Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2015 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: Alice E. Getty OTHER NAME(s): - OFFICIAL NO: 105010 DATE OF LOSS: 20 November 1884 CAUSE OF LOSS: Storm LOCATION: Lake Michigan, Pentwater RIG TYPE: Tug HULL TYPE: Wood BUILDER: H. C. Piersons, Ferrysburg, MI - 1871 OWNER(S): Capt. Dalton (Whitehall), Chas. Allen (Muskegon) MASTER: ? TONNAGE: 38.3 gt DIMENSIONS: 70 x 25.5 x 7.3 CASUALTIES: none of 4 In violent wind and high sea, with a crib intended for Pentwater in tow, her tow line was carried from the deck and became entangled in her wheel resulting in her strand- ing and being wrecked upon the beach, just north of Pent- water light. Crew taken off after daylight by Capt. Adams, J. Vanatter and one of Sands & Maxwell's teamsters. It was reported early on that the GETTY was in good shape and would likely be saved but she was left in place and ravaged by the next storm even though there had been fair weather between events. The owners had made application to the Continental Insurance Company for a policy on her hull in the amount of $4,000 on November 19th, the day before the GETTY was wrecked. The insurance was not placed upon the tug until after 11 a.m. the following day, several hours after the GETTY went on the beach. The Muskegon agent, when contact- ing the Chicago agent, was very insistant that the risk was to be effective on the 19th. The insurance was placed even though the Chicago agent had already read newspaper reports of her wreck. Suit was brought by the owners in 1887 when Continental refused to pay the insurance. Jury found for the plaintiffs, assessing their damages at $5,348.47. Her engine and boilers were salvaged in 1889 and put into the tug WELCOME. In June, 1876, while owned by Capt. Wm. Frazier, the GETTY caught fire and burned to the water's edge at Muskegon. Said to have been scuttled and raised the following day. Only partially insured. The following October she again caught fire and lost all of her deck- work. Thought to be arson. Libelled for supplies and repairs and ordered to be sold. Before sale occurred several more libels were filed in Michigan and Illinois including those for seaman's wages. ======================================================================== Sources: Sherman, Elizabeth "Beyond the Windswept Dunes" University of Michigan, Great Lakes Maritime Database Merchant Vessels of the United States - 1874, 1878, 1881 Detroit Free Press, 7 October 1876 Detroit Free Press, 28 February 1877 Miller v. The Tug Alice Getty U.S. District Court, W.D. Michigan 9 April 1877 http://www.us-data.org/mi/glm/report/admiralty/getty-alice-e- lawsuit-1877.txt Continental Insurance Co., of N.Y.C. -vs- Cullen C. Allen, et. al. http://www.us-data.org/mi/glm/report/admiralty/getty-alice-e- lawsuit-1888.txt Chicago Tribune, 21 November 1884 The Pentwater News, 20 & 27 November 1884 The Ludington Record, 27 November 1884 Chicago Tribune, 8 April 1887