Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: 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. =========================================================================== VESSEL NAME: Menekaunee OTHER NAME(s): - OFFICIAL NO: 90765 REASON: Storm DATE OF LOSS: 19 November, 1886 LOCATION: Lake Michigan - Frankfort RIG TYPE: Schr-barge HULL TYPE: Wooden - 3 mast BUILDER: J. Martel of Saugatuck - 1873 OWNER(S): Henry N. Loud & Co., Oscoda, MI (purchased from Marinette Barge Line co., Sept., 1886 for $8,000) MASTER: Capt. James Cox TONNAGE: 588 gt LENGTH: 172 ft BEAM: 32 ft DEPTH: 12 ft CASUALTIES: 7 (all) SURVIVORS: 0 On November 18, 1886, the schooner barges MENEKAUNEE and MARINETTE were bound Oscoda to Chicago with 1,250,000 feet of lumber between the two of them, in tow of the steam barge MANISTIQUE. At about noon they ran into a southeast gale, with rain and snow mixed, that intensified to near hurricane strength throughout the day. Midnight found the trio about six miles off Ludington with the MANISTIQUE turning to make a run for the Wisconsin shore. They made Two Rivers light but, finding little safety from the storm there, made for the shelter of the Manitou Islands at daylight. At about 2:30 the tow broke and the MANISTIQUE steamed away into the storm, leaving the MENEKAUNEE and MARINETTE on their own. The lone survivor, C. W. Annis of the MARINETTE, later said that the MENEKAUNEE was near them throughout the day. She had not been flying distress signals but disappeared once darkness fell. Valiant rescue efforts were made by the Frankfort Lifesaving Service but the intensity of the storm impeded all attempts to gain the beach with their apparatus, arriving only to find masses of lumber and victims flung ashore. Crew List: Capt. - James Cox - Port Huron From the Marine Record: Mates - Dan Wheeler and John Cotton Mike Johnson - Port Huron John Johnson - Port Huron two unknown sailors and the cook From the Warsaw Daily Times (note: this news article contains some obvious errors) Mate - John Bunting - Detroit Cook - William Lowry - Buffalo William Arbley - Port Huron 3 unknown sailors ======================================================================== Sources: Warsaw Daily Times, 20 November 1886 The Marine Record, 25 November 1886 Vessel Enrollment No. 86, 6 September 1886 "Heroes, Rogues, and just plain folks" - Kit Lane, 1998