The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-12-17
Steamer Northerner.


the steamer Noltherner had run on
ref on Keweenaw point, sustaining
some injury to her hull and machinery
and that after having jettisoned about
two thousand barrels Of oil, she made
this port to lay up for the winter.
1t seems, however, that her owners
or lessees had different intentions, as
she was ordered to Duluth to lay up
but considerable delay was occassioned
in clearing on account OF the reluctance
of the crew to proceed. They consid-
cred her an unlucky boat. md MS sail
or's superstition has nearly the force Of
conviction, they all but positively re-
fused to 20 further in her ut this sea-
son of the year. In consequence OF
this she was delayed here until Monday
morning.
Up to this time Capt. McKinnon
was in command Of the boat, but it had
been arranged that Capt. John Nc
Cullough, Of Buffalo, who had been en-.
gagged to sail the boat next season,
should take command and sail her
to Duluth, the transfer to take place
Monday morning before she cleared
this port.
At about Z 80 in the morning, while
the officers and portion of the crew
were at breakfast, fire was discovered
in the lamp room in the forward part
of tn, boat. The flames spread rapid
ly, and there appeared to be not much
effort to extinguish them, SO the boat
was abandoned by both officers and
crew in about half an hour.
The L'Anse fire department respond
ed to the alarm and had two streams
playing in short time but being I'M
able to reach the sent of fire their
efforts ut saying the boat were of little
avail and their attention was directed
to saving the dock and warehouse.
The steamer had in her hold about
1900 barrels of kerosene ell, and when
the flames licked up this combustible
material the burning slip presented q
scene at once grand and terrible. Tie
seething flames shot up to tile clouds
and then vanished in volleys OF smoke
as black as Egyptian darkness. Dore's
representations of the Internal regions
could hardly surpass this uncanny
picture OF destruction. The doomed
boat continued to burn until late Mon
day night when the little that was left
above the keel sunk to the bottom, and
during all this time the LAnse fire
company worked necessarily to save
the railroad company's dock and ware.
house, and succeeded. At one time,
however, their success look Il dubious
A large amount of oil found it's exit
from the boat and spread over the
surrounding water. This Immediately
ignited and Tor time the bay
presented the Appearance of burning
lake. This communicated the flames
to the substructure of the dock and re-
quired most vigorous effort to stay
the destroyer. Considering the fact
that this large boat burned Immediate
ly along side of the dock it is credit
10 the L'Anse fremen that the dock
and warehouse were saved.
Just why the ffiocers of the boat did
not scuttle her and back her out into
deep water is one ( the mysteries con-
nected with the affair. They had am
pie time to do so lad they so desired,
as it was long time before the flames
reached the engine room. Instead OF
doing so the engineer, under instruc'
tons from Capt. Rounds, representing
the insurance company, gave her q
turn ahead aud ran her nose aground.
The origin of the fire is matter oil
conjecture. 1t was given out at first
that The porter dropped b lighted lamr
in a box of fine straw packing the
lamp room, but the evidance taken be
fore Notary McKernan would Justify
strong suspicion that the boat WI,
deliberately fred, and tho actions of
the officers and crew confirm tho
suspicion, but as yet the responsibility
has not been traced 10 any particular
person.
The Northerner was built at Marin,
City in 1876, and was rebuilt in 1887
after her first baptism by Are at Kel
lcy's Island. Her registered tonnage
was ], 136 tons and she was rated il
Inland Lloyds us AZ, value $50, 600
She was insured for $50, 900 and the
cargo was also covered by Insurance
Her owner is q. E. Blakeslee, Rocli
ester, but was chartered for this trip b,
Eber Ward of Detroit. Whit remains
fiber hull lies in about fifteen feet 0
water aft and six feet forward.
Wanted.
Northern Michigan cheap land, 10