1906 — Nov 21-22, Great Lakes Storm, U.S. and Canadian losses (esp. maritime) –38-39

–39  Logansport Journal, IN. “39 Lives Lost in Lake Storm.” 11-24-1906, p. 1.

–38  Blanchard tally from breakouts below.

–32  World Today. “The Calendar of the Month. United States.” V. 12, No. 1, Jan 1907, p. 109.

 

Lake Erie [not included]                  (  7) Barge found safe several days later with all alive.

–7  Barge Athens, towed by steamer Pratt, broke loose and foundered about 10:00 p.m.[1]

–7  Barge Athens.[2]

 

Michigan                                (  4)

–4  Holland Harbor Cribwork, Holland, MI. Racine Daily Journal, WI. “Storm…” 11-22-1906, 1.

 

Ohio                                       (  1)
–1  Cedar Point marsh, Nov 21. Skiff capsized in storm while hunting; Ottomar Zistel.[3]

 

Wisconsin                              (  1)

–1  Marinette area, Lake MI. Tug O.M. Field crewmember hit in head by loose timber, Nov 21.[4]

 

Canada, Ontario                   (26)

–26  Steamer J.H. Jones, foundered Nov 22 off Cape Croker, Georgian Bay (off Lake Huron).[5]

 

Canada, Toronto Harbour   (  6)

–6  Steam barge Resolute, Nov 22, Toronto Harbour, Lake Ontario.[6]

 

Narrative Information

 

World Today: “November 21.–Thirty-two lost their lives in consequence of a fierce storm on the Great Lakes.” (World Today. “The Calendar of the Month. United States.” V. 12, No. 1, Jan 1907, p. 109.)

 

Nov 22: “Quebec, Nov 22.–A vessel supposed to be the bark Madga, is reported lost on Red Island reef [off Newfoundland] with all on board. She carried a crew of fourteen men.

 

“Grand Rapids, Mich., Nov. 22.–Four men who were caught by last night’s storm on the crib work of the new breakwater at the entrance to Holland harbor on Lake Michigan, were washed away by the waves and drowned. The dead are:

 

Tom Bennett of Muskegon, contractor for the crib work.

George Lechase, of Holland.

Alvid Nelson, of Muskegon.

Martin Woodward of Fennville.

 

“The four men with Ed. Bennett went out to the crib work in a launch and a scow in the afternoon shortly before the storm broke. Then the wind struck the crib the scow with Bennett aboard was torn loose. It drifted up the lake and was finally cast ashore north of Ottawa beach [north shore of Lake Macatawa, which opens onto Lake Michigan] with Bennett safe, although in an exhausted condition. The four men left on the crib could not gain the shore because of the immense sea. The life saving crew attempted to aid them, but the waves were so high that no boat could live. Attempts were made to shoot a line to them, but the hurricane hurled the line back. A tug was requested from Grand Haven, but no boat dared go out in the storm. When night closed the men were still clinging desperately to the crib work. At daybreak today they were gone….[Later report: “When the life saving crew succeeded in reaching the crib today the dead bodies of Bennett, Lechase and Nelson were found in a pocket of the crib. The body of Woodward had been washed away.”]

Fatally Injured.

 

“Milwaukee, Nov. 22.–A special dispatch from Marinette, Wis., says:

 

“During last night’s storm Joseph Kimper, a member of the crew of the tug O. M. Field was struck on the head by a timber and fatally injured. The storm was the worst of the year here, the wind blowing at the rate of sixty miles an hour, accompanied with sleet.

 

“The schooner Ottawa from Sturgeon Bay reached here today after a harrowing experience. The sails had been blown away and the crew was exhausted from their battle with the waves. Many trees have been blown down and several barns unroofed. On the whole the storm did a great deal of damage in this city.

Ashore, But In No Danger.

 

“Detroit, Mich., Nov. 22.–The steel steamer Chauncey Hurlburt bound for Buffalo was blown out of her course on Lake Erie last night by the terrific gale and is aground off Leamington. She is reported to be undamaged and in no danger, although it will be necessary to lighter part of the cargo, before the steamer can be released. Her tow is anchored off Colchester, Unmanned.

 

Captain And Six Die.

 

Sandusky, O., Nov 22.–The barge Athens in tow of the steamer Pratt went down in Lake Erie in the storm last night.[7] The captain and six men of the crew were probably drowned. Captain Mackey of Milwaukee was in command of the barge. He has sailed on the lake for forty years. The Pratt was bound from Escanaba to Buffalo with iron ore. The storm struck the vessel, the tow line parted. The Pratt was able to ride the storm, but the Athens soon foundered. Captain McPherson of the Pratt says that the sea was running so high that he was unable to render any assistance to the Athens and the barge went down about 10 o’clock at night. Captain McPherson says the storm was one of the worst that he has ever experienced.”

 

Six Passengers Drowned.

 

“Toronto, Ont., Nov. 22.–Early this morning the Steambarge Resolution from Erie, Pa., to Toronto, sprang a leak in heavy seas, just outside the harbor here and sank. The crew under the command of Captain Sullivan, put off in two boats. One containing five people reached the shore safely while the second was swamped, her six occupants being drowned. They were: John Harrison, Deseronto, Chief Engineer: Thomas Toppin, Deseronto, Assistant Engineer; Dave White, Prescott, deck hand; Harry Gregory, Port Colborne, Neilson – Christiana, Norway.” (Racine Daily Journal, WI. “Storm Ravages the Great Lakes; Many Lives Lost.” 11-22-1906, 1.)

 

Nov 23: “(Journal Special Service.) Detroit, Nov. 23.–Seven more lives are believed to have been lost in the furious storm on the great lakes, raising the total to thirty-nine. Damage to shipping piers and docks, it is estimated, will reach $1,000,000.” (Logansport Journal, IN. “39 Lives Lost in Lake Storm.” 11-24-1906, p. 1.)

 

Nov 24: “Wednesday’s [21^st] storm does not seem to have been confined to this locality alone. Reports from further north and on the great lakes were to the effect that the gale reached the velocity of sixty miles an hour and did much damage….” (Cayuga Herald, IN. “Storms and Flood.” 11-24-1906, p. 1.)

 

Sources

 

Associated Press. “Disasters on the Lakes. Two Vessels are Lost,” Daily Northwestern, Oshkosh, WI, 11-22-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-5-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oshkosh-daily-northwestern-nov-22-1906-p-1/

 

Cayuga Herald, IN. “Storms and Flood.” 11-24-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-5-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/cayuga-herald-nov-24-1906-p-1/

 

Logansport Journal, IN. “39 Lives Lost in Lake Storm.” 11-24-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-5-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/logansport-journal-nov-24-1906-p-1/

 

Maritime History of the Great Lakes. “J. H. Hones (Propeller), C90769, sunk, 22 Nov 1906. Accessed 7-5-2019 at: http://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/56293/data

 

Maritime History of the Great Lakes. “Resolute (Propeller), C88241, sunk, 22 Nov 1906.” Accessed 7-5-2019 at: http://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/62394/data

 

Racine Daily Journal, WI. “Storm Ravages The Great Lakes; Many Lives Lost.” 11-22-1906, 1. Accessed 7-5-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/racine-daily-journal-nov-22-1906-p-9/

 

Weekly Pantagraph, Bloomington, IL. “Died of Exhaustion.” 11-23-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-5-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bloomington-weekly-pantagraph-nov-23-1906-p-2/

 

World Today. “The Calendar of the Month. United States.” V. 12, No. 1, Jan 1907, p. 109. Google preview accessed 7-5-20019 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=cZjNAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

 

 

[1] Racine Daily Journal, WI. “Storm Ravages The Great Lakes; Many Lives Lost.” 11-22-1906, p. 1.

[2] Assoc. Press. “Disasters on the Lakes. Two Vessels are Lost,” Daily Northwestern, Oshkosh, WI, 11-22-1906, p. 1.

[3] Weekly Pantagraph, Bloomington, IL. “Died of Exhaustion.” 11-23-1906, p. 1.

[4] Racine Daily Journal, WI. “Storm Ravages The Great Lakes; Many Lives Lost.” 11-22-1906, p. 1.

[5] Maritime History of the Great Lakes. “J. H. Hones (Propeller), C90769, sunk, 22 Nov 1906.

[6] Racine Daily Journal, WI. “Storm Ravages The Great Lakes; Many Lives Lost.” 11-22-1906, p. 1; Maritime History of the Great Lakes. “Resolute (Propeller), C88241, sunk, 22 Nov 1906.”

[7] Reported on Nov 24 that the barge “with all on board is safe and the captain and crew are well. The barge has been found near Northeast shoal.” (Daily Messenger, Athens, OH. “Safe With All Hands.” 11-24-1906, p. 7.)