A Narrow Escape
St. Joseph Herald - Jan 22, 1870 - page 4;
col 5
Capt. Barnes of Tug Daisy Lee, was going on Sabbath morning last, in
company with his wife an little daughter, to Benton Harbor on the road by
Jordan's Mill and fish houses under the hill. A boy from the shanties on the
bluff, slid down hill in a manner which frightened the horse, making him jump
out of the road, and before he could be controlled, both horse and wagon had
capsized over the embankment, which is perpendicular, pitching Captain Barnes
over the dashboard headforemost to the bottom of the river, into seven feet of
water, tumbling Mrs. barnes into waist-deep water, and submerging the little
child beyond her depth where the was floating down with the current.
The blow on the Captain's head did not deprive him of self-possession, and
he instantly on coming up, swam for and saved his child, putting her in the
hands of kind friends who hastened to the rescue. Mrs. Barnes had been wading
in up to her shoulders to save her daughter, and was almost at the mercy of the
swift cold river. The Captin brought her also to the shore and then went for
his horse which had swam out with the wagon. Though badly frightened no one was
seriously hurt.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Fred. Clamfoot's fish-boat capsied near the north pier on her way out
early Thrusday Morning. The boat was in charge of Paul Loesher with two men,
John Weber and Jos. Neuschelle. Jas. Flynn, who was on duty at the Life-Saving
Station, gave the alarm and very quickly the Life-Saving crew were at the
capsized craft and rescued Loesher and Neuschelled from their dangerous
position. Weber had already be saved by Wilson's sail boat, in charge of
William Weckler, which was also on her way to her nets. The wind was blowing
quite fresh and teh sea making fast at the time. The tug Harrison, Theo . Lutz
in command, towed the capsized craft into port.
The call for help was so sudden and early that Keeper Stevens did not
have time to dress fully, but bare footed and bare-headed and with only his
pants and a light shirt for a covering to his body he took his position in his
boat and kept it until he landed the soaked men and hour and a half later
safely on the dock.
The members of the St. Joseph Life-Saving crew are sort o'water fowls
as well as land-lubbers, and the Keeper, his wife and the men, all seem to fill
their positions very acceptably and well.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
A Close Call
St. Joseph Herald - May 29, 1886 - pg 3, Col.
3
An accident happened on the lake Thursday that came near costing St.
Joseph a number of her citizens. Early in the morning of that day the tug Artie
Ward towed some pond-net boats south to their regular fishing grounds. In one
of these boats were the regular crew, Wm. Merrick, Mr. Buffett and Adam
Weckler, with Dr. H. W. Ray, the well-known dentist, as a passenger. At a point
about ten miles souththis pont-net boat was dropped by the tug to lift the nets
there, when the tug passed on to another lifting point. In the meantime, quite
a breeze had come up and a lively sea was running byt Messr. Merrick, Buffett
and Weckler went to work lifting, and while thus engaged a heavy sea suddenly
cauther their boat, capsized it and the men were at the mercy of Lake Michigan.
Fortunately all were soon able to secure a hold to the side of the boat and the
rope cut thast held it to the spiles, when they drifted shoreward. For over two
hours the men were in the water and they were nearly exhausted when they
finally reached shore. About this time the tug hove in sight on her return
tipr, anchored a safe distance out and swinging the other pond-net boat toward
shore soon had the water soaked and chiled men safe on board again. Of course
they were glad to get home, and they do not care to be caughter in the same fix
again. It was a close call for them.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Brevities
St. Joseph Herald - November 5, 1887; page 3 Col.
1
Notes under Brevities
John Springstean went over to Benton Harbo in a
boat Saturday night. Soon afterwards village marshall Burr heard cries from the
canal, near the bridge, and going to the spot found Springtean clinging to a
spile. The Marshal assisted him out onto dry land. His boat had capsized.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
brief note on boating mishaps
St. Joseph Herald - May 2, 1888
George Davidson and Frank Brayman upsized their sailboat in the St. Joseph
river the day before. Thanks to a member of teh St. Joseph Life-Saving Crew,
they were rescued. In the same article it is mentioned that Willis Woodurff,
out on the lake in a skiff, also capsized and would have drowned had it not
been for the quick action of two young men who happened to see the accident and
came to his rescue.
