The true northerner., 1880-10-29
LOSS OF THE ALPENA.

The most serious of all the calamities occa-
stoned by the recent gale on the lakes was the
loss of the steamer Alpena, bound from Grand
Haven to Chicago. The Inflated vessel left
the former port on Friday night, Oct. Is, with
about eighty people on board, not soul of
whom, it is believed at this writing, is left
to tell the story of the disaster. The Apena
was due at Chicago on Saturday morning, the
16th but the owners Of the vessel and friends
and relatives of those on board did not despair
of her safety for three days after, when the
most indisputable evidences OF the awful fate
that had overtalen them were furnished III the
shape of pieces OF the wreck and stray articles
Of furniture bearing the name of the
Alpena. These were washed ashore III
the vicinity of Holland, Mich, on the east shore
of Lake Michigan and it il the general impress
sion that the steamer met her fate not far from
that point. There were ten carloads Of apples
stored on the main deck OF the Alpena, and the
theory is advanced that when she got into tho
trough of the sea this cargo became unmanage-
able, and pitching from side to side with the
motion of the boat finally rolled her over. Such
a cargo stored i'll that way instead of in the
hold would have tendency to make the boat
top-heavy, and it is not improbable that this il
one Of the causes of the disaster. The finding
of portions OF the piano on the eastern shore
may be taken IA further proof that the NOV
ables on the Alpena were on the rampage.
1t is not unlikely that the Alpenas piano
jumped clear through the side of the cabin in
one of the violent lurches. When heavy body
gets loose on a vessel in a storm it is q terrible
thing, and is sometimes transformed into an ir-
resstlble engine OF destruction. 1t Is also
probable that she became disabled in somo
manner, and thus fell an easy prey TO the an
cry waves. This belief is strengthened by the
story OF tho officers of n schooner, who report
seeing the Alpena off Racine Saturday morn
ing, between 10 and IL o'clock, heading due
west, laboring very hard in the trough
of the sea. They saw no signals of
distress, but supposed from the way the
boat was acting that she was in trouble.
The following are known to have been on the
Alpena
Capt. Nelson Napier, of st. Joseph, Mich;
First Officer, j. II. Kelly first engineer, Rob
ert Johnson, of Grand Haven second engl-
neer, Robert Patton, Of GranpHaven steward,
William Shepard clerk, Arthur Haynes ; por-
ter, Thomas Lynch fireman, Harry
Falls crew Of about fifteen. The passen-
gers known arc: U. Crossnan, Grand Haven;
w. S. Benham and wife, Grand Haven; Mrs.
B. T. Curtis, Grand Haven Heber Squer, Jr.,
Grand Haven Mrs. Newton Bradley, Miss Lou
Bradley and Miss Kate Bradley, Santa Fe, N.
NJ; +. Spaoth, Grand Rapids G. Hottinger,
Grand Rapids; G.. Kusterer, Grand Rapids; II.
Landreth, Muskegon; Mrs. $. Il. Cole. Ottawa,
Hart Hart and nd" wife, white Pigeon, Mich;
Mr.. Ryder, agent of the glass works of Syra-
cuse, N. Y; John J. Bowen, ex-stoward OF the
Alpena; = Boboiinsky, old-ron dealer, of
Chicago i. ID. Peyton. OF Philadelphia Har-
ry l.. st. Clair, of New York w. c. Petti5one,
OF New York John Osborn, wife and three
children, of Chicago Neal McGillvray, OF St.
Joseph, Mich; Maggie Mack ex-stowaitess of
the Apena Mrs. Decoudres, OF Evanston Ill.
The Alpena was i'll command OF Capt. Nelson
w. Napier, one Of the oldest and most careful
Captains OH the lake
The missing steamer was regarded as one OF
the stanchest of the Goodrich steamers and in
every way seaworthy. She WAS built by Gale
CHER & Co., at Marine City, and came
out in May, 1866. She was registered
654 tons measurement. After sailing
on the lakes for ten years she was rebuilt at
Manitowoc by her present owners, the Good
rich Transportation Company, and was consid-
cred by them stronger in every part after
ward than when first built. The rebuilding was
done i'll 1876. She was valued by the company
at $4,000. and was insured for $4,000.