1873 — Sep 15, steamer Ironsides sinks, Lake Michigan storm, off Grand Haven, MI –20-25

–20-25 Blanchard estimated death toll.*

–30-40 The People, Indianapolis, IN. “A Fearful Calamity on the Lakes.” 9-21-1873, p. 5.
— 28 Blanchard tally of names identified in sources cited herein (found after Narrative).
— 28 Mansfield, John Brandts (Editor). History of the Great Lakes (Vol. 1). 1899, p. 727.
–18-28 Shelak, Benjamin J. Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan. Big Earth Publishing, 2003, p. 132.
— 27 Nash, Jay Robert. Darkest Hours. 1977, p. 687.
— 25 Blanchard “best guess” of fatalities from listing of twenty-eight possible fatalities.
— 24 Janesville Gazette, WI. “Talk on the Cars.” 9-22-1873, p. 2, col. 5.
— ~23 Rich. “For Those in Peril: Shipwrecks…Ottawa County,” Joint Archives Quarterly 2009
— ~22 Alpena Weekly Argus, Alpena, MI. “The Ironsides Disaster.” 9-23-1873, p. 2, col. 2.
— 21 Donahue. “Ironsides Couldn’t Get Out of the Storm.” True Stories of Ships… (website).
–20-21 Michigan Shipwreck Research Associates. “Ironsides.” 2008.
–18-21 Janesville Gazette, WI. “The Loss of The Ironsides.” Sep 18, 1873, p. 1.
— 20 Alton Weekly Telegraph, Alton, IL. “News Items.” 9-26-1873, p. 4, col. 3.
–18-20 Chicago Daily Tribune. [Ironsides] 9-17-1873, p. 4. (18 bodies recovered, two missing.)
— ~20 Ellison. “Buoy-marking project will protect Michigan shipwrecks…” MLive, 4-2-2019.
–18-20 Ewing, Wallace K. Directory, Historical Topics, Northwest Ottawa County. 1999.
— 20 Marshall Weekly Messenger, IL. “Another Terrible Marine Disaster.” 10-2-1873, p. 4.
— 20 Stevens Point Journal, WI. “Terrible Calamity on Lake Michigan.” 9-20-1873, p. 2, c. 2.
— ~20 Wrecksite.eu. “SS Ironsides (+1873).” Website accessed 12-2-2020
— >19 Middletown Daily Evening Press, NY. “Loss of Life on Lake Michigan.” 9-16-1873, p.4.
— 18 Swayze. Shipwreck!…Directory of…Shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. 1992, p. 117.
— 17 Bodies recovered. Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. “The Loss of the Ironsides.” 9-17-1873, 1.
— 14 Opelousas Journal, LA. “A Weekly Retrospective of Events.” 10-10-1873, p. 3.

* Blanchard estimated death toll. From sources noted above we see a low of 14 and a high of 30-40 for the fatalities associated with the loss of the Ironsides. Given this disparity and no obviously and indisputably accurate fatality estimate, we have attempted to create a listing of fatalities which have been noted in one or more of the sources we note in the bibliography. This listing adds to twenty-eight. However there is no detail at all concerning two of these. Additionally there is a reference to an “unidentified” person. However, several initially unidentified victims were later identified, thus we omit this person from our listing. This leaves us with a listing of twenty-five victims, which could conceivably be accurate. It must be said, however, that such listings based on newspaper accounts are not determinative. The effort, though, does give us some confidence that the loss was not something like fourteen or thirty to forty. In any event, we choose to use twenty-five as the high end of our estimated death toll.

As for the low-end of our estimated death toll, the number of sources noting twenty or twenty-one or “about” twenty or “twenty-one” persuades us to use twenty as the low-end of our estimated death-toll. We do this to be conservative in our estimate. The reader can review the accounts below and derive a different opinion, of course.

Narrative Information

Ewing: “The Ironsides, a 231-foot wooden propeller-driven steamship operated by Englemann Transportation, was wrecked on September 15, 1873, while waiting out a storm four miles west-southwest of the safety of Grand Haven harbor. Loaded down with cargo and carrying 52 [37] passengers and crewmen, the storm caused the ship’s seams to open and water poured in faster than the pumps could eject it. Captain Sweetman tried to make it in, but the ship sank approximately two and half miles from the harbor entrance. He gave the order to abandon ship, and 18 to 20 persons died trying to reach shore. Other crewmen were rescued by a crew of volunteer lifesavers led by Richard Connell. Captain Sweetman went down with the ship.” (Ewing. Directory, 1999; .)

Mansfield: “1873. Loss of the Propeller Ironsides. The propeller Ironsides sank in a furious gale near Grand Haven September 15, 1873. She had been built in 1864, and had been overhauled in the spring of 1873. The Ironsides lost control of her machinery, and a flag of distress was run up, but no aid was near. The last lifeboat left the vessel shortly before she sank, but the occupants were lost in plain sight of those on shore. Twenty-eight lives were lost.” (Mansfield, John Brandts (Editor). History of the Great Lakes (Vol. 1). 1899, p. 727.)

Michigan Shipwreck Research Associates: “She was operated out of Cleveland, Ohio with major ports of call on Lake Superior, Detroit, and Mackinac Island. In 1869 the Ironsides and her sister ship Lac La Belle, were sold to the Engleman company from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At that time she was switched to the Milwaukee to Grand Haven, Michigan run — providing direct connection between the two ports and, most importantly, their respective railroad terminals.

“On October 14, 1872, the Lac la Belle sank off Racine, Wisconsin after leaving Milwaukee for Grand Haven, Michigan. Her sister ship would suffer a similar fate exactly 11 months later. During the winter of 1872-1873, the Ironsides was given a thorough overhaul and was pronounced in excellent condition. This adds to the mystery. The Ironsides would be on the bottom of Lake Michigan by mid-September, 1873.

“On September 14, 1873, the Ironsides left Milwaukee at 9:45 PM with 19 passengers and a crew of about 30. The ship’s cargo consisted of 13,000 bushels of wheat, 500 barrels of flour, 125 barrels of pork and assorted general merchandise. A moderate southwest breeze was blowing. Before dawn, however, a full gale was howling across the lake and the Ironsides was laboring so hard that she began to take on water. Captain Harry Sweetman tried twice to bring the ship through the Grand Haven channel to safety, but to no avail. Each time the ship would miss the channel, she would have to be swung around in the huge waves and headed back out for another attempt.

“At the time, it was reported the ship ‘narrowly missed going on the beach’. We now believe the ship did ‘bottom out’ on the beach during this fierce battle as six of her eight propeller blades show significant damage. No doubt her bottom was also damaged allowing even more water to enter the hold. Contemporary reports say she ‘settled down stern first, her bow remaining in sight a full minute.’ The propellers show damage on six of eight blades, indicating they were turning at great speed when damaged. They could not have been turning when she sank since the ship’s boilers were out. Reports say Captain Sweetman aborted the third try and backed the vessel away from shore to ride out the storm. We believe the damage was already done.

“Despite the efforts of the pumps, the fires under her boilers were soon extinguished, allowing the ship to roll helplessly in the trough of the waves. By 9:00 AM the ship started sinking. The Ironsides’ machinery was now useless and a flag of distress was run up the mast. At about 11:00 AM, five lifeboats were put over the sides and all passengers and crew made it safely away from the sinking ship. As the custom dictated, Captain Sweetman was the last to leave his doomed vessel. The Ironsides slipped beneath the waves of Lake Michigan about 3 miles off the Grand Haven coast at 12:10 PM.

“Of the five lifeboats, only two reached shore. The other three were capsized by the surf. Despite the efforts of local residents — who formed human chains to sweep up survivors — and the newly organized volunteer lifesaving service crew, under the capable leadership of Captain Richard Connell it is believed about 20 lives were lost that day. The newspaper listed 11 passengers lost along with ten crew. It also named 9 passengers saved as well as 23 crew saved. This however adds up to more than the 49 people known to be aboard at the time.

“Ships porter Peter Riley stated ‘I took charge of the third boat which left the steamer. There were 13 in the boat including Maggie, the chambermaid. Our boat did not capsize. All aboard were saved but one, and that was Mr. Wimmel a New York traveling agent as he and Mr. Dundasher, the cook, were washed overboard. Mr. Dundasher swam in all right but Mr. Wimmel seemed exhausted and made no effort to save himself.’

“The dead included Captain Sweetman, Chief Engineer Robert McGlue and steward John Driscoll. The newspaper stated, ‘the ladies of Grand Haven took charge of the bodies and saw them properly…coffined.’ The Engelman company furnished coffins for all bodies not provided for by family or friends. The ship was valued at $80,000 with cargo valued at $28,000.

“In 1878 pieces of the wreck were brought up in fishermen’s nets. In 1887, 14 years after the sinking, the Engelman Transportation Company announced a plan to raise the vessel, but no attempt was actually made.

“In about 1966, diver Gene Turner, well-known local wreck hunter, located the Ironsides exactly where the old newspaper accounts said she was — in 120 feet of water, 4 miles west-southwest of Grand Haven. He is reported to have recovered various equipment from the ship including a trunk containing cobblers tools and a trunk of civil war uniforms, costumes and wigs, thought to have belonged to a theatrical troupe.

“The Ironsides lies flat on the bottom in 121 feet of water. The highest point — the top of the cylinder heads — is another 10 feet higher. Her superstructure and passenger decks are gone. The forward half of the vessel is split open and largely missing. The arches are intact, although both have fallen inward and one is cracked while the other has a small break in it. Storms in 1998 and 2001 have further damaged the wreck. The drawing below depicts the wreck as it appeared in 1998 before the first collapse.” (Michigan Shipwreck Research Associates. “Ironsides.” 2008.)

Rich: “…the ship Ironsides sank in a storm off Grand Haven harbor on September 15, 1873. Captain Harry Sweetman and at least twenty-two others lost their lives when their lifeboats capsized in the rough waters, but twenty passengers and crew were saved.” (Rich. “For Those in Peril: Shipwrecks…Ottawa County,” Joint Archives Quarterly. 2009, p. 2.)

Shelak: “The Ironsides. “…on September 15, 1873…the propeller steamer Ironsides went aground on Grand Haven Bar. The Ironsides was built by Ira Lafrinier of Cleveland in 1865, and it was 233 feet long and weighed 1,123 tons….

“On September 15, the Ironsides, under the command of Captain H. Sweetman, was just off Grand Haven. On board were 19 passengers, approximately 30 crew members, and a cargo including wheat, flour, pork, and general merchandise. Based on contemporary reports, Sweetman tried on three occasions to enter the harbor at Grand Haven. It was while making the last attempt that the Ironsides most likely struck bottom.

“Modern-day sport divers have reported that the ship’s propellers were twisted and a hole ripped in the hull. Under those conditions, it must have been only a question of how long the steamer could stay afloat. Making matters worse was the fact that the rising water inside the steamer put out the boiler fires. Without power, there was nothing the crew could do to save their boat.

“Captain Sweetman ordered the five lifeboats lowered. Three capsized in the surf, dumping the occupants. The remaining two small boats reached shore after a harrowing journey. Reports as to the number of dead vary between 18 and 28.” (Shelak, Benjamin J. Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan. Big Earth Publishing, 2003, p. 132.)

Swayze: “Ironsides. Wooden passenger and package freight propeller of 1,123 t. [tons] and 233 ft., launched in 1864 at Cleveland.

“Lake Michigan: Eighteen of the 35 aboard this vessel were lost when she was driven onto the Grand Haven Bar by a storm and was broken up by the hammering of waves. The vessel and her cargo of general merchandise were a total loss in the September 15, 1873 accident.” (Swayze. Shipwreck!…Directory of…Shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. 1992, p. 117.)

Newspapers

Sep 15: “Chicago, Sept. 15. – Private advices report that the steamer Ironsides of the Milwaukee and Grand Haven line of steamers sunk this morning with great loss of life.

Another Report.
“Detroit, Sept. 15. – A severe southwest gale prevails over the upper lakes. The steamer Ironsides, of the Milwaukee & Grand Haven line, is reported foundered about six miles off Grand Haven. The sea is so heavy that nothing can go out. It is feared all hands are lost. It is not known how many passengers are on board.

“…Six schooners have gone on the beach at Grand since morning.

“Later. 2:40 p.m. – Three of the Ironsides’ boats have reached shore with 23 persons. The other boats are not heard from.” (Quincy Whig, Quincy, IL. “Shipwreck…Ironsides…” 9-15-1873, p.1.)

Sep 16: “Grand Haven, Sept.. 16. – The propeller Ironsides, of the Englemann Line, connecting with the D. & M. R. R., and one of the largest steamers of the Lakes, foundered and sank seven miles off this port at noon to-day. Her signal of distress was hoisted at 9 a.m., but so terrible was the sea and wind, that no assistance could reach er. She labored in the trough of the sea from about 8:30 a.m. until the time she sunk. The passengers and crew, of which there was 10 of the former and 30 of the latter, prepared the boats to leave her at 10:30 a.m., and the last boat left her at 11:50 a.m. When the last boat had got about a quarter of a mile from her, she went down. There were five boats filled with the crew and passengers. One boat have five men and four women capsized, and only one man reached the shore. Four boats have reached the shore up to this time. The boat with Capt. Sweetman and wife and five passengers has not yet been heard from. It is feared they are among the lost. Thirty-two persons are known to have been saved and 14 bodies have been recovered. The following is a list of the bodies recovered and identified:

John Driscoll, Steward of the boat.
John Hiltz, of Milwaukee.
Chas. Wimmell, agent of C. E. Harding & Co., New York.
Mrs. H. A. Valentine and child, of Milwaukee.
A.S. Donelson, of Grand Rapids.
Mrs. J. B. L. Dewitt, of Milwaukee.”

(Quincy Whig, Quincy, IL. “Shipwreck. Details of the Loss of the Ironsides on Lake Michigan.” 9-16-1873, p. 1.)

Sep 16: Chicago, Sept. 16. – A special from Grand Haven, Michigan, gives the following account of the foundering of the propeller Ironsides off that port yesterday. N. B. Watkins, the clerk of the boat, says: We left Milwaukee at 9:40 last night with nine passengers and a crew of thirty men, and were due at Grand Haven between 5 and 6 this morning. The cargo consisted of 13,000 bushels of wheat, 500 barrels of flour, 125 barrels of pork, and some miscellaneous articles. It was a very light cargo, since the boat could carry 110 tons. A moderate breeze was blowing from the south-west, which constantly increased until it became a terrific gale before daylight. I did not get up until 9 o’clock, when the boat was rolling fearfully. I immediately went below and found the men working at the pumps. The water had already put out the fires and the engines were useless. I then went to the office and got the passenger list, money and manifest, and went on the hurricane deck, where I found Captain Sweetman getting a foresail on. He was thoroughly self-possessed, and the men obeyed his orders promptly. We then made about three miles towards the shore. The signal of distress had been raised at 9:30. About 10 o’clock the passengers put on life preservers, for it was evident that the boat must go down. At 11:20 the Captain ordered the boats to be manned. In the first boat all the lady passengers except one were placed. In the second were ten or twelve passengers and crew. I took charge of the third boat, which carried seven passengers, including one lady, and two of the crew besides myself. After I had pushed off I saw the two other boats leave the wreck, in one of which I supposed the Captain to be. My boat was hardly half a mile from the Ironsides when she sank stern foremost almost five miles from the land. It was ten minutes past twelve when she disappeared. She was estimated to be worth $115,000, was thoroughly overhauled last Winter and was considered one of the staunchest boats on the lake.

“The statement of a passenger, Mr. F. N. Ripley, of Lowell, Massachusetts, a very intelligent young man, who was one of the saved, gives the following additional particulars: The sea became so rough a little after midnight that I could not sleep, though accustomed to the water. Before daylight the boat rolled so desperately that every movable thing was smashing about, and it was impossible to cross the cabin. It was between seven and eight o’clock, when we come in sight of the land, and it was so rough that it seemed unwise to attempt an entrance. We could see the lighthouses and the vessels and the beach and wondered that no one come to our relief. It was a sad sight. The passengers stood, in silence with their life preservers on knowing that in a few moments they would all be at the mercy of the breakers, but all were calm and self-possessed. Captain Sweetman behaved with the utmost coolness and courage, and the crew obeyed every order. We were all washed out of the boat in which I was placed when within thirty rods of the shore, but were rescued by those on the beach in a most gallant way. I was piked up unconscious, but am all right now. The Captain said it was the roughest night he had ever seen on the lakes. Those familiar with the shore say the water where the Ironsides went down is at least fort fathoms deep.” (Winona Daily Republican, MN. “The Ironsides – Further Details of the Wreck.” 9-16-1873, p. 2, col. 5.)

Sep 16: “Detroit, Sept. 16. Special dispatches from Grand Haven state that the Propeller Ironsides hoisted a signal of distress at 9:30 a.m., but the sea ran so height that no aid could be rendered. There were 111 passengers, and a crew of 32. Up to noon to-day, only 32 are known to be saved. The last boat left the steamer with passengers and crew twenty minutes before she sank. One boat, with Captain Sweetman, wife, and passengers, has not yet been heard from. Fourteen bodies have been recovered. Among them was the body of Charles Winnuet, agent of Charding & Co., of New York. The boat left Grand Haven at 9:40 on Sunday night, with 13,000 bu. Of wheat, 500 bbls. Flour, and miscellaneous freights. The sea became so rough a little after midnight that the passengers could not sleep. Before daylight the boat rolled so desperately that every moveable thing was smashing about, and it was impossible to cross the cabin. Between 7 and 8 o’clock the boat hove in sight of harbor, and it was so rough that it seemed unwise to attempt an entrance.

“The light-house and vessels on the beach were seen, and those on board wondered why no one came to their assistance. It was a sad sight to see the passengers standing in silence with their life-preservers on knowing that in a few minutes they would be at the mercy of the breakers. But all were calm and self-possessed. Capt. Sweetman acted with the utmost coolness and courage, and the crew obeyed every order.

“Later. – the bodies of Capt. Sweetman, the first engineer, two of the crew, and one male passenger not yet identified, have been washed ashore at Grand Haven.” (Middletown Daily Evening Press, NY. “Loss of Life on Lake Michigan.” 9-16-1873, p. 4, col. 1.)

Sep 17: “Eighteen bodies have been washed ashore from the foundered Ironsides, and two persons are still missing. All the rest of those on board were saved. The steamer sank in 120 feet of water at a place four miles west by south of The Piers at Grand Haven. The spot is marked by one of her small boats which floats there anchored to the sunken hull. The cause of the accident was correctly given in the first dispatches. The steamer sprung a heavy leak at 7 o’clock, which gained so rapidly on the pumps that at 9 o’clock it put out the fires. When all hope of saving the vessel was gone, the crew and passengers took to the boats, and all the loss of life occurred through the capsizing of two of them.” (Chicago Daily Tribune, IL. [Ironsides] 9-17-1873, p. 4, col. 1.)

Sep 17: “….The following is the latest list of bodies recovered up to noon, Tuesday [16th]: (We break the paragraph-style listing of names into separate lines.)

G. H. Dennison,
_____ Campbell,
John Driscoll, steward,
John Hiles,
Joseph Brown,
S. C. Wimmel,
J. Smith,
Mrs. F. H. Bitting,
Mrs. DeWitt,
Mrs. Valentine and child,
Mrs. Hasselberth,
Capt. Sweetman,
Robert McGlue, engineer,
James Heaney,
F. H. Bitting,
One unknown.”
(Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. “The Loss of the Ironsides.” 9-17-1873, p. 1.)

Sep 18: “Statements of Officers and Passengers. From the Milwaukee Wisconsin, of Wednesday.

“Statement of George M. Cowan. George M. Cowan stated to our reporter as follows:

I was the second Engineer on board the Ironsides. We left Milwaukee at about 10 o’clock Sunday night, with wind about northwest. I came on watch at 1 o’clock Monday morning, when the chief engineer said he would go up and get a lunch, instructing me to keep close watch of the engine. All went well. At half past two McGlue (chief engineer), came down and asked how she was working. All was satisfactory, and continued so until about half past 3, when the wind freshened and hauled around to the southwest. At about 5 o’clock the water annoyed me so that I used a bilge injection to force it out. This continued getting worse, until a little before 7 o’clock we began shipping water badly. The gangways were smashed in by the force of the waves, the bunkers got blocked up by the boilers so that the water couldn’t run aft. Soon we began shipping water in the fire-room. I saw something must be done immediately. I sent one of the sailors up to the chief engineer, telling him to tell the captain that we had better get before the wind in order to get the water out. The captain said ‘That’s just what I am trying to do.’ But the vessel was in the trough of the sea, and it was impossible to do it. We worked one engine back and the other forward, but it was of no use; we couldn’t stir her. At this time the water came in and put out the fires. This was at about 10 o’clock. Previous to this – at about 9 o’clock – we had hoisted sail and had also put up the signal of distress.

When the fires went out, then we began to think of saving ourselves in the small boats. There was no excitement among the crew; everybody knew his place and kept it. To the best of my knowledge Captain Sweetman did all that could be done. He was perfectly calm and cool. It seems queer that some of the boats at the Haven did not come to our assistance. Some say they saw the signal, others say they didn’t. At about 11 o’clock we began lowering the boats. The boat which belonged to our crew we gave to the passengers – as also another one. We then took a metallic boat – No. 5 – and launched her. As I stepped in, Driscoll and several others jumped in. A coal-passer jumped after our boat as we pushed away. He must have jumped at least twenty feet. He struck the side of the boat and clung to her. When we were about twenty-five feet away our boat capsized. I came up exactly under her, striking my head against the seats. We all clung to her for about an hour and a half. We did not leave the propeller until just as she sunk. After we capsized and were clinging to the boat we looked back, and there we saw Mike Crosson, the first mate, standing away up in the mast, waving his hand as the ship went down. The mast broke and he was struck by it in the face and across the back, injuring him somewhat. After that we lost sight of him for awhile. Then we drifted among some of the driftwood of the propeller and succeeded in righting our boat and still clung to her although no one got into her.

We drifted back toward the propeller, which was part above the water yet, and got on the hurricane deck. Here we found a pail and some oars and bailed out our boat and gave some oars to a few who found another boat. Then we picked Crosson off from the pilot-house, which had become detached from the propeller, and which he had managed to climb upon. We then made for shore and succeeded in entering the harbor, followed by the other boat. We had sixteen in our boat. Seven of these died before we got in and probably from exhaustion, as two or three were drowned while one half of their bodies were in the boat. They had not strength to save themselves when half washed overboard. When Driscoil was washed out and drowned I seized his body and held on to it for about a mile, and it then washed away from me. Before we landed Senator Ferry’s wife threw us a bottle of brandy, which we drank before getting out of the boat. The citizens of Grand Haven did everything in their power for us….

The statements about the boat leaking Friday night are all false. She was in a perfectly sea-worthy condition, and so considered by all the officers.

“Statement of Peter Riley…as follows:

I was first porter on board the Ironsides. I got up at about two o’clock in the morning. All was right at that time and seemed so until about seven o’clock. The sea had been getting heavier all the time. Finally the fires were put out by the water at 10 o’clock, and then we took to the small boats. I took charge of the third boat which left the propeller. There were 13 in the boat, including Maggie, the chambermaid and a strange lady, one of the passengers. Our boat did not capsize. All were saved but one – and that was Mr. Wimmel [unclear], the New York traveling agent….

“Mr. Otto Kitzinger made a few additional statements to our reporter this morning. During the storm he states that the waves were as high as an ordinary house. The Ironsides would first be upon the top of one of these waves, and would come plunging down again. And still all was thought to be safe until an hour before they took to the boats. The men who were not at work at the pumps were smoking on the deck, and no one seemed to really think of danger. At about eleven o’clock, however, he and Watkins told the passengers to put on life preservers. Up to this time the passengers had been kept unaware of any possibility of danger.

Latest News Today.

“This morning at about seven o’clock the steamer Saginaw arrived from Grand Haven, having on board several of the survivors and the bodies of those who belonged here [Milwaukee]. The scene at the dock was a sad one…Twelve coffins were taken from the boat and ranged side by side in the wareroom, until taken away by friends. The boxes were marked with the following names.

“Mrs. Hazelbarth, Mr. J.T.B. Dewitt, Mrs. H.A. Valentine and child, John Hiles, Captain Sweetman, Robert McGlue, John Driscoil, Thomas Shea, Wm. Smith, James Brown, Wm. Robeson, James Heany….
How Many Lost.

“From inquiry among the survivors it is quite certain that several people were drowned whose bodies have not yet been recovered. The members of the crew state that eighteen bodies had been recovered when the Saginaw left – but that Jim Foley, wheelsman, Harry Hazelbarth, first mate of the Toledo, and a coal passer whom they called ‘Ed,’ had not been heard of since the disaster, nor had their bodies been recovered.

“Thus ends this disaster, which has caused, so suddenly, such grief and anguish in so many a hitherto happy household. Another mark has been added to the black list which the ‘mighty deep’ has caused – people have heard of it, have shuddered at the horror, have been for one moment thankful that they were not among those who left this city on the Ironsides and have passed on. In a few days that which now seems so terrible will have gone from mind, and our part of the great world will join in the whirl and bustle and class this new disaster among the things of the past.” (Janesville Gazette, WI. “The Loss of The Ironsides.” Sep 18, 1873, p. 1.)

Sep 18: “The evidence thus far brought to light concerning the condition of the steamer Ironsides which sunk off Grand Haven on Monday morning last, seems to confirm the suspicion which has been widely entertained that the vessel was not seaworthy. The Ironsides was rated on the marine register as No. 2, and it is affirmed that for two winters past she had been used to break ice and had become so warped and strained that she leaked badly and that her damaged caulking had not been properly repaired.

“That a vessel with half a cargo should leak so as to extinguish her fires, become unmanageable, be thrown in the trough of the sea, and sink within sight of port, shows what the condition, of the vessel was. The lake was not so extraordinarily rough but that three of the four boats which left the steamer four or five miles from the shore succeeded in reaching it although it is much more difficult to make a boat live through the surf than out upon the bosom of the lake. That a large steamer foundered where a small boat could live is prima facia evidence that she was not sea-worthy. It is alleged that on her last voyage the Ironsides leaked so badly that members of her crew freely said she ought to be repaired or condemned.

“The fact is that the supervision of our lake marine is not thorough or efficient. That a vessel is given a certificate attesting her sea-worthiness at the commencement of a season is no evidence that she will remain in that condition for more than one voyage. A competent inspector could doubtless at any time within the last sixty days have discovered the shattered condition of the hull of this steamer. Moreover, the moat trying season of navigation on the lakes is from and after the 1st of September. At that date, therefore, there should be a thorough inspection and such vessels only be permitted to continue navigation as are fully competent to withstand the storms which prevail during the remainder of the season. So long as steamboat proprietors are permitted to evade all responsibility for the safety of those persons who entrust their lives to them, their own greed and pecuniary loss of gain, the highest motive by which they are governed in the management of passenger steamers, such apparently needless sacrifices as these which occurred in consequence of the wreck of the Ironsides will continue to prevail every year.

“Milwaukee ought to secure a different class of steamers for this line from any which are now running upon it; and she must do so if she expects to maintain its credit. Every business man in Milwaukee is interested in not only establishing a system of rigid surveillance for all vessels leaving the port, but in securing for this line a class of steamers in every way competent to the navigation of the Atlantic ocean. Vessels such as the Ironsides apparently was are very far from such a standard.” (Janesville Gazette, WI. “Lake Navigation.” Sep 18, 1873, p. 1.)

Sep 18: “From Milwaukee papers and dispatches we have the following additional facts in regard to the loss of the Ironsides, Monday morning, off Grand Haven:

“On the steamer City of Toledo, which arrived at Milwaukee Tuesday evening, was Otto Kitzinger, a member of the Englemann Transportation Company, who was among those saved from the Ironsides. He makes the following statement.

The storm struck the Ironsides bout half-past 12 on Sunday night, when she was three hours out from Milwaukee. By 4 A.M. a high sea was running and the wind blowing a hurricane. At 7 A.M., when the propeller was in sight of Grand Haven, a leak was reported to the Captain, who at once had the steam pony pumps started, which freed her of water in a short time. The Ironsides was now rolling violently. At 8 A.M. the leak had increased very much, and all of the pumps were started, the hand pumps being manned by both passengers and crew, all of whom worked with a will. Half an hour later, First Engineer Robert McGlin notified Captain Sweetman that the propeller had three feet of water in her hold and he was afraid his fires would soon be put out. At 9 A.M. the water rose above the grates, and put out the fires under the boiler. A signal of distress was then hoisted, and the jib set, with the hope that it would work the steamer tot eh beach. The signal of distress did not appear to attract the attention of the people on the shore until half-past 10. Meantime, the water had gained so rapidly on the pumps, that it became evident to all that the Ironsides must soon go down.

At a quarter past eleven o’clock, Capt. Sweetman gave the order to lower away the boats, which was done. The first boat lowered was placed in charge of Henry Hazelbarth, first mate of the steamer City of Toledo, who was returning to his steamer from Milwaukee, and Sam Watkins, clerk of the propeller Lake Breeze, who was also returning from a visit to Milwaukee. In this boat were placed five women, among them Mrs. Hazelbarth, and Mrs. H. A. Valentine and her son. The boat got away from the propeller all right, but when one mile and a half from shore she was struck by a huge sea and capsized. Hazelbarth sprang to save his wife, and was struck by the boat and killed. The women and child were drowned, only one remaining alive, a few minutes after the accident, being Watkins, who soon abandoned the boat also and swam to shore. This he reached more dead than alive.

The second boat launched from the Ironsides was placed in charge of the porter and a deck hand. In this were placed eleven of the passengers and crew. She got away from the propeller and steered north for a short time, when she was put about and reached the shore safely. The boat contained Norman Watkins, Otto Kitzinger, and eight passengers, including one woman. She capsized when half a mile distant from shore, but her occupants clung to the life lines and were all saved.

“Michael Crosson, first mate of the Ironsides, took charge of the fourth boat. She contained the second mate, second engineer, and some of the Ironsides [crew?], also a few passengers. This boat more fortunate than all the rest, succeeded in entering the harbor at Grand Haven, and was greeted with rounds of cheers by the excited spectators. Capt. Sweetman, First Engineer Robert McGlue, the watchman, and two or three others, embarked in the fifth boat. Nothing definite is known of the fate of this boat, except that all on board were drowned. She is supposed to have capsized shortly after leaving the propeller, as the body of McGlue was found some eight or ten miles north of Grand Haven, and that of Capt. Sweetman a short distance from it.

“The case of Henry Hazlebarth is a peculiarly sad one. He had obtained leave of absence from the steamer City of Toledo and proceeded to Saukville, Wis., his home, where on Wednesday last he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Brady, a handsome young woman. A day or two later he came to Milwaukee with his bride, and on Sunday embarked with her on the Ironsides to return to his post of duty. When the vessel became endangered in the storm, he worked manfully with the rest to save her from destruction, and after all hope of accomplishing the desired effect had vanished, he took his place beside his wife, and remained with her until the order for embarkation came, when he stepped into the boat in which she, with other ladies had been placed, and endeavored to guide the frail craft with its precious burden safely to shore. The remainder of the story is briefly told above in Mr. Kitzinger’s statement. They body of Mrs. Hazelbarth was washed ashore a short time thereafter, looking so fresh and lifelike that few at first believed her to be dead. That of her devoted husband has not yet been recovered….” (Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. “The Ironsides Disaster.” 9-18-1873, p. 2, col. 3.)

Sep 25: “Grand Haven, Mich., Sept. 25….The body of a man, supposed to be off the Ironsides, was found on the beach nine miles north of here this morning.” (New Albany Ledger-Standard, IN. “Schooner Ashore on the Lakes.” 9-25-1873, p. 1.)

Listing of Ironside Fatalities from sources noted herein:

1. Bitting (or Billing, or Fred Biddings ), Mr. F. H. Passenger, of Albion IN.
2. Bitting (or Billing), Mrs. F. H. Passenger “
3. Brown, James (or Joseph) Ironsides “greaser.”
4. Campbell, _____ Ironsides deck hand.
5. Dennison, G. H. (or John) Passenger, of Spring Lake, MI. Or of Ada, MI.
6. Dewitt, Mr. or Mrs. J.B.L. Passenger of Milwaukee
7. Donelson, A. S. (or A.J. ) Passenger of Grand Rapids
8. Driscoll, John Steward
9. Foley, Jim Wheelsman (missing)
10. Fugle, Edward Ironsides “greaser.”
11. Hazelbarth, Harry H. Passenger; first mate of the City of Toledo (missing)
12. Hazelbarth, Mrs. Mary Passenger; wife of Harry; drowned when lifeboat capsized.
13. Heany (or Hearny), James
14. Hiltz (or Hilles or Hiles ), John Passenger of Milwaukee; worked for lumber mill.
15. Hughes, Harry Ironsides fireman.
16. McGlue (or McGine ), Robert. Chief Engineer
17. Robeson, William Missing
18. Shea, Thomas. Missing
19. Smith, Joe Passenger; Grand Haven.
20. Smith, William Deck hand.
21. Sweetman, Harry Captain
22. Sweetman, Mrs. Wife of Captain Sweetman
23. Tyle, Ed.
24. Valentine, Mrs. H.A. Passenger of Milwaukee
25. Valentine, child of (son, ~4) Passenger
26. Wimmel (or Weimeil ), Charles. Passenger; agent of C. E. Harding & Co. of New York
27. Ed_____ (Tyle?) Coal passer (missing)
28. Unidentified person (perhaps the Ironsides watchman who was in Capt. Sweetman’s boat).

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