The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-08-26
MAY SOLVE OLD MYSTERIES
Chicora Which Went Down i'll 1895 and
the Alpena Which Sank in 1880 May
be Located During Trip of Search
ing Boat-An Interesting Trip

The United States lake survey
steamer Search which is making care
full photographic examination of Lake
Michig gan, has reached the Chicago lake
front and is proceeding slowly down
the lake It will be some weeks be-
fore the vessel arrives in the vicinity
of Kenosha, as the survey requires
great deal of time, but it will be of
much interest to local marine men as
well as those all, over the Great Lakes
to follow the findings which the vessel
will make.
The photographic survey is for the
purpose of locating sunken wrecks or
any obstruction which is at the bottom
of the lake, New maps are being con-
tinually made showing the new con-
tour of the lake bottom. The correct
locating of distractions means safety
to lake traffic.
AS the steamer Search proceeds with
! its work, reports are sent out to marine
men showing the distractions located.
From time to time charts have been
made which reveal many heretofore I'M
known distractions. The examination
being made by the vessel is of the most
careful and each obstruction found is
described in detail. The steamer
started from the extreme lower end of
the lake and will work north. Re
ports Of the work sent out from De-
troit, Mich, headquarters of the hydro
graphic office for the Great Lakes, show
that many forgotten wrecks of the
past-telling of disasters to vessels
that are almost forgotten-have been
located in that part of Lake Michign
lying between Chicago and st. Joe and
the south shore of the lake. Nothing
reef, wreck or hidden shoal--can es-
cape this tremendous sweeping opera
tor.
Marine men, however, are looking
forward to the locating of several
wrecks which have never been found
Many lake disaster has occurred, the
vessels going down with many lives
and with rich cargoes, but nothing has
lever been seen of the wrecks and the
spot where the vessels sunk has always
been mystery.
Perhaps the most interest centers
around two wrecks-those of the
| freight and passenger vessel Chicora
and the steamer Alpena. Both boats
went to the bottom of the lake with all
on board during terrific storms and
practically nothing has ever been seen
of either. Where they were lost
what was the immediate cause of the
disaster-was never known. From the
I Alpena some wreckage came ashore,
but the Chicora disappeared as com
pletely as if the lake had opened up
and swallowed the vessel bodily.
The Alpena put out from the east
shore of the lake for Chicago, after
having visited Muskegon, Manistee and
other east shore points, on Oct. Is,
1880. She was bound for Chicago. A
storm, the fury of which is held in awe
byeall great lake men, ragged over the
Great Lake region that night. The last
seen of the vessel she/ was on beam
ends, the cargo evidently having shift
ed and tossing helplessly in the trough
Of the sea. A sailing vessel, itself
caught in the storm, was buffeted with
in quarter of mile of the Inflated
steamer and those on board made the
only report concerning the disaster
which has ever been received There
were eighty people on board and all
lost their lives.
The Chicora went down January q,
| 1895, off South Haven with % lives
on board, all of which were lost. The
| Chicora went to her fate because a
| telegram ordering her 10 remain IN
port, the storm being forecasted, was
received just as she was steaming out
fof Milwaukee harbor for st. Joe, Mich.
too late to receive it. The vessel had
cargo of -four and if the hydrograp
| his examination locates the wreck it is
| believed efforts will be made by the
Graham & Morton line, owner Of the
boat, to secure the cargo as greater
portion of the -four, it is stated, will
be marketable.