1855 — Aug 8, bark L. M. Hubby capsizes, Lake Michigan off Point Betsie, MI — 10

–10 Blanchard note: We are of the opinion that the more detailed account of the loss provided
by the only surviving crew member, the mate, noting ten lives lost, should
be view as authoritative.

–11 Mansfield, John Brandts. History of the Great Lakes (Vol. 1). 1899, p. 675.
–11 New York Daily Times. “Disaster to the Bark L.M. Hubby – Loss of the Crew.” 8-16-1855, 1.
–10 New York Daily Times. “Dreadful Disaster on the Lake–Ten Men Drowned.” 8-20-1855, 8.
–10 Shelak, Benjamin J. Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan. 2003, pp. 151 and 197.

Narrative Information

Mansfield: “Other Vessels Passed Out of Existence in 1855….bark L.M. Hulby [sic] lost on Lake Michigan, eleven lives lost…” (p. 675.)

Shelak: “L.M. Hubby…bark…Point Betsie [location of loss]…ballast [cargo]…C/S [cause – capsized/storm or sinks?]…10 [lives lost] 8/8/1855.” (p. 197.)

Shelak: “In 1855, the bark L.M. Hubby was in ballast when it capsized off Point Betsie. Only one of 11 crew members survived.” (p. 151.)

Newspaper

Aug 16, New York Daily Times: “Milwaukee, Wednesday, Aug. 15. The bark L. M. Hubby, of Cleveland, capsized off Point Betsey on the 8th inst. The crew, twelve in number, were all lost. Cotterell, the mate, alone was saved.” (New York Daily Times. “Disaster to the Bark L. M. Hubby – Loss of the Crew.” 8-16-1855, p. 1.)

Aug 20, New York Daily Times: “From the Milwaukee Sentinel, Aug. 16.
“By the propeller Milwaukee, Capt. Howard, we have the following account from Mr. Slyfield, Keeper of the South Manitou Light, of the wreck of the bark Hubby and loss of ten lives:

“South Manitous, Sunday, Aug. 12.

“The bark L. M. Hubby left Chicago Aug. 5, having on board 80 tons of sand as ballast. She had reached within about 30 miles of this point and near Point Betsy, running under main staysail and jib, when about 4 A.M., of the 8th, she capsized. She was 30 minutes sinking. The captain and mate and two men got into the small boat, leaving the remainder of the men hanging and lying in the water. The sea was so high that the boat could not pick up any of the men, and it pushed for shore. Before reaching land the boat capsized and the captain and one man were drowned. The others, righting the boat, got near shore at the Sleeping Bear, nearly opposite here, when the boat capsized again, and another man was drowned. The mate, being left alone, got ashore and climbed up the step bank. There he remained three days without food, but finally managed to reach a little settlement in Bear Bay, where he was cared for. The people gave him money and clothes, and he is now able to be about, but very weak. The names of the lost are Capt. Roberts, Daniel Grant, Henry Day (colored) the rest unknown.

“The information is give by James Cottrell, the only survivor of the eleven persons on the vessel. A. D. Slyfield, Light House Keeper, South Manitou Island.” (New York Daily Times. “Dreadful Disaster on the Lake–Ten Men Drowned.” 8-20-1855, p. 8.)

Sources

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 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=iHXhAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=&f=false

New York Daily Times. “Disaster to the Bark L. M. Hubby – Loss of the Crew.” 8-16-1855, p. 1. Accessed 12-5-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-york-daily-times-aug-16-1855-p-1/

New York Daily Times. “Dreadful Disaster on the Lake–Ten Men Drowned.” 8-20-1855, p. 8. Accessed 12-5-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-york-daily-times-aug-20-1855-p-8/

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