Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2016 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/ ========================================================================= NOTICE TO USERS - These files are protected by the The Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998. Information contained herein is provided for research purposes and may be freely linked to. Copying for redistribution or presentation by any person, persons or organization is not allowed without the written permission of the author/submitter. Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== VESSEL NAME: Marine City OTHER NAME(s): - OFFICIAL NO: 16447 DATE OF LOSS: 29 August, 1880 CAUSE OF LOSS: Fire LOCATION: Lake Huron, off Sturgeon Point RIG TYPE: Steamer, passenger & freight HULL TYPE: Wood BUILDER: Arnold, Marine City, MI - 1866 OWNER(S): Michigan Transportation Co. MASTER: Capt. W. E. Comer, Detroit TONNAGE: 382.50 gt DIMENSIONS: 192 x 27.75 x 10.66 CASUALTIES: 9 of 158 Caught fire and burned to the water's edge while on her way down to Detroit from Mackinaw. Fire was discovered about 15 minutes after leaving Alcona where she had stopped to take on a cargo of shingles. Passengers and crew rescued by the tugs VULCAN and GRAYLING as well as the steamer METROPOLIS and the Sturgeon Point life-saving crew who rowed out to the scene. Among the passengers on the MARINE CITY that fateful day was Mr. John H. McElroy, managing editor of the Toledo Blade, who lost his son and father-in-law in the disaster. Upon arriving in Toledo he gave great compliment to the officers and crew of the MARINE CITY and to the citizens of Alcona. He also leveled harsh criticism at the life-saving station, stating they were "nearly an utter failure," and going on to say that Capt. Silverthorn and his crew were "quite a useless expense to the government." Victims: Richard Schultz, head waiter Jas. Griffin, head cook Frank Emmit, musician Guy McElroy, Toledo Dr. Pomeroy, Ottawa, Ont. Jennie Musser, Alcona _____ Watson, Detroit unknown passenger, boarded at St. Ignace In the aftermath the Merchants and Manufacturers' Exchange raised funds to provide a suitable reward to the crew of the tugs VULCAN and GRAYLING. The rewards given were: Capt. Hackett, tug VULCAN, gold & diamond badge. John Millen, Jr., mate of the tug VULCAN, gold watch A gold & silver badge to 11 crewmen of the VULCAN Capt. Van Liew, tug GRAYLING, gold watch & chain D. Thompson, mate of the tug GRAYLING, and Wm. Bishop, deckhand of the tug GRAYLING, each a silver watch & chain. ======================================================================== Sources: Merchant Vessel List - 1871, 1875, 1877 Federal Reporter, Vol. 5 - December 1880-March 1881 (District Court, E.D. Michigan, April 4, 1881) Annual Report of the U.S.L.S.S. - 1881 Chicago Daily Tribune, 5 September 1880 Alpena Weekly Argus, 1 September 1880 Alpena Weekly Argus, 3 November 1880 Great Lakes Vessels Online index - BGSU