1854 — Nov 13, steamer Bucephalus sinks, Lake Huron storm, Saginaw Bay ~Bird’s Creek, MI-10

— 10 Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. 1972, p. 237.
— 10 Lytle and Holdcamper. Merchant Steam Vessels of the [U.S.] 1807-1868. 1952, p. 241.
— 10 Mansfield. History of the Great Lakes (Vol. 1). 1899, p. 672.
— 10 NY Times. “Wreck of the Propeller Bucephalus – Ten Lives Lost…,” Nov 20, 1954, p. 1.
— 10 Swayze. Shipwreck!…Directory of Over 3,700 Shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. 1992, p. 41.

Narrative Information

Nov 20, New York Times: “Captain Alexander reached our city yesterday morning, and from him we obtain the following interesting statement of the loss of his vessel:

“The propeller Bucephalus left Chicago, Saturday, Nov. 4, at 4 o’clock, P.M., with fourteen thousand and thirty-five bushels of corn, and a deck load of flour, seed, butter, ashes, &c., and proceeded to Milwaukee to complete her cargo. After making the usual stops at Waukegan, Kenosha, and Racine, the propeller arrived at Milwaukee about 5 o’clock, A.M. of the 5th, and at once began to take on the balance of her cargo. Having finished loading by 9 A.M. the same morning, and the wind and weather favorable, they left for Port Washington for wood.

“Shortly after leaving, the wind increased in violence, blowing from the south, and by noon there was such a sea on that they could not lay at Port Washington pier; they backed off and came to an anchor, and lay till next day at 9 A.M., when the gale moderated, and they took on their wood and proceeded on their way, calling at Sheboygan. The wind at this time was westerly. At 6 o’clock was on the course for Beaver Island with a fresh breeze from northwest. At daylight on the 7th made the Manitous with a strong increasing breeze. Arrived at Beaver Island, remained until the 8th at noon for fuel, when they left for Presque Isle. Arrived there on the morning of the 9th, but had to lay until Sunday, the 12th, at 11 A.M., whey they left for Buffalo.

“Shortly after leaving Presque Isle, the wind veered to the N.E. and it began to snow. At 3 P.M. the wind increased to a strong breeze, and at 5 it was blowing a gale. About this time the foremast gave way, and went over the side. At 6 o’clock the forward gangways were stove in by a heavy sea, and part of her deck load washed overboard.

“Everything had been secured, in anticipation of a severe gale; but it increased at such a fearful rate, that it was almost impossible to keep the vessel on her course. The heavy rolling of the boat shifted the corn in her hold, and hade her unmanageable. The other two gangways on the lee side were now stove in, and the captain had to keep her before the wind to get the after one secure, and throw over a portion of her freight which was on deck, to trim the boat. The officers were unable to secure the two forward gangways, and all the freight on the deck was washed overboard.

“The wind continued to increase in violence, accompanied with snow and hail, and after an attempt to keep her on her course proved unavailing, as the boat would not stir, they kept her before the wind as their only safety. About midnight the rudder unshipped, when the boat breached too. All the gangways were stove in, the guards around the stern torn up, and the boat filling with water. Shortly afterwards the fires were extinguished, and the boat fast going to pieces.

“Capt. Alexander now finding that there was no hope of saving his vessel, ordered the three boats to be got ready for launching. The first boat was put in charge of Peter Shoemaker, formerly second officer of the Bucephalus, and in it Daniel Brown, Wheelsman; George Rupperaugh, Henry Worener, George Smith, Michael Stein, and Jacob Marks, deck hands. This boat was swung out preparatory to being let down, when one of the men in it cut the rope holding up the stern and all were thrown out and drowned.

“The second boat was placed in charge of R. Stoddard, the first mate; and with him, A. H. Brown, engineer; Wm. Peters, 2d engineer; Saml. Chappell, wheelman; Richard Sparks, steward; Peter King fireman; Jack Rollinger, do.; Mrs. Martha Midford and Miss Emily Marble, passengers. This boat got clear of the wreck, and put off, heading against the wind. The night was so dark that it was impossible to tell where the nearest land lay. The crew, however, pulled nobly some fifteen miles, and, through food fortune, made the land between two reefs, on either one of which, had they struck, all on board would undoubtedly have perished, as the breakers were running mountains high. The men here built a large fire on the beach, in hopes of attracting the attention of the third boat. They, however, were too far off to see the light.

“The third boat – on the Francis’ metallic lifeboats – was taken in charge by Captain Alexander.

“By the time this boat had been made ready, the propeller had sunk to her cabin deck, and the boat becoming entangled under the ledge of the upper cabin, it was drawn down several feet under water. Through the exertion of the second officer, the boat was pushed off clear from the propeller, and came up. All in the boat now got out and hung over the side, while the Captain, with a bucket, bailed the boat clear, and again all got in. They then pulled against the wind, and in three hours, or shortly before daybreak, approached the beach, and came in sight of the fire that had been kindled by the crew of the second boat. Captain Alexander, knowing the coast to be very rocky, and the breakers running so high, suggested that they should keep out until daybreak, when they would be able to make the shore in safety, and stating that the chances were, should they then attempt to land, that all would be lost. The men, however, were so benumbed with cold, that they insisted on pulling in, saying that they would rather endeavor to land, even if they should drown in the attempt, than stay out and perish before day-light came. The men were so urgent that the captain had to consent. The first breaker was passed in safety. The second overset the boat, and all were thrown out. White, however, succeeded in getting hold of the painter, and righted the boat. The captain was unable, at first, to reach up to the side of the boat, and allowed himself to sink and touch bottom, when he sprung up and caught hold of the rudder, and drew himself into the boat. Wm. Day also swam up to the boat and got in. Emmons and Gerhart had held on to the seat of the boat when it capsized, and came up again in it. The other two, Andrew Rector and John Webber, were drowned.

“Those in the boat were left without oars for some time, but one happened to float by, and with its aid the boat was got in shallow water. The captain and mate then got out and hauled the boat ashore. They landed near where the second boat had made the shore, which was found to be Bird’s Creek, near Point Aux Barques.

“The crew and the three passengers, fourteen in all, were treated with the most humane kindness by the people at Point Aux Barques, furnished with dry clothing, and everything was done for them which could be. The Captain here chartered a fishing boat and with it brought all of those rescued to Port Huron, running the distance ninety miles in nine hours; and from there came down to Detroit on the steamer Rub….”

[The names of nine crewmembers lost are listed.] “One man, name not known, and who came on board at Port Washington, was missed over two hours before the first boat left, and, it is supposed, was washed overboard.” (New York Times. “Wreck of the Propeller Bucephalus – Ten Lives Lost…,” 11-20-1954, p. 1.)

Sources

Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. Boston: Mariners Press Inc., 1972.

Lytle, William M., compiler, from Official Merchant Marine Documents of the United States and Other Sources; Holdcamper, Forrest H. (Editor, and Introduction by). Merchant Steam Vessels of the United States 1807-1868. “The Lytle List.” Mystic, CT: Steamship Historical Society of America (Publication No. 6), 1952. Accessed 8-16-2020 at:
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015018039084&view=1up&seq=8&size=125

Mansfield, John Brandts (Ed. And Compiler). History of the Great Lakes (Vol. 1). Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co., 1899. http://www.linkstothepast.com/marine/chapt36.html — Google digitized: http://books.google.com/books?id=iHXhAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=&f=false

New York Times. “Wreck of the Propeller Bucephalus – Ten Lives Lost…,” 20 Nov 1954, 1. At: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A06E6D91238EE3BBC4851DFB767838F649FDE

Swayze, David D. Shipwreck! A Comprehensive Directory of Over 3,700 Shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. Boyne City, MI: Harbor House Publications, Inc., 1992.