Beaver Island History - Helen Collar Papers
Ships & Boats
[See also "Emigration & Immigrant Life - Inland Passage"]
Number of merchant vessels built & documented ("Northern Lakes" & "Western Rivers" are lumped together):
1840 - 7,626
1845 - 29,575
1850 - 23,353
1855 - 78,000
1860 - 44,962
1865 - 102,910
1870 - 94,117
(1860) "...there were on the Lakes 1459 ships, of which 1122 were sailing vessels, 335 steamers & propellers" (Quaife, Lake Michigan {1944}, p. 164). The number of sailing vessels decreased from 1868, & in 1922 there were 86 in service. All probably out of service by 1947.
- Robt. T. Hall, Island Life (Cranbrook, 1948)1
In the winters they got out the cord wood & brought it to the docks to sell as fuel to the steamers during the summer season.
1818 - the first steamboat (Walk-in-the-Water) arrived at Detroit from Buffalo in 1818, the
year of the opening of the public land sales. The Detroit Gazette for June 2 & 23, 1820, said the usual time from Buffalo to Detroit was 2 1/2 days & the fare $15; the fare from Detroit to Mackinac, $20.
1819 - Walk-in-the-Water took freight & passengers to Mackinac.
1825-26 - there was a burst, owing to the opening of the Erie Canal, & the number of
steamers increased from 1 to 6.
1830 - from April 1 to May 12 2,400 intended settlers landed at Detroit.
1831 - in one week in May steamboat arrivals numbered 2,000.
1834 - in one day, Oct. 7, there arrived 900 passengers.
1836 - there were 90 steamers that arrived in Detroit in May bearing settlers to Michigan &
to the west.
1857 - 107 sidewheelers, 135 propeller steamers, [&] 1,006 sailing vessels of all
classes on the Lakes.
1868 - peak of sailing ship era on the Lakes - 1,875 being listed.
Patrol Boat #1 piloted by Charlie Allers as supervisor of commercial fishing law enforcement for 30 years. The boat & Allers retired together in 1959.
Opening & Closing of Navigation -
1965 - last run Dec. 30
1967 - 1st crossing April 15
1968 - 1st crossing April 11 - this was the year Port St. James developme___ started
1971 - Sundew came in Mar. 10 - oil, gasoline, propane gas
1970 - last trip of Beaver Islander Dec. 26
In the spring of 1852 the first trip of the Michigan in April - ice floating in Lake.
In Schoolcraft's journal, April 16, 1834: "A party of Beaver Island Indians come in and report the waters of the Straits are clear of ice, & the navigation for some days open."
Sophia Bonner - John E. Bonner, owner & captain. Later she was sailed by Manus Bonner, his son. She drew 5-6' of water and was anchored off Bonner's Bluff. She was about 50' long. She hauled posts & ties. She was built on B.I. at Dormer's Dock.
U.S.S. Michigan - For the part this boat played in the legal action against Strang and the other Mormons, see Kingdom of St. James, p. 129. For its part in the assassination, see ibid., p. 171. It returned 10 days later, ibid., p. 173.
Construction of the 500-ton iron steamer Michigan was begun in Pittsburgh in 1842. The ship was built in sections, which were transported overland to Erie where they were assembled & the vessel was launched in 1844. She was America's first iron warship, if not the first in the world. She was equipped with two 8-inch guns & four 32-pounders.
The Michigan remained in service for three-quarters of a century, & for almost 20 years she was the only iron ship on the Upper Lakes. Her greatest period of usefulness fell in the years of the Civil War. In 1909 her name was assigned to a great new ocean battleship, & the old "iron ship" became known henceforth as the Wolverine. When her period of usefulness was over she was returned to Erie, where since 1923 she has lain quietly in the bay, exposed to the ravages of decay & vandalism.
- Quaiffe, Lake Michigan (1944), p. 165-66
"Christmas Tree Ship" -
Rouse Simmons (3-masted schooner, 200 tons, 125')
Captain Herman Schuenemann (age 41); Captain Charles Nelson, master of the ship, his partner. Shuenemann had chartered the ship from her owner, Capt. Mannus Bonner of Beaver Island. Aboard - wife of Nelson & a short-handed crew of 15.
Sailed from Thompson (a few miles west of Manistique) on Nov. 22, 1912, in threatening weather. (Captain Nelson didn't want to sail, Schuenemann insisted.)
Nov. 23 - sighted off Kewawnee, Wisc. flying distress signals. The Kewawnee Coast Guard telephoned Two Rivers Station, where a 34 power launch searched for 5 hours. During a lull in the storm they sighted her - her canvas in ribbons & rigging & hull covered with ice. The Coast Guard started toward her but before covering half the distance the snow set in again & they lost sight of her. No living person ever saw her again.
Dec. 13 a bottle washed up with message from Schuenemann. Christmas trees washed ashore & also fouled up fishermen's nets. April 23, 1924 a wallet of Schuenemann was found at Two Rivers. 1927, near the same spot, a bottle found with a message from Nelson.
Pere Marquette car ferry [1910] -
Grand Rapids Press, July 15, 1973 - story of survivor George Harwood:
29 lives lost, all officers & several passengers; 35 saved. She had been used as a pleasure boat that summer (a slack season for car ferries). Labor Day she returned to Ludington & was inspected for ferry service. Capt. Peter Kilty was dissatisfied with the inspection & did not want to take her out. When the company said they would get another skipper, he is reported to have said, "No, this is my ship & if anybody takes her out I will."
Left Ludington Sept. 8, 11:45, with 29 loaded freight-cars. A north wind & a running sea, but no storm. At 3 a.m an oiler found 7 feet of water in the crew quarters for the firemen, coal passers, & oilers. Pumps started but water continued to rise. Kilty aroused all the crew & they began to jettison the freight-cars over the stern. He ordered the ship to make for nearest port (Sheboygan) & the radio operator to send out distress signals.* Ludington was first to pick up signal & relayed it to Pere Marquette #17, which went to last reported position (20 miles from Sheboygan). Ferry #20 & steamer #6 also ordered to rescue.
6:30 - No. 17 drew alongside & asked instructions from Capt. Kilty. He called back, "Stand by." Pumps were still working & maximum speed maintained, hoping to reach Wisconsin shore. All men at their posts. The end came swiftly (here the article ends, for last page is missing). She sank at 7:30, Sept. 9, 1910.
*At this date SOS had not been adopted. The signal sent was "C.Q.D," followed by, "For God's sake, send help." This was reported to be the first use of wireless for a distress call anywhere in the world & preceded by 2 years the historic C.Q.D. of the Titanic in 1912.
Clifton (1924) -
Captain Emmet Gallagher ("Emmet Salty"). Four Beaver Islanders were lost:
? McDonough - Pat Vesty's son, called "Chine"
? Sheid
?
32 men in all were lost when she sank off Saginaw Bay in Lake Huron. She was an ore boat, they say an old one & in bad shape. There are two poems written by Islanders about this disaster (see notebook). One is by Emmet's brother, "Peter Salty," the other by Conn McCauley's son "Frank Conn."
Nonie, who is a cousin of Emmet, the captain, was in California that winter. The night the Clifton went down she had a vivid dream. She saw a small motor boat ("like a skiff w/ a motor") going around & around a lagoon. Three times it went around & in it was a standing man whose face she could not see. Each time it sank in front of her.
Clara A. Elliott -
This was the first fishing tug owned on B.I.. She was purchased in Holland, Michigan, in 1888 by the Martin brothers, Dan, James (Shing?), & Barney. These were the children of James Martin & Catherine McCarthy.
Badger State -
Union Line of Buffalo, N.Y.. Captain Alexander Clark, master. Served B.I. from the spring of 1873 -1883 (- Child of the Sea, p. 219). Mentioned in "Beaver Island Girls."
Marold disaster, Nov. 8, 1927.
Armistice Day storm, Nov. 11, 1940.
Marold II -
Exploded Jan. 1, 1937. Killed:
Hugh Roland McDonough, age 29-2-0
Ludlow Leonidas Hill, age 81-4-24
Champlain -
Plied between Chicago & Charlevoix. She caught fire 6 mi. south of Charlevoix harbor, 23 lives lost. One, Ella Cooper Smith, daughter of Richard Cooper, & Minnie Bedford, wife of Harrison Bedford.
Vernon -
P. 148
On the 29th of Oct., 1887, she foundered. Off ports Sheboygan, Manitowoc, & Two Pines, Wisconsin were found bodies & wreckage. Many Beaver Islanders were lost:
Maria Malloy
Big Rosie, Old Condy's wife (the Uncle)
3 Gallagher sisters (sisters of Big Willie)
Charlie Gallagher, son of Cornelius
Louis Gebo
From James McCann's notes:
Sunk, Oct. 31, 1887
Capt. Thorpe
1st Mate Capt. McSwiggin
2nd Mate Gebo
Beaver Island to (Ludington or Manistee?) to Milwaukee
She replaced the Champlain after she was lost. She was one of the early propeller boats. Owned by Northern Michigan Transit Co.. Built & owned by A. Booth & Co., named for Vernon Booth. She was built for package freighter on the Lake, principally picking up fish. She also had a cargo of fish onboard that she picked up at B.I.. She sank close to the west shore. She was loaded with pig iron as a cargo, & swamped. Believed to have been about 60 people aboard (passengers & crew). The bodies of all the Beaver Islanders were recovered except one, [a] woman. Beaver Islanders lost:
Mother & two sisters
Nelie Condy's mother
Lawrence Malloy's aunt
Charlie Gallagher (Arthur Pratt's dad)
No one survived except a Norwegian, Axel Stone, a coal passer, who was unable to give a coherent story of what happened.
The death record for Louis Gebo says he was drowned in Lake Michigan "off the Str. Vernon," on June 17, 1887.
Roland - she was a lumber barge & foundered off Two Rivers. One passing ship, that was unable to help because of the storm, saw a woman standing in the prow in a white dress. When the bodies were found, Big Rosie had on a white nightgown.
Dana Thomas Bowen's Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes - he has no story about her, but in his list he has her:
"Oct. 29, 1887 - steamer Vernon, foundered; 36-41 lost."
Boats mentioned in "The Beaver Island Girls:"
Jessie Ann - being fitted out by Charles Alloire
The Fair Play - Sam Leblua, Capt.. The Fair Play was from Fox Island.
Flora - Ben Campbell
Goldsmit Maid (Goldschmidt? [Goldsmith?])
Badger State - Capt. Clark
Coyhoga
Mentioned in reprint of Charlevoix paper:
July 24, 1884 - first ad for Claribelle (boat route)
Jan. 29, 1885 - schooner Tom Paine - Capt. Roddy (brought mail on that date)
schooner Hart, from Northport
schooner C. J. Wells went ashore on Whiskey Island reef
- cargo lumber; she broke up
Neil Gallagher ("Big Neil")
[see also his card in Biographical section]
Joe - a steamer that carried the mail in competiton with the Hackley in the 1890s.
He had other boats. He was a mean man. He was said to have fallen off his boat & drowned, but in reality he was thrown off by a man working for him whom he had abused.
Andrew Roddy
[see also his card]
Tom Paine (sailing) - she sank in the harbor & her timbers can still be seen off
McCann's Dock. A flat-bottomed boat.
Six Brothers (sailing) - must have been named for his own family, as he didn't
have six sons at that time.
Milwaukee Key (Belle) - she caught fire as he was bringing her home, & so he
never used her. She sank off the Head Light where her timbers can still be seen.
They salvaged the cabin which was used as a toolhouse on the farm. Bid says she
understands that Dan Boyle (Maria's grandfather) sailed on the Milwaukee Belle
before Roddy bought her. According to Lawrence she was an ore freighter, the
one that wrecked & was responsible for the name Iron Ore Bay. He said Roddy
was part owner.
Florence Smith (sailing) - Bid's father & Dominic Gallagher sailed on this boat with
him. She was a two-spar sailing vessel.
John E. Bonner
[see also his card]
Rutland - John E. Bonner, owner & captain. A flat-bottomed boat. This boat was
often used to carry wood from Cable's dock at Cable's Point to the Harbor.
Cable got out the wood & sold it, at the Harbor, to steamers for fuel. This boat brought Bishop Baraga on his last trip to the Island in 1866 (1865?). The Saga says she was a schooner; that she carried lumber from Traverse City to B.I., & supplied the materials for the construction of the church after the Mormons left.
Sophia Bonner - John E. Bonner, owner & captain. Later she was sailed by his son,
Manus Bonner. She drew 5'-6' of water & was perhaps 50' long. They anchored
her off Bonner's Bluff. She was built on B.I. at Dormer's Dock. They used her
to haul posts & ties. In 1879 Manus succeeded as master.
Mannes Bonner
[see also his card]
Rouse Simmons (or Shannon) - use for B.I. Lumber Co.; captained by John W.
Bonner.
Peoria
John Early (Shawn)
Margaret Early
Father Gallagher
[see also his card]
Hattie Fisher (a sailing vessel) - she was first sailed by ? McCauley, and then by
John E. Bonner. She was used to bring supplies to the Island. She sank in the
Harbor - that is the wreck off Andy Mary Ellen's, on the east side of the Harbor.
Oct. 18, 1889 - LaFreniere paid $3.00 to the schooner Mary Ann for freight on feed.
Freight boats were decked sailing vessels with a hold.
Fishing boats were sailboats, but small & undecked. According to Lawrence, they built their own fishing boats, as they had done in Ireland. The lumber they planed by hand. They also made their own fishnets.
Mrs. Andy Mary Ellen (who was a Green) speaks of Red Dan & White Dan Green being shipwrights in Ireland, & of their building boats here.
Peter? Johnson
Rough & Ready
Nellie Johnson (after his daughter)
James Gallagher ("Jimmy the Jew")
[see also his card]
He had a store & four boats, one after the other.
[Also had boats, unnamed:]
Dan Boyle (Maria's grandfather)
Johnnie Gallagher ("Salty")
1954 (fall) - Beaver Island Boat Company incorporated. Emerald Isle, capt. Mark Cross,
christened in 1955. From Charlevoix Courier, Aug. 2, 1962:
"It wasn't until the mid-1890s that the first boat took over the ferry run between Charlevoix & St. James... In 1895 the mail route between Charlevoix & the Island was established."
1895 - 1st boat, the Nellie - 60' passenger vessel. Henry Sherman was engineer; captain &
owner unknown.
1897 - Erie L. Hackley - 100'. Capt. Peter D. Campbell.
1906 or '07 - Campbell sold the Hackley (later lost on Green Bay in a storm)
1906-1915 - he purchased the Beaver, which burned at the dock in 1915. Then the Roe
Brothers of Harbor Springs ran a boat for awhile (was this the Irine?).
Capt. James Sanford operated the Sanford (100' boat) out of Charlevoix. Also later the Bruce, Bainbridge2 (150') - too costly to operate; Marold (140') converted from yacht by its owner, Capt. Hill & his son Leon Hill; blew up New Year's Day. Mary Margaret with Leroy Allers & Lawrence Feindt (engineer). North Shore, owned & operated by Lyons brothers Jack & Richard, who sold it to the Beaver Island Boat Company.
1955 - B.I. Boat Co. formed. Bought Emerald Isle, 1st boat built especially for the run. Cost $100,000. Put in operation in April 1955. Beaver Islander, Aug. 6[?], 1962 - 96 1/2', carry[ing capacity] 150 passengers & 12 cars.
1 Robert T. Hatt, et. al, Island Life: A Study of the Land Vertebrates of the Islands of Eastern Lake Michigan. Bloomfield Hills, MI: Cranbrook Institute of Science, 1948.
2 This ship name or names appears in two sets of quotation marks, separated by a comma, in the original, so it is not clear whether the vessel operated under the two names consecutively, or something else.