The Washington herald., 1908-01-12
LIVES LOST ON LAKES
Thirty-eight Vessels GODOWn
During Season.
COST OF WRECKS $1,692,OOO
Collisions Cause the Majority of Dis
asters-IndeFWriter Seek Govern
ment Aid for Supervision of the
Narrow Channels Between Lake
Erie and Lake Huron.

/ Chicago, jan 11.-During the season
Of navigation on the lakes just closed,
thlrty-eight vessels, with total tonnage
Of 2IOl0, passed oat Of existence With
the exception of one steamship, all the
boats lost We're freighters
The aggregate loss in value was Sl692.
900. This does not, of course. include the
large amounts which were paid out by
the underwriters for partial losses. This
latter item doubtless exceeds the total
losses.
The season was marked for the number
Of disastrous collisions in the narrow
channels connecting Lake Huron and
Lake Erie. Collision after collision oc-
CURED in these channels until underwrit-
ers began TO fear that all the premiums
OF the business would be wiped out, with
no margin so meet the losses which
might be expected during the fall storms.
With many companies. IT is said, this did
happen. and il was only the fact that
the fall passed over without any great
storms to scatter wrecks on many a
lee shore that the underwriters have not
faced the most disastrous season since
marine insurance began on the lakes.
The cry now is long and loud among
underwriters for supervision by the gov
ernment of navigation between Lake
Erie and Lake Huron It is pointed out
that since the government assumed SUI
peTyision of the passage between Lake
Huron and Lake Superior there has not
4 .afafIf
fore that time that narrow and crooked
channel was the danger spot of the lakes.
Fire Also Figures.
Next to collisions the greatest losses Of
the season were due TO fire. AS a rule
the marine companies did not suffer so
heavily from this cause as from col
Esions, as most of the fire risks were
carried by fire companies Old-time boats
developed particular weakness for
burning up. and the total losses by FIRE
those of any previous season,
In point OF property loss the burning Of
the passenger steamship City Of Cleve-
land at Detroit early in the spring was
the most disastrous Of any in lake his
tory
There were Az casualties Of all kinds
reported in the marine Insurance bulletin
during the season. Last year the number
of casualties reported was 534 and IN
1905 the number was 40. The Detroit and
St Clair rivers lead, with 10 accidents.
Lake Erie comes next with SO, Lake
Michigan, q: Lake Superior, IS; Lake
Huron. 36. St Marys River, q, and Lake
Ontario, 60
Divided by causes, the accidents were
a ..f.
stranded. SS disabled and leaking, l0l I
collisions. 90; foundered %. fire, %.
The mystery OF the year was the loss 4
of the steamship Cypress, which foun- +
iered on Lake Superior In the fail This 4
boat was but a fortnight out Of the /
and was supposed TO be thor
}ughly stanch and seaworthy. Without 4
warning the ship turned on her side and .
went 10 the bottom. There was but a 4
single survivor. II is now generally be-
ieycd by marine men that She moist iron
)re with which the Cypress was loaded /
formed in pyramids while loading. When
he boat was struck by a particularly
heavy sea IL is believed that these pyTa-
nds tOppled over, throwing the ship
)n her beam end.
1t Is unlikely that there will be any
marked change in marine insurance rates
leXt season. With the coming Of the
immense feet of big steel carriers marine
insurance has reached such a volume on
he lakes that the old time rules no lon 1,
ger hold Wooden vessels, once a dis
urbing element. have ceased to be a
actor With no more wooden ships be-
ng built, and with the shipyards turn K
ng out carriers Of 5000 10 1900 tons. the
lass OF ships that did the business Of
he lakes a score OF years ago is no /!
onger a serious item in marine insurance
r commerce.