J. Emory Owen (Propeller), U76731, fire, 5 Dec 1903

      STEAMER OWEN DESTROYED BY FIRE.
      Sturgeon Bay, Wis., Dec. 5. -- With flames bursting from every hatch and fire roaring through her upper works the steamer J. EMORY OWENS was towed into Sturgeon Bay canal tonight. The United States steamer HYACINTHE, and steamer GEORGE BURNHAM and the No. 1 Car Ferry of the Ann Arbor Railway are fighting the fire.
      Although it may not be necessary to scuttle the OWEN, her cargo 80,000 bushels of wheat will probably be a total loss. The OWEN, bound from Manitowoc to Buffalo, had just headed away on the last long run of the year, when first started in the boiler room. In three hours the OWEN was all afire. The whistle had been kept sounding signals of distress, but no response came until the OWEN was turned towards shore in the hopes of beaching before it sank.
      Hardly had the OWEN's prow turned when the whistle of the Car Ferry boomed an answer to the signal from the burning boat. In a quarter of an hour the Ferry ran alongside the OWEN. Both whistles continued to sound the distress signals and in half an hour the BURNHALL and the HYACINTHE came in sight. The after cabins had been destroyed when the OWEN was towed into the canal. The loss on cargo and ship will approximate $100,000.
      Buffalo Evening News
      Sunday, December 6, 1903

      . . . . .

      The J. EMORY OWEN salvage suit, which has been on trial in the U. S. District Court at Milwaukee for two weeks, has been decided by Judge Seaman. The Ann Arbor car ferry is awarded $2,600 and the propeller GEORGE BURNHAM $1,300. The owners to receive two thirds and the crew one-third. The OWEN was burned off Sturgeon Bay, Lake Michigan, on December 5, 1903, and the car ferry and propeller went to her aid.
      Buffalo Evening News
      Wednesday, April 13, 1904



The work of rebuilding the burned steamer JOHN EMERY OWEN at Milwaukee has been completed and the boat will be renamed FRED E. MEYERS, after the Buffalo Insurance man. The MEYERS will be one of the largest lumber carriers on the lakes, with a capacity of 1,200,000 feet of white pine.
      Buffalo Evening News
      April 3, 1905


Louis Pfohl & Son of this city have bought the wrecks of the paropller J. EMORY OWEN, burned in Green Bay last fall, and of the car ferry SHENANGO, burned off Conneaut last winter. The machinery will be removed and the hulls converted to the best possible advantage.
      Buffalo Evening News
      Monday, June 6, 1904
     

      North Tonawanda, April 23 - The prop. FRED E. MEYERS, formerly the JOHN OWEN (should be J. EMORY OWEN), which burned on Lake Superior last fall, which was bought by the Strong Transportation Co. of Tonawanda, left Milwaukee yesterday for Manistee, where she will load hardwood lumber for the Eastern Lumber Co. of Tonawanda.
      Buffalo Morning Express
      April 24, 1905 3-1


Steam screw F.A. MEYER.* U. S. No. 76731. Of 1,264 tons gross; 1,034 tons net. Built at Detroit, Mich., in 1888. Home port, Buffalo, N.Y. 256.4 x 38.5 x 15.8 and a crew of 15. Of 750 indicated horse power. Freight service.
* formerly steam screw J. EMORY OWEN.
      Merchant Vessel List, U.S., 1906