Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: 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. =========================================================================== VESSEL NAME: Joseph Barber OTHER NAME(s): (also seen as Joe Barber or J. Barber) OFFICIAL NO: 12981 DATE OF LOSS: 19 July 1871 REASON: Fire LOCATION: Lake Michigan, 25 miles west of St. Joseph RIG TYPE: Propeller HULL TYPE: Wooden BUILDER: Luther Moses, Cleveland, 1856 OWNER(S): Capt. Selah Dustin, Detroit MASTER: Capt. James F. Snow TONNAGE: 302 gt DIMENSIONS: 140 x 24 x ? CASUALTIES: * SURVIVORS: * Left Benton Harbor with a cargo of fruit (strawberries or peaches) bound for Chicago at about 9 p.m. Shortly after midnight, when off St. Joseph, fire was discovered near the smoke stack. The fire quickly turned into an inferno causing the crew and passengers to abandon the craft by whatever means at their disposal. The steamers A. C. VAN RAALTE, CORONA, and SKYLARK, all of the Goodrich line, hastened to the rescue as flames lit the night sky. Sources vary as to loss of life (2 - 5) and survivors (18 - 30). ======================================================================== Sources: East Shore News (Pentwater, MI), 28 July 1871 Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, 21 July 1871 Merchant Vessel List, 1871 Last Updated 23 July 2014