on the rail. There were quite a number of persons on the hurricane deck when it floated off, but they were seen only a short time. The Coburn was a fine, stanch, new propeller of 867 tons burden, well found in every department, having come out in June, 1870.

Telegraphic Communication. -- In June a matter of great importance to all branches of business was the establishment of telegraphic commun- ication between Marquette and Sault Ste. Marie. By this enterprise a through circuit was established between the iron ore regions and the lower lake ports.

From the Lakes to the Mississippi. -- Quite a sensation was caused by the passage of the steamer Wisconsin from Oshkosh, Wis., to Prairie du Chien, via Fox and Wisconsin rivers. The trip was made in 60 hours, and good weather was reported the entire distance. This occurrence gave life to the project of connecting the waters of the Mississippi river and Lake Michigan by ship canal.

Other Events of 1871. -- The propeller Raleigh brought down in August 51,500 bushels of corn from Chicago to Buffalo; this was reported to be the largest cargo of grain ever carried by a steam vessel on the lakes. The old Canadian propeller Cromwell, sunk by collision in the Straits near Mackinac island, in 1857, was raised August 28. The barge Marquette, which was sunk in the fall of 1870 in the Straits, was raised and converted into a three-masted schooner. The renowned tug Winslow took down from Saginaw the champion tow; it consisted of 11 lumber-laden barges, and against a hard wind. Freights at the close of this season were quoted as follows; Coal, Buffalo to Green Bay, 75 cents; ore, Escanaba to Cleveland, $2.75; lumber, Bay City to Lake Erie ports, $5.00 per M. March 12: Schooner Union sunk at Milwaukee. April 5: The Welland canal opened, and the Sault canal on the 6th. The steamers Olean and Orontes were the first boats out of Buffalo; 4, the propeller W. T. Graves was the first through arrival at Buffalo. By collision between the steambarge Jaques Cartier and the little schooner St. Joseph, in April, near Fighting island, the latter sunk; 8, the schooner Kingsford, bound down, sprang a leak and sunk near Waugachance light. The Kingsford was built at Oswego in 1856, and was owned by Chicago parties; 25, the towing boat S. V. R. Watson struck by schooner S. G. Simmons and capsized near Chicago harbor; three lives lost; 27, schooner Pearl wrecked at Napanee. Schooner Lucy J. Latham damaged by collision at Buffalo. May: Bark Lottie Wolf sunk at Milwaukee. The tug B. B. Jones exploded her boiler while lying at the railroad dock at Port Huron, instantly killing seven of the crew and injuring three. June: Tug W. A. Moore sunk in Saginaw bay. Schooner Resolute sunk at Erie. The propeller Alexander Weston caught fire at Lambton, Ont., and was burned to the water's edge. The Weston was a new boat of 150 tons burden, and was built at Wallaceburg in 1870. July: Brig Lucy J. Clark badly damaged by collision with the propeller St. Joseph at Chicago. Schooner Wanderer sunk at Port Huron. Scow Fairy capsized off Cleveland. Schooner Sweepstakes damaged by collision with the propeller City of Concord at Chicago. Schooner Castalia wrecked on Georgian Bay. Scow Advance sunk by collision with the U. S. Grant at Put-in-Bay. Bark St. Lawrence severely damaged by collision at Chicago. Bark Harvey Bissell sunk at Point Pelee. Schooner J. S. Newhouse burned off Grand Traverse bay; she was built in Cleveland in 1856 and measured 381 tons. She was raised and rebuilt. The propeller J. Barber, while on her passage from St. Joseph to Chicago, was destroyed by fire about ten miles off Michigan City, Ind.; two lives were lost. While the steamer Maine was on her west-bound voyage from Ogdensburg, she collapsed one of the main flues of her boiler, at or near Brockville, on the St. Lawrence river, causing thereby the death of six persons. August: Schooner San Jacinto wrecked and sunk in Sheboygan harbor. Scow Emma Young sunk at Algonac by collision. City of Montreal disabled on Lake Michigan. Scow Scottish Chief wrecked on Lake Michigan. Propeller Tonawanda, sunk last fall near Buffalo, raised. Schooner Winfield waterlogged off Spider island. Schooner Winfield Scott capsized near Death's Door; crew taken off by the propeller G. S. Truesdell. Schooner St. Joseph waterlogged on Lake Huron; taken in tow by steamer Galdna. Schooner Geo. M. Abell wrecked at Port Burwell. Tug Swan sunk at East Saginaw. The Canadian scow Dunham, coal-laden, was lost on Lake Erie. She sailed from Cleveland August 19, in command of Captain Wright, with a crew of five men, all of whom were lost. The wreckage was washed ashore at Point Pelee. The steamer Akron, while lying at the wharves at Ogdensburg, was discovered to be on fire in the hold. To prevent a total loss of the vessel and cargo, she was scuttled and sunk; she was subsequently raised. The hull of the capsized schooner Stella was towed into Manistee by the tug Caroline Williams. She hailed from Racine, and was bound for Pentwater when she was overtaken by the gale. Her captain and half-owner, J. M. Raemunson, and crew of three were drowned. The schooner Winfield Scott, Capt. H. Faith, sprung a leak near Death's Door and soon capsized. The crew clung to the wreck 24 hours until rescued by the schooner Ethan Allen. The Winfield Scott was built in Cleveland, and was of 118 tons burden. September: Schooner New Lisbon capsized off Fairport. Bark Sunrise a total loss at lower end of Lake Huron. Propeller Michigan sunk opposite Sister islands in Alexandria bay. Schooner Clyde ashore and wrecked at Big Sodus. Schooner Grace Murray sunk at Erie. Schooner North Star a total loss on Lake Michigan. Propeller Dictator sunk by the Jay Gould at Manitou islands. Schooner Union sunk near Sheboygan. Schooner Miranda abandoned at Port Austin. Scow Duncan waterlogged and capsized near Cleveland. Schooner S. J. Layton sunk by the schooner Brooklyn in Welland canal. Schooner Lucy J. Latham sunk in Welland canal. Tug Little Rebel explodes her boiler at Chicago. Propeller Pacific sunk in Sault river. Barge Robin sunk at Galoo Rapids, St. Lawrence river. Barges Ruby and Regulator, ladened with baled hay, took fire in the Detroit river near Fighting island, and were entirely consumed with their cargoes. Propeller Dictator, while lying at the dock at Manitou island, was run into by the propeller Jay Gould, causing her to sink immediately. She was subsequently raised and taken to Buffalo for repairs. Steamer Free State, 949 tons burden, of Buffalo, while on her voyage down from Chicago to Buffalo, and during the prevalence of thick weather, struck on Gray's reef, Lake Michigan, and was totally lost together with her cargo. The Canadian scow Maggie went ashore near Goderich and proved a total loss. She was built in Cleveland by Sanford & Moses in 1847. Propeller Michigan of the Northern Transportation Line, sunk opposite Sister island, six miles below Alexandria bay. She was raised and repaired at the company's dry dock at Ogdensburg. The schooner J. L. Hurd was struck by a gale near the Manitous, sprung a leak and sunk; all hands were lost except the captain, W. O. Harrison, who saved himself by clinging to a broken spar. The Hurd sailed from Chicago to Buffalo on the 21st with a cargo of 28,000 bushels of corn. Captain Harrison's wife and child were on board. October: Schooner Montezuma sunk by the Hattie Johnson off Saginaw bay. Schooner Groton stranded in the St. Lawrence river. Schooner Major Anderson total loss at Two Rivers Point. Bark Fontanelle burned at Chicago. Schooner Levant wrecked off Sheboygan; six men drowned. Schooner Alnwick burned at Chicago. Schooner La Petite lost on Lake Huron. Schooner Geo. J. Whitney sunk at Sugar island reef. Schooner John Burt sunk at Leland Rock, Lake Michigan. Bark H. C. Winslow wrecked on Lake Michigan. The brig Mechanic, Capt. Henry McKee, bound for Chicago coal laden, was struck by a squall and foundered with all hands on Lake Michigan. Bark J. C. King sunk at Buffalo. Steamer Dean Richmond burned at St. Mary's river. Tug Eclipse burned at Lakeport, Lake Huron. Schooner Maggie Thompson sunk at Port Huron. Schooner R. P. Mason in tow of the tug Leviathan, capsized and five lives lost. Schooner Plover, of Cleveland, which left Duluth October 7, with 18,000 bushels of wheat, when abreast of Whitefish Point struck and sunk. Schooner La Petite, Capt. O. B. Smith, of Huron, Ohio, was overtaken by a gale on Lake Huron. She was bound from Alpena to Huron with a cargo of lumber. The storm drove her from her course and the seas swept her entire deck-load overboard, after which she sprung a leak and capsized. Schooner Olivia, Captain Bradbeer, from Mill Point to Oswego, capsized on Lake Ontario. The crew hung to the sides of the schooner until they got the small boat loose, when they all got in and drifted ashore seven miles down the lake; the schooner sunk. Schooner R. P. Mason while being towed to Little Traverse by the tug Leviathan, capsized and five lives were lost. The sea was so rough that the tug cut her loose, after which she immediately capsized and drifted ashore. Steamer Dean Richmond, 1,416 tons burden, of Buffalo, while on her voyage from Lake Superior to Buffalo, and at the time lying at anchor in Mud lake, a part of the Sault Ste. Marie river, was totally destroyed by fire. The vessel was valued at $75,000 and the cargo lost at $44,480, making a total loss of $119,480. By this disaster but one life was lost; the passengers and crew reached the shores in the small boats. November: Schooner Kate Brainard ashore and wrecked at Kincardine, Ont. Propeller India sunk at Lake George. Schooner Juliette sunk on Lake Erie. Scow H. G. Williams capsized and foundered at Cleveland; two lives lost. Schooner M. Courtright abandoned near Racine. Schooner R. P. Mason capsized and drifted on a reef in Little Traverse bay. Propeller Roanoke disabled at Long Point. Scow Curlew wrecked at Port Hope. Bark Twilight went ashore near Port Sanilac, Lake Huron, November 18, and all hands except two perished. Schooner Wm. Sanderson sunk on Lake Ontario. Schooner E. M. Portch went ashore on Beaver island, Lake Michigan, and was pulled off, but sunk when about two miles away. The crew escaped in the small boats. Steamer Meteor, while making Put-in-Bay, struck a boulder near Gibralter Point, and sunk in seven fathoms of water. By collision between the schooner E. B. Allen and bark Newsboy off Thunder Bay light, the former was sunk. Schooner Eli Bates, which cleared at Cheboygan with a cargo of wheat consigned to G. S. Hazard, foundered in Lake Erie, between Conneaut and Ashtabula, and nine persons perished. The Canadian schooner Pearl, 97 tons, went ashore at Napanee; she was subsequently named the Absalom Shade. Schooner Almeda, Capt. Charles Hanscom, of Buffalo, bound for Toledo with 200 tons of hard coal, went ashore near Manson dock; the force of the waves was so great that the vessel was thrown high and dry upon the beach, and the crew walked ashore. Steamer Evergreen City, 797 tons burden, of Buffalo, while on her westward-bound voyage from Buffalo, November 18, went ashore in a gale on Long Point, Ont.; the vessel and cargo considered a total loss. Bark P. C. Sherman was driven ashore at Long Point and rolled over. The crew left the vessel in a small boat and were driven out into the lake, where they lost their lives. Brig Frontier City went ashore near Kincardine, Ont., and proved a total loss. She was constructed on the hull of the brig Canton in 1860; the crew were saved. Schooner Charger, which was supposed to have gone down on the night of the Coburn disaster, was over four weeks in making the passage from Oswego to Milwaukee. Schooner Nomad sunk off Presque Isle. Schooner Dominion sunk by collision with propeller Dromedary at Hamilton. Schooner E. B. Allen sunk by collision with bark Newsboy off Thunder Bay. Schooner Jessie Anderson sunk at Long Point cut. December: Schooner Myra sunk on Lake Erie. Schooner Challenge sunk at Sheboygan. Schooner Dacotah abandoned on Lake Erie; cargo valued at $60,000. Schooner Guide lost with all hands. Other losses of the season were the schooner Pioneer, barge Transport, bark Mainland, brig Lowell, schooner Dan Tindell, barge J. T. Warner, schooner H. T. Fairchild, schooner Gear, schooner Victoria, schooner Rosa Sterns, schooner W. S. Lyons, schooner Skylark, bark Excelsior, schooner J. S. Miner, schooner Wm. Fisk, brig Saxon, tug Ram Lewis, schooner E. Blake, schooner Phoebe, scow American Eagle, schooner Dane, scow Gold Hunter, schooner Loring, scow George Goble. The number of disasters during the season of 1871 on the lakes were 1,167. Of this number 225 were caused by collision, 280 vessels went ashore, 31 were burned, 26 capsized, 19 foundered, 132 sprung a leak, 65 were water logged, 60 were dismasted, 110 lost deck loads, and 10 exploded boilers. There were many other disasters of a minor character which are not enumerated in the above. Compared with other years the record stands as follows: 1868, total number of disasters, 1,164; 1869, 1,914; 1871, 1,167. During the season 214 persons were drowned on the lakes.

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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.