Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== EAST SHORE NEWS PENTWATER, OCEANA Co., MICH. FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1871 VOLUME I, NUMBER 12. (extracts of maritime news) PENTWATER HARBOR ---------------- To the Editor of the East Shore News. SIRS: - I heard that a propeller ran past Pentwater, and since then I learn that one had finally entered that miser- able harbor drawing nine feet of water. Why such antagonism to Pentwater Harbor? Are they afraid the Railroad will go there? It cannot be because there is not water enough in the harbor, or because they cannot get into it. I think I have been on a boat when it entered Pentwater harbor without difficulty, and then went to Pere Marquette and lay on the bar there some time. That was all right, - they expected it, - but if it had been the other way it would have been heralded from one end of the shore to the other. Being somewhat acquainted with the shore of Lake Michigan for the last twenty years, - having traveled it on foot from Manistee to Grand Haven in all seasons of the year, either wading the streams or crossing them on a raft, there being no one living between Pere Marquette and White River, - now Sir, in my judgement, for all seasons of the year, the harbor at Pentwater is surpassed by but few on the shore, and considering the amount of money expended, surpassed by none. I have heard the remark that the river is too small, and that Pentwater will never amount to anything as a harbor on that account. It is perhaps forgotten, or not known that Chicago river is a very small stream, and that for many years after much more had been expended there than has ever been laid out at Pentwater, it was diffi- cult for vessels carrying sixty or seventy thousand feet of lumber to enter it. Now all the vessels that navigate the lakes enter with ease. If a tithe of the money that has been expended at Chicago should be expended at Pentwater, the harbor would be as good, and as easy of access as any on Lake Michigan The ice banks are never half as large between the two points Au Sable, as they are either north or south of them. My attention was more particularly drawn to this fact by a circumstance that happened sometime during the month of January, 1851, the exact date I do not recollect. I was then living at Pere Marquette. We had hired a man named Livingstone to carry the mail from Grand Haven to Manistee, paying him twenty-five cents for each letter. He carried the mail in a small sachel in his hand. Stopping at Pere Marquette on his way north, he met a young man who wished to bring down a trunk from Manistee, and who being a sailor, proposed that they two should take a sail boat and go to Manistee together and return with the trunk. The wind being fair and the shore comparitively clear from ice, it was thought that there was no danger. They consequently started about the middle of the day, but had only gone about three miles when something gave out, so that they were detained some hours. This detention would have brought them into Manistee very late in the evening, had the wind and skies been prosperous. Early in the evening, the wind changed to north-west and blew fresh. We supposed that they would be driven on the beach, as the wind was so far ahead that they would not be able to sail against. Some three days later a man came from Manistee, who said they had not been seen at that place, and we at once started in search of them. On going round the point we soon came to ice banks on the north side, and the further we went the more there were of them, until we arrived at Manistee they extended into the lake some forty or fifty rods. Neither man nor boat was ever found. Now we all know that the falling of snow into the water when the water is too cold to melt, is what causes ice banks, formed by what is called "mush" ice. The prevailing winds in winter being from a westerly direction, drives the "mush" ice to the east shore, and piles it on the beach, and in the mouths of the streams. This is the greatest obstruction to winter navigation. If you will take the map of Lake Michigan, you will see that line passing through the center of the lake is nearly due north as far as Big Point Au Sauble, and from thence to the straits of Mackinaw it is nearly northeast. On the west side of the lake the shore bears west of north until it gets to Milwaukee, and from thence bears north and east. On the east side of the shore runs north and east until near Grand Haven. Here is probably the widest place in the lake, being eighty-five miles from shore to shore. From Grand Haven to Little Point Sauble, a distance of about forty miles, the shore line is nearly north west. The Point extends from fifteen to twenty miles into the lake, from a north and south line at Grand Haven, forming a bay south of the point fifteen or twenty miles deep. All floating ice that is formed south of this point, and driven on the shore, will stay there. The east wind seldom blows long enough to drive what floating ice there may be south of the Point, far enough into the lake for a north or south wind to carry it past, but what is floating between the two Points is carried by the same winds far out beyond, the bay being only five miles deep, so that a S. W. S. or N. N. W. wind would drive it past one Point or the other never to return. For this reason I consider Pentwater one of the best points on the shore for winter navigation. I think that any one who has a knowledge of the prevailing winds in this section, and their effect on the ice, will agree with me in the views I have above expressed, at least far enough to give Pentwater harbor the preference for winter navigation. H. Bean, 909 West Lake St., Chicago. ----------------------------------------------- Englemann Transportation Company -------------------------------- Milwaukee, April 5, 1870 Richmond & Ratzel: - GENTLEMEN: - We have three complaints to make against you and your place, as follows: 1st. You don't keep the creek clear of vessels, so that our boats can get in and out readily. 2nd. You don't keep the light on your pier lighted. It is not regularly attended to - thus endangering our property and lives of passengers. 3d. Your creek is too full of slabs. It is impracticable for our boats to run over a slab pile! The slabs must be dug up and floated off. 4th. You must put down half a dozen spring piles along your dock, or we can't run vessels there -- too unsafe. And while you are about it put down half a dozen more by the entrance, south side, so that boats will not ride the pier. If necessary we will pay for the oil that is burned in the pier lights - and if necessary we will pay for the piles if you will pay for the driving. This ought to suit even Pentwater!! Please attend to all these things, as they are very important to both your and our interests. Yours, &c. H. B. Wilkins, Gen. Ag't. We hope our Common Council will see that the causes for these complaints are removed. - (Ed. LATER. - We are glad to say that Councilman Underhill has taken this matter in hand. A red light will hereafter be displayed from the end of the south pier, and a white light from the end of the north pier. The slabs will be removed at once. [transcriber's note: Year 1870 on above letter printed in error. Letter does say "three complaints" but lists four.] ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ EAST SHORE NEWS PENTWATER, OCEANA Co., MICH. FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 1871 VOLUME I, NUMBER 13. PENTWATER HARBOR ---------------- To the Editor of East Shore News: SIRS: - Having shown in my last that floating ice in Lake Michigan will never obstruct the harbor at Pentwater, so as to prevent winter navigation, I will now give my reasons for believing that Pent- water harbor is not so liable to be ob- structed by sand bars, as are most other harbors on the shore. I believe it is admitted by all that the sand that bars the streams, is borne along the shore in gales of wind, and in drifting by the rivers is carried out a short distance from the shore by the current and then de- posited, forming a bar across the channel. On the west side of the lake the drift is from the north, and on the east side it is from the south, showing that there is a current running round the lake. On this account the piers on the west shore have to be extended on the north side of the channel far enough to prevent the drifting sand from entering the stream, while on the east shore the piers on the south side have to be extended in the same way in order to obtain a good harbor. Pentwater does not have this lake current to contend with. As stated in my previous letter, the shore of Lake Michigan from Grand Haven to Little Point Au Sauble, ex- tends in a direction nearly northwest, while from the Point to Pentwater its course is nearly northeast. On this account the current, in coming along the shore from Grand Haven, tends directly out into the lake at the point, and there meeting deep water, deposits its sand. Notice the wind blowing past your house. Around the corner there will be an eddy formed that will catch the leaves and light stuff that have been borne along by the wind, and will de- posit them against the end of the house. So with this lake current. I think the prevailing winds drive on shore these deposits of sand, and when dry they are blown still further back, forming the barren sand hills of which the point consists. Now Pentwater being in the bottom of the bay, ten miles from the Point, and five miles inland, can never be affected by the natural current of the lake. The sand that comes along the beach must be borne by a southwest wind a distance of ten miles, or by a northwest wind a distance of six miles, the beach under the clay banks being either clay or gravel, and not liable to drift. You will find that at both Grand Haven and Muskegon the beach makes on the south side of the piers, every little being formed on the north, but at Pentwater the formation is about equal, and is mostly caused by the refuse from the mills preventing the sand from driving back on the beach. The piers at Pentwater run out nearly west, and the water at the end of the piers is so deep that the sea will hardly ever raise the sand from the bottom and carry it into the harbor sufficiently to obstruct it. I learn that the depth of water at Pentwater steadily increases, and from this I am led to believe that the views I have always held in regard to your harbor are correct, viz: that when once completed as it should be, there will be no lack of water, and when this is gained you are in no danger of losing it on account of the formation of bars by drifting sand. H. Bean, 909 West Lake St., Chicago. ---------------------------------------------- Englemann's new side-wheel steamer, the CITY OF TOLEDO, made her first appearance into our harbor on Wednesday evening. She is nearly as long as the METROPOLIS, and we believe has the same breadth of beam, and we doubt not will prove a valuable addition to this popular line. Certain it is that she is a great improvement over the BARBER, whose place she takes. The Englemann Co. seems to be doing all they can to meet the wants of our rapidly improving East Shore, and we hope that their enterprise will meet its due reward. ------------------------------------------------- MARINE DISASTERS ---------------- The Brig ST. JOSEPH Waterlog- ged - Her Deck Load Lost. ---------------- Crew Saved by Propeller ST. LOUIS - Full Particulars. ---------------- Schooner LEN HIGBY and Tug ALBION on the Beach On Wednesday morning a large Propeller was seen making for Pentwater harbor, which on coming near signalled for a tug. The ELLEN M. O'BRIEN went out to her, and soon returned with the crew of the scow brig ST. JOSEPH, which had been picked up by the pro- peller that morning. The Captain of the ST. JOSEPH reports that he left Ludington on Monday morning loaded with lumber. During the day he lost his deck load and his vessel became water logged. From Monday night to Wednesday morning the crew held on the vessel, with the sea constantly breaking over them, and nothing to eat but ham. On Wednesday morning the propeller ST. LOUIS came in sight, and soon rescued them from their perilous condition, and brought them to this port. When the crew were taken from the ST. JOSEPH, she was lying some thirty or forty miles south west of Pentwater. The tug CAROLINE WILLIAMS, of Manistee, belonging to Canfield's East Shore Wrecking Line, went to search of the vessel on Thursday, but did not find it. The ST. JOSEPH drifted north, and was first picked up by another vessel, and then taken in tow by the tug ALDRICH, and by her brought to this port about noon on Thursday. She appears to be only slightly damaged. This is not the first time the ST. LOUIS has come to the rescue of vessels in distress, the crew of the WARD having been picked up by her last season. We who were on the shore found the chilling wind of Tuesday rather uncomfortable to face, but what must have been the sufferings of those poor men who clung to their vessel for thirty- six hours, completely drenched by the water, exposed to the keen blasts of the cold north wind, with scarce any food, and no sleep. Under the circumstances it seems very fortu- nate that no lives were lost. On Tuesday last the schooner LEN HIGBY missed our harbor, striking the old north pier and breaking off her jib-boom, and ran up high and dry on the beach on the north side of the channel. This we believe is the first accident that has ever happened to the HIGBY, which has the reputa- tion of being one of the fastest and safest vessels on the lake. Excepting the loss of her jib-boom she is yet uninjured, and we hope will be got off at no great expense. This week seems to have its full share of mishaps. Capt. Stannard of the METROPOLIS informs us that the tug ALBION is on the beach at Hamlin, but will probably be got off without much damage. ------------------------------------------------- The schooner PRIDE came ashore this morning at about half six. She is loaded with supplies for Summers, Fox & Co. It will be quite a disappointment to them. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ EAST SHORE NEWS PENTWATER, OCEANA Co., MICH. FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 1871 VOLUME I, NUMBER 14. Only marine news is a blurry article regarding upcoming work on the piers. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ EAST SHORE NEWS PENTWATER, OCEANA Co., MICH. FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1871 VOLUME I, NUMBER 15. According to the Grand Haven Herald the Goodrich lines have abolished the sale of liquors on their boats. Good for them. GRAND HAVEN ----------- The Herald says a scientific diver from Detroit has been exploring the depths of Grand River... The News states that the boilers of the steamship MILWAUKEE are being taken to pieces, and will be used for scrap iron. A dredge has gone to Ludington to work on the harbor at that place. The tug NEWPORT had it in tow from Grand Haven, and on her way was forced to seek refuge in Pentwater harbor during the late high seas. ===========================================================================