Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2024 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== St. Joseph Saturday Herald Saturday, 10 June 1882 DISASTER AND DEATH The Schooner Industry, of St. Joseph, goes Down off South Haven. CAPT. JOHN KING AND ALL HANDS DROWNED. Saturday monring, about 9 o'clock, the schooner Industry, of St. Joseph, CAPT. JOHN KING, owner, with himself, his son EBEN, and a young man named EDDIE CALENDER as crew, was towed out of this port by the ferry boat Hattie Adams. The schooner was found for Muskegon for a load of lumber. When off Saugatuck the sea was running so heavy that CAPT. KING decided to put about for South Haven, but when within one-half or two-thirds of a mile to the north'ard of the piers at South Haven, at about 6 p.m., a terrible sea tripped his boat and they were at the mercy of the wild waves. The TRAVELER-HERALD is informed by a sailor who wit- nessed the disater that as the schooner went over CAPT. KING was seen clinging to the side, near the cabin, while EBEN and CALENDER were in the main rigging on the opposite side. A great crowd of people soon congregated on and near the shore, and every effort made to rescue the drowning crew, but without success, as the sea was running too strong. At one time a man, with a line, waded and swam to within fifteen to eighteen rods of the crew, but was then compelled to return. The old Captain was washed from his hold three times, the last time going down to rise no more. His son and young CALENDER followed in about five minutes, and thus perished the crew of the Industry. The wreck drifted rapidly by and to the southard of the piers up to and against Ludwig's Pier, about five miles south of South Haven. She is badly broken up. It is stated and believed that the men could have been saved had an efficient Life-Saving Crew been on the ground to fire a line, from a mortar, over them, by which means they might have made shore. CAPT. KING was one of the oldest sailors and citizens of St. Joseph, and much respected. He leaves a widow here and five children, three sons and two daughters. They have the heartfelt sym- pathy of all in their terrible affliction. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. Below we give place to a letter, received by CAPT. N. ROBBINS, on the loss of the schooner Industry: South Haven Light Station, June 8, 1882. To CAPT. N. ROBBINS, Supt. U. S. Life Saving Service, St. Joseph, Mich.: MY DEAR SIR: - There being no Life Station officer at this harbor, at the present time, I take the liberty of reporting to you all the particulars in regard to the loss of the schooner Industry, of St. Joseph, CAPT. KING and his crew. She came in sight, or I saw her, to the north of here, at 4:45 p.m. She had up a jib and close- reefed foresail. There was a heavy sea from the northwest - wind a gale at forty miles an hour. She made good weather of it until she was about eight rods from this harbor. Her stern went up on a sea, and then a heavy sea broke on her stern at that time. She broached to and headed to the west, and rolled over to the south; port side went down. She went down all out of sight. She came up bows heading northeast. It was some time before I saw any of her crew come in sight, but when I did see them there were three; one on the stern and two amidships. They remained in the same position all the time, until they were washed clear of the schooner, and disappeared; they drifted to the beach and they motioned with their hands to me as they passed the Light House. I shook a large white towel at them to give them to understand all would be done for them that could be. One of the men got up and walked on her bul- warks, forward and back, once. They were slapping their arms about them to keep warm. The schooner capsized at 6:15 p.m. The last man I saw go off was at 7:30 p.m., one mile south of here. They were alive in the water, on the wreck, one hour and a quarter. The schooner came very close to the beach; at one time only four seas from the beach; then they drifted south to the clay banks. There was no chance for them to re- ceive assistance until they went further south. The anchor must have got adrift, because the schooner headed to the wind and stopped drifting; then the deck and spars went out of her and she rolled over, bottom up, and the men were washed away from her. She then drifted to Ludwig's Pier, and is now laying on the north side of the Pier, close to shore, a total wreck. No bodies yet found, so far as I can hear. The town was alive; all the inhabitants and sailors did all in their power to save the men, but no assistance could reach them. The people came with life-lines and life preservers; men went into the water up to their breasts, but it was no use; no common boat could live one minute. CAPTAIN B. A. CROSS did all that could be done by any man. All looked to him and obeyed him like a well-drilled crew, and I think if he had had a shot-line here he could have saved every man on that schooner. Your obedient servant, JAMES L. DONAHUE U.S. Light House Keeper ===============================================================================