Lake and Bay

On Friday afternoon of last week the tug Alpha, having in tow a dredge and two dump-scows, was off Horns Pier when they were struck by a heavy squall. The sea rose very rapidly and the scows broke loose, going ashore near the pier, but after considerable trouble the tug and dredge reached the ship canal where a safe harbor was found. The scows were driven high and dry on the sandy shore and owing to the heavy sea and wind no work was done until Monday, one of the scows being released in the afternoon that day and the other on Tuesday, some trouble being experienced in effecting their recovery. The fleet sustained very little damage and on Wednesday the tug proceeded to Escanaba with the dredge, intending to return for the scows.

Seven first-class tugs are now owned by parties at this port and there is no doubt that nearly all of them will be stationed here this season. Whether enough business to pay their owners can be obtained remains to be seen, but it is generally conceded that the large number of craft that will be employed in transporting ice will assist materially in giving them all employment. Last season was so poor that in order to catch a tow it was necessary to run down the lake for long distances, the Spalding and Nelson sometimes going as far as Sheboygan. From persons who are well posted we learn that the lumber-trade is likely to be much better than in previous seasons, and this improvement will no doubt induce more sail vessels to run to Menominee via the ship canal.

The accident which happened to the tug Leathem at Port Washington last week proved, upon examination, to be more serious than was at first supposed. In running into the harbor it was necessary to proceed along the pier. When the dredge was at work there recently a large rock was encountered during the process of dredging and instead of taking it from the water the stone was dumped alongside of the pier. The tug's wheel struck this rock and the collision resulted in the breaking of her shaft instead [of] her wheel as was stated last week. She has been taken to Manitowoc where repairs are being made. The steam barge Smith which went to the Leathem's assistance passed through this bay on Wednesday morning on her way to Menominee, having in tow the dredge and two scows.

The tug Knapp came in from Kewaunee on Tuesday to procure E. S. Minor's diving-apparatus which will be employed to assist in the recovery of Knapp & Dixon's dredge. Two of the scows that went ashore have been recovered and on Monday were taken by the tug Goldsmith to Manitowoc where they will be place in dry-dock, one of the scows leaking so badly that in order to keep her afloat a steam-pump was operated during the entire trip. The other scow was left on the beach, her back being broken and damaged otherwise so much that the wreckers did not deem it advisable to attempt to release here. It is expected that the tug Goldsmith can tow the sunken dredge into shallow water as soon as the diver succeeds in fastening the line, and with favourable weather the dredge can be recovered in a few days.

The steam barge Aztec, having in tow the consorts Miztec and Galatea, had a rather rough time of it during the gale that prevailed on Wednesday of last week. The fleet attempted to reach the ship canal for shelter but being unsuccessful in their effort were driven ashore a short distance south of the harbor piers. With the assistance of the tug Spalding and the life-saving crew the steamer was soon released and went to Milwaukee to ascertain the extent of her damages. Owing to heavy sea the tugs did but very little work on the tow-barges last week, but on Monday forenoon they succeeded in releasing the Miztec and at about five o'clock pulled the Galatea into deep water. The boats were not injured much and on the same evening were towed to Milwaukee by the Aztec, which boat returned from the south on Saturday morning. The tugs Spalding and Nelson did the wrecking work, and good work it was too, as both boats had been driven within about fifty feet of the shore and were consequently in very shallow water.

On Tuesday morning the schooner Mediterranean, Capt. E. G. Kohnert, was towed to this city by the tug Spalding. At about two o'clock on Monday afternoon the vessel left Escanaba bound for Chicago with iron ore, and being favoured with a stiff breeze from the northward made good progress until about four o'clock when Capt. Kohnert discovered his vessel to be leaking badly. Sail was shortened as soon as possible and the pumps manned, but the best the crew could do was insufficient to clear the water entirely from the boat's hold, and as it became necessary on several occasions to suspend work and attend to the sails the water gained faster than it could be pumped out. At daylight on Tuesday morning the schooner arrived abreast of the ship canal. Capt. Kohnert displayed signals of distress which were promptly responded to by the life-saving crew, who soon reached the vessel and relieved the now thoroughly exhausted crew. The vessel was successfully landed in the canal and then towed to this city where several 'longshoremen were employed to keep the pumps in operation while the crew obtained much-needed rest. Capt. Kohnert informed our marine reporter that he had no idea how the leak was sprung and says that unless the life-saving crew had arrived as they did he would have been forced to abandon the craft, as the water continued to gain on the crew who were so much exhausted that it would have been impossible to keep the schooner afloat but a very short time longer. All hands and the cook were pressed into service and for twelve long hours laboured incessantly at the pumps. Capt. Kohnert desires to express his thanks to Uncle Sam's men for their timely and much-needed assistance. After the vessel's arrival in this port it was necessary to keep the pumps at work in order to prevent the craft from sinking. In response to a message sent to the insurance company Capt. Kohnert was ordered to proceed to Chicago for which port he left on Wednesday morning in tow of the tug Spalding. The fore and main sails were stripped from the booms and place under the vessel's bottom and by this means it was expected that the leak would be checked.