1896

Statistics of Marine Losses. - The losses during the season of 1896 were confined almost exclusively to the old-time grade vessel. Hence it was a prosperous season for lake underwriters, as in most cases there was no insurance of any nature. The summary shows a total of 35 vessels with 21,425 net tons that passed out of existence, involving a money loss of $386,500. The list includes but one really valuable vessel, the Australasia, which was destroyed by fire on Lake Michigan in October. The City of Kalamazoo, a passenger steamer of 728 tons was burned at South Haven, November 30, but not totally destroyed.

Loss of the Ayer. -- The schooner Mary D. Ayer collided on Lake Michigan, May 17 with the steamer Onoko during a dense fog. The schooner drifted some distance after the collision, and was taken in tow by the steamer City of Duluth. She was afterwards abandoned, and foundered with the loss of five lives.

Four Lives Lost. -- In a heavy north gale the barge Sumatra, of 1,400 tons, in tow of the steamer B. W. Arnold, was disabled and foundered off Milwaukee. Two of the crew were rescued by the harbor tug and one by the life-saving crew. The remaining four of the crew perished.

The schooner Waukesha foundered at her anchorage off Muskegon, Nov. 7, in a heavy gale of wind, and became a total loss. Six of the crew of seven were lost. The Waukesha was of 600 net tons capacity.

Other Events of 1896. -- April: Barge 104 sunk by collision with steamer Philip Minch at Lake St. Clair; afterwards raised. Tug Wisconsin foundered in Lake Erie; afterwards raised. Tug Peter Dalton sunk in Lake Huron. Canadian tug Eva destroyed by fire at Lindsay. May: Steamers L. C. Waldo and Choctaw collide at the Sault by which the latter was sunk; afterwards raised. Schooner Sunrise sunk by collision with barge 133 on Lake Michigan. Barge Transfer sunk at Lorain; after- wards raised. Barge Arthur sunk in St. Lawrence river. Steamer Grace Williams sunk in Lake Michigan. June: Barge Mikado waterlogged off St. Joseph. Steamer Samuel T. Hodge burned and sunk near Oak Orchard. Schooner R. Canters stranded at Pilot island. July: Capt. Hugh Chisholm died at Meaford, Ont.; he built the first center-board schooner on the lakes. Schooner Little Wissahickon foundered near Rondeau; Capt. George McKay and two of the crew drowned. Schooner Walbridge total wreck at Long Point. Steamer Samoa sunk in the St. Lawrence river; afterwards raised. Canadian steamer Maganetawan, of Collingwood, ran on a shoal near Byng inlet and went to pieces. August: Schooner yacht Hawthorne sunk near Chicago by collision with the steamer Iowa; afterwards raised. Schooner Emeline, capsized near Death's Door, released. Steamer Ogden sunk at Duluth. Schooner Phineas S. Marsh foundered in Lake Superior; crew rescued by life-savers. Steamer Harvey Watson, burned at Holland, Mich., rebuilt. Schooner Granger driven ashore at Seul Choix Point, Lake Michigan, and became a total loss. Schooner City of the Straits burned at Ontonagon. Canadian tug James Clark burned at Owen Sound. Canadian tug Verbena May totally wrecked near Stokes bay. Canadian steamer Victoria foundered in Georgian Bay. September: Schooner Colonel Ellsworth sunk at the Straits by collision with the Emily B. Maxwell. Schooner Bertha Winnie capsized in Lake Erie. Steamer Harry Cottrell foundered near Bar Point. Steamer Northland sunk at the dock at Duluth; afterwards raised. Schooner Wm. Crosthwaite sunk by collision with the passenger steamer City of Mackinac; after- wards raised. Barge Sovereign capsized in the Bay of Quinte. Schooner Sweepstakes stranded on Lake Erie; lost. Schooner Gilbert Knapp ashore at Good Harbor bay, Lake Michigan, and a total loss. Canadian steamer Baltic burned at Collingwood. Schooner J. R. Pelton stranded on Lake Erie; lost. Schooner David Macy sunk by collision on Lake Erie. October: Propeller Loretta burned at Lorain. Steamer Grand Traverse sunk by collision with the Livingstone near Colchester. Schooner T. Y. Avery sunk at Chicago; afterwards raised. Steamer Mariska sunk at Buffalo; afterwards raised. Schooner Samuel P. Ely lost near Two Harbors. Steamer Australasia, of 2,200 net tons, burned on Lake Michigan. Schooner Transfer and steamer Alleghany stranded on Lake Michigan. November: Tug L. B. Johnson capsized near Chicago. Steamer Wallula, driven ashore and burned near Conneaut, released. Schooner Brenton wrecked at Cleveland. Steamer B. W. Arnold burned and ashore near Salmon Trout river. Canadian steamer Acadia fatally stranded on Lake Superior. Schooner Success stranded on Lake Michigan. City of Kalamazoo burned at South Haven; rebuilt. December: Steamer L. R. Doty burned at Chicago; rebuilt.

Return to Home Port

Volume II

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