1874

Destruction of Steamer Brooklyn. -- The steamer Brooklyn, of the Northern Transportation line, Capt. Harvey Brown, bound from Ogdensburg to Chicago, exploded her boilers near Fighting island, ten miles below Detroit, October 22. The explosion tore her apart, and she sunk imme- diately. Five of the steamer's nine passengers were killed, and eight of a crew of 21 also perished. Many of the survivors were severely injured. The steamer sank in about 25 feet of water, only about 6 inches of her pilot house remaining above water. To this nine persons clung for safety till released by the propeller Cuba. Eight others were picked up from the water by fishing yawls from the shore. The shock of the explosion threw from their feet all who were aboard, and most of those on deck were injured by flying missiles hurled in all directions. The Brooklyn was one of the fastest boats on the line, and could make from 13 to 15 miles per hour. She was built at Cleveland in 1866, and was valued at $45,000.

Other Events of 1874. -- April: Propeller Granite State seriously damaged by collision with ice in St. Lawrence river. Scow Snowball capsized in Detroit river. May: Steam barge A. A. Turner sunk near Cape Vincent by collision. Schooner R. P. Mason sunk by collision near Manistee. Schooners J. K. Benson and M. L. Breck collide at Port Colborne. Tug E. M. Miller burned at Willow island. Tug Tawas explodes her boiler at Port Huron killing several of the crew. Schooner John J. Hill sunk near Lewiston. Tug Aldrich burned at Ludington. Steambarge Mary Groh sunk at Cleveland. Schooner Octavia abandoned at Kewaunee. June: Barge D. V. Bell sunk on Lake St. Clair. Schooner Enterprise capsized off Racine. Scow Dan Baker sunk near Cedar Point. Schooner Dolphin sunk by collision with a scow at Ludington. July: The S.V.R. Watson sunk at Point Pelee. Schooner James Platt abandoned at the Straits. Tug Ransom sunk at Sandwich Point by collision with the tug Urania. Propeller Merchant sunk near Milwaukee. Scow Maria capsized and ashore near Lexington. Tug J. F. Belin explodes her boiler at Buffalo. August: Schooner Wm. Hunter, sunk at Dunkirk, raised and towed to Buffalo. Schooner Fostoria sunk near the Detour light. Schooner S. V. R. Watson, sunk at Point Pelee, raised and towed to Buffalo. Scow Shaw wrecked at Grand River. October: Barge H. H. Brown sunk at Malden by collision with rocks. Barge Sherman waterlogged on Lake Erie. Schooner T. P. Sheldon sunk off Bar Point. Steamer Latta Bernard foundered on Lake Superior. Tug Favorite sunk on Lake Erie. November: Schooner Osborne abandoned near Port Colborne. December: Propeller Rocket sunk by ice at Toledo.

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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.