1881 — Sep 10, steamer Columbia founders, Lake MI storm ~3M west of Pt. Betsie ~Frankfort, MI-15

–16 Shelak, Benjamin J. Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan. 2003, pp. 153 and 195.
–15 Bowling Green State Univ., OH. Historical Collections of the Great Lakes. “Columbia.”
–15 Bloomington Daily Leader. “Lost on the Lakes…Steamer Columbia…” 9-12-1881, p. 2.
–15 Cincinnati Daily Gazette, OH. “A Foundered Steamer…Columbia Goes Down…” 9-13-1881, p.1.
–15 Quincy Daily Herald, IL. “Casualties. Steam Foundered.” 9-13-1881, p. 1.

Narrative Information

Bowling Green State University: “
“Registry and Rig Information
Name Columbia
Registry Canada
Rig Propeller

“Dimensions and Tonnage
Length 137.00
Width 34.00
Gross Tonnage 629.00
Net Tonnage 408.00
Hull Material Wood

“Vessel History
“Disposition Foundered about three miles west of Point Betsy, near Frankfort, MI, Lake
Michigan, on September 19, 1881. Reportedly fifteen lives lost.
“Build Information
Builder Robertson, A.M.
Place Built Hamilton, Ontario
Date Built 1873-00-00
“Source HCGL [Historical Collections of the Great Lakes]

Shelak: “Columbia…prop [propeller] steamer, wood freighter…Frankfort [location of loss]… corn [cargo]…F/S [cause – foundered/sank or storm?]…16 [Crew & Passengers]…9/10/1881.” (p. 195.)

Shelak: “In September 1881, the propeller freighter Columbia foundered in a storm, taking 16 lives and a cargo of corn.” (Shelak, Benjamin J. Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan. 2003, p. 153.)

Newspapers

Sep 13, Cincinnati Daily Gazette: “Frankfort, Mich., Sept. 12 – The steamer Columbia of the Northeaster Line, foundered off Frankfort at 11 o’clock Sunday night [11th], and fifteen persons were drowned – Captain Malcom; second mate Robert Malcom; first engineer Wm. Crosby; second engineer; Wm. Mifflin, fireman; Geo. Benton, Wm. Shannon, Harriet Simmons, Miss Fitzgerald; also a passenger, said to be from Chicago, and seven others, names unknown. The bodies of the captain, first and second engineers, Miss Fitzgerald, and a young man, unknown, have come ashore.

“The steamer was bound from Chicago to Collingwood, Canada, and was grain laden. She shifted her cargo about 10:45, and sank fifteen minutes after. The passengers and crew got away from the vessel in small boats, but the boat containing the captain, engineers, and others was capsized.” (Cincinnati Daily Gazette, OH. “A Foundered Steamer. The Lake Steamer Columbia Goes Down in the Lake – Fifteen Lives Lost.” 9-13-1881, p. 1.)

Sep 13, Quincy Daily Herald, IL: “”Frankfort, Mich., Sept. 12. – Steamer Columbia foundered off Frankfort at 11 o’clock Saturday night [Sep 10] and fifteen persons were drowned: Capt. Malcom; Second Mate Robert Malcom; First Engineer Wm. Crosley, Wm. Mifflin, George G. Benton, Wm. Shannon, Harriet Simmons, Miss Fitzgerald; also a passenger said to be from Chicago, and seven others names unknown. The bodies of the captain, second engineer, Miss Fitzgerald and a young man, unknown, have come ashore. The steamer was bound from Chicago to Collingwood, grain laden. The passengers and crew got away from the vessel in small boats but the boat containing the captain, engineers and others capsized. The following are the saved: John Moore, James Wright, Daniel McFee, James Baker, John Fagan, Thos. Lee, Frank Hanrahan.” (Quincy Daily Herald, IL. “Casualties. Steam Foundered.” 9-13-1881, p. 1.)

Sources

Bloomington Daily Leader. “Lost on the Lakes. The Steamer Columbia Founders and Fifteen Lives are Lost.” 9-12-1881, p. 2. Accessed 12-4-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bloomington-daily-leader-sep-12-1881-p-2/

Bowling Green State University, OH. Historical Collections of the Great Lakes. “Columbia.” Accessed 12-4-2022 at: https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/item/434485

Cincinnati Daily Gazette, OH. “A Foundered Steamer. The Lake Steamer Columbia Goes Down in the Lake – Fifteen Lives Lost.” 9-13-1881, p. 1. Accessed 12-4-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/cincinnati-daily-gazette-sep-13-1881-p-1/

Quincy Daily Herald, IL. “Casualties. Steam Foundered.” 9-13-1881, p. 1. Accessed 12-4-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/quincy-daily-herald-sep-13-1881-p-1/

Shelak, Benjamin J. Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan. Big Earth Publishing, 2003. Partially digitized by Google. Accessed at: http://books.google.com/books?id=4CBCcye0n6IC