1883 — Nov 16, steamer Manistee lost, Lake Superior gale, off W Keweenaw Peninsula, MI- ~27

— ~27 Blanchard estimated death toll.*

— 55 Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, WI. “Lost With All on Board.” Nov 22, 1883, p. 1.
–25-50 Boston Daily Globe. “The Missing Manistee.” Nov 22, 1883, 4.
— 37 Daily Journal and Republican, Freeport, IL. “The Missing Manistee.” Nov. 23, 1883, 2.
–23-37 Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping News Archive. Report News (November 2008).
— 30 Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. 1972, p. 253.
— 30 Nash, Jay Robert. Darkest Hours. 1977, p. 689.
— 30 U.S. Steamboat Inspection Ser. Annual Report of Supervising Inspector Gen. 1884, 17.
— >27 Thompson, Mark L. Graveyard of the Lakes. Wayne State Univ. Press, 2004, p, 215.
— 25 Algona Upper Des Moines, IA. “Fires and Casualties.” Nov 28, 1883, p. 3.
— 23 Mansfield, John Brandts (Editor). History of the Great Lakes (Vol. 1). 1899, p. 739.
— 23 Swayze. Shipwreck!…Directory…Shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. 1992 p. 140.
— 20 Newark Daily Advocate, OH. “No Hope for the Manistee.” Nov 23, 1883, p. 1.

* Blanchard estimated death toll. We rely primarily on Thompson who writes that at least twenty-seven were lost, and on the U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service which noted a reported loss of thirty people. The US SIS, though, did not take note of three survivors who made shore three days after the loss. Doing so would result in twenty-seven deaths, provided their death-toll estimate was accurate. Given that the higher death toll estimates are newspaper accounts, which do not take into account the disembarkation of a number of passengers prior to the final departure of the Manistee from Bayfield, WI, where she had taken shelter for several days, we discount such reporting. We speculate Berman and Nash based their estimates of thirty deaths on the Steamboat Inspection Service report.

Narrative Information

Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping News Archive: “On 16 Nov 1883, MANISTEE (wooden side-wheeler, 184 foot, 677 tons, built in 1867, at Cleveland, Ohio) broke up in a gale west of the Keweenaw Peninsula off of Eagle Harbor, Michigan. This is one of Lake Superior’s worst disasters. Estimates of the number who died range from 23 to 37.” (Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping News Archive. News (Nov 2008).)

Mansfield: “1882….The most fearful storm of the season began November 11, and lasted nearly two weeks. During that brief season the loss to shipping exceeded the combined losses of the entire seasons of 1881 and 1882. The actual damage to vessel property was estimated at $1,150,000. About 100 lives were lost.

“Most Disastrous Loss. – The most disastrous loss to life for the season resulted from the foundering of the passenger propeller Manistee, which went down in mid-lake on Lake Superior, November 16, with 23 lives. The Manistee was engaged in the Lake Superior trade, running between Duluth and Portage and touching at all intermediate mining ports. She left Duluth Saturday, November 10, and laid at Bayfield all through the northwest gale from Sunday until Thursday at midnight, when she left. She is supposed to have been struck by a southwest gale between the Apostle island and Ontonagon. Wreckage of the boat was found several miles from the latter harbor. All aboard perished, consisting of the crew of nineteen and four passengers.” (Mansfield, John Brandts (Editor). History of the Great Lakes (Vol. 1). 1899, p. 739.)

Thompson: “….The mystery [of the missing Manistee] was cleared up when a lifeboat carrying three survivors from the Manistee washed up on the shore of the Keweenaw Peninsula after three days adrift on the angry seas of Lake Superior. They reported that the steamer had been overtaken by strong southwest winds and high seas shortly after leaving the sheltered waters of the Apostle Islands. Captain McKay attempted to bring the ship around to return to Bayfield, but the waves were too much for the old girl and the Manistee began to break up.

“The ship’s lifeboats were swung over on their davits, but before they could be launched all but one were swept away by the powerful seas. Nine of those aboard the Manistee managed to get aboard the remaining boat just minutes before the steamer plunged to the bottom. Captain Johnny McKay was not one of them. One survivor said that when the three lifeboats were swept away and it became obvious that not everyone was going to be able to get off the sinking ship, Captain McKay calmly and magnanimously said, ‘I am captain of this boat, and if she is a coffin for anybody, she will be my coffin.’ The Manistee proved to be a coffin, not just for Captain McKay, but for more than twenty of those aboard his ship. Six of those who escaped in the open lifeboat also perished during the three brutally cold days the little boat tossed around on the frenzied waters of Lake Superior….” (Thompson, Mark L. Graveyard of the Lakes. Detroit, MI: Wayne State University Press, 2004, pp. 212-216.)

U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service: “November 15, 1883. – Steamer Manistee left Bayfield for Ontonagon about 8 p.m., since which time she has not been heard from, except through large quantities of wreckage, which has been found floating between Ontonagon and Keweenaw point, and which is undoubtedly part of the upper works of the ill-fated steamer. Among the wreckage was found one of the steamer’s life-boats and five buckets marked Manistee. There is supposed to have been on board the steamer six passengers and a crew of twenty-four, making thirty persons in all, who undoubtedly perished in this disaster.” (U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service. Annual Report of the Supervising Inspector-General of Steamboats to the Secretary of the Treasury for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1884. 1884, p. 17.)

Newspapers (Chronological)

Nov 21: “Hancock, Mich., Nov. 21. – It is feared that the steamer Manistee…has sunk with crew and twenty-five passengers aboard. She left Bayfield at midnight on the 15th inst. for Ontonagon, en route for Hancock, and has not been since heard of. The steamers Duluth and China left Bayfield shortly after Manistee for same route, but did not see her. A tug was sent to find the lost steamer and has returned having found adrift a bucket marked Manistee and a portion of a pilot-house. The boat being old, heavily laden, and the sea being rough, it is believed she is lost. John McKay was her commander…” (Daily Journal and Republican, Freeport, IL. “Dreadful Apprehension. Fears…Steamer Manistee, with Twenty-five Passengers, is Lost.” 11-21-1883, 2.)

Nov 21: “It is feared that the steamer Manistee, plying between Hancock, Mich., and Duluth [MN], has sunk with its crew and twenty-five passengers aboard.” (Newark Daily Advocate, OH. “Condensed News.” Nov 21, 1883, p. 1.)

Nov 21: “Duluth, Minn., Nov 21 – The steamer Manistee left here Saturday, the 10th, and left Ashland for Ontonagon the 15th, when the storm had not fully abated. Cruising tugs have found portions of her cabin and it is now feared the steamer is lost with all on board.” (Oshkosh Northwestern, WI. “A Watery Grave…Lake Superior Steamer…” 11-21-1883, 1.)

Nov 21: “Marquette, Nov. 21 — Word reached here to-day that the steamer Manistee, commanded by Capt. John McKay, of Cleveland, and plying regularly during the season between Duluth and Houghton, was lost with all on board in the storm of last week….Her crew consisted of twenty-eight men, and she had about thirty passengers on board, all of whom it is thought are lost. She was licensed to carry eighty-five passengers. The news of this disaster causes the profoundest regret here, it being the first disaster of the kind on the lake for several years. Capt. McKay was a skillful sailor and very popular on the lakes. He leaves a family consisting of his widow and daughter, who reside at Cleveland.

“The Manistee was considered a staunch sea-worthy craft and had ridden out many severe gales on Lake Superior in safety prior to that in which she went down. She was rebuilt in Manitowoc a year ago last winter at a coat of $5,000 and was supposed to be in first-class condition.

The Crew of the ill-fated vessel consisted of the following: John McKay, captain; Geo. M. Seaton, purser; Andy Mack, first-mate; Harry Smith, second mate; Patrick Cullen, first engineer; John Paine, second engineer; Edward Bowdin, cook. The waiters, sailors, chambermaids and deck-hands made in all a crew of about twenty-five on board.

“It is the general opinion that the Manistee was wrecked in the terrible gale of Friday last, as she left port on Thursday night and was not again seen. It is probable that she foundered before any of the four life-boats which she carried could be lowered, and it is doubtful if the boats were launched if they could live in the tremendous sea.

“The loss of the crew of the Manistee swells the loss of life during the big gale of last week on the lakes to 116….

“The Manistee is owned by Leopold Y Austrian, one of her owners being a resident of Milwaukee. She is a propeller of 677 tons burthen, was built in 1867 at Cleveland by S. H. Peck, some years later was cut in two and lengthened, and at Manitowoc in 1879 was given a thorough rebuild. For a number of years she plied between Milwaukee and Manistee in the Engelmann Line. She was fitted out as a passenger boat as well as a freight carrier, and ran in connection with the Wisconsin Central railroad, from Houghton, and Ashland to Bayfield. She had on board a cargo of 337 tons of miscellaneous merchandise….

Later.

“Ashland, Wis., Nov. 22 – The steamer Japan found a lot of sash and doors on the beach of Isle Royal which are supposed to be a part of a lost loaded here on the steamer Manistee….” (Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, WI. “Lost With All on Board.” Nov 22, 1883, p. 1.)

Nov 21: “Chicago, November 21. — Reports concerning the probable loss of the propeller Manistee are conflicting. A dispatch from Duluth says: The Manistee left here Saturday, November 17, loaded with oats and bran for Ontonagon, with a fair list of passengers, a crew of fifteen and three deck hands. She laid over at Bayfield from Saturday until Tuesday, where her passengers were transferred to, the City of Duluth. Captain McKay was from Rochester, N. Y. The other officers are; Purser, G. L. Seaton; steward, V. M. Kelly; mate, Andy Alack; engineer, Pal Cullen—all of Chicago. The above dispatch, it will be seen, indicates that the passengers are all in safety on the Duluth.

“On the other hand, a dispatch tram Milwaukee says the local representative of the Leopold and Austrian, Chicago and Milwaukee, said this evening “that he feared the Manistee had gone down with all on board in the terrific storm of Saturday last. The boat carried a crew of twenty-five and twenty-five passengers. A number of the latter were from Milwaukee and Chicago. The list is at Bayfield, and is not obtainable….” (Boston Globe. “The Missing Manistee.” 11-22-1883, 4)

Nov 23: “Chicago, Nov. 23. — 23.—There seems to be no doubt that the propeller Manistee has gone down. The report that her passengers were transferred to another vessel at Bayfield is verified. There were probably not more than twenty persons on board at the time of the disaster.” (Newark Daily Advocate, OH. “No Hope for the Manistee.” Nov 23, 1883, p. 1.)

Nov 23: “Hancock, Mich., Nov. 23. — No tidings of the missing propeller Manistee have been heard of. Two tugs have been sent out to search along the north shore and among the Apostle islands. Their return is expected Saturday with deep anxiety. It is learned that passengers for points south of Ontonagon were transferred from the Manistee to the City of Duluth at Bayfield to avoid being detained while a large cargo was being discharged at that point. The actual loss of life is thirty-seven persons, consisting of seven passengers, and the crew numbering thirty.” (Daily Journal and Republican, Freeport, IL. “The Missing Manistee.” Nov. 23, 1883, 2.)

Sources

Algona Upper Des Moines, IA. “Fires and Casualties [Manistee].” 11-28-1883, p. 3. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=122683220

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

Boston Daily Globe. “The Missing Manistee.” Nov 22, 1883, 4. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=161056827

Daily Journal and Republican, Freeport, IL. “The Missing Manistee.” 11-23-1883, 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=130897481

Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping News Archive. “Report News (November 2008).” Accessed at: http://www.boatnerd.com/news/archive/11-08.htm

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

Nash, Jay Robert. Darkest Hours – A Narrative Encyclopedia of Worldwide Disasters from Ancient Times to the Present. New York: Pocket Books, Wallaby, 1977, 792 pages.

Newark Daily Advocate, OH. “No Hope for the Manistee.” Nov 23, 1883, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=10573044

Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, WI. “Lost With All on Board” [Manistee]. Nov 22, 1883, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=6370797

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

United States Steamboat Inspection Service. Annual Report of the Supervising Inspector-General of Steamboats to the Secretary of the Treasury for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1884. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1884. Accessed 12-6-2020 at: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nnc1.cu09189980&view=1up&seq=47&q1=manistee%201883