Lightship Sinks Four Days Before Delivery

Just four days before the Racine Boat Manufacturing company of Muskegon was going to turn the lightship "Milwaukee, No. 95," over to the United States government, the $65,000 vessel, all complete and ready for its maiden voyage, sunk last night at the Racine west dock in 22 feet of water.

In order to see what could be done about raising her Walter J. Reynolds the president and treasurer of the Racine company, left Muskegon this morning for Chicago. It will cost about $2,000 it is estimated by marine men to get the boat afloat again. The woodwork on the vessel will have to be refinished, and probably a considerable sum spent in getting the vessel in the same shape it was yesterday. It is doubtful if the boat can be raised before the lake is covered with ice.

The Milwaukee has not yet been approved by the federal inspectors. Some minor carpenter jobs and other little repairs and changes had to be made before this was done, declares Mr. Reynolds. The federal officials expected to take the boat Saturday, however, at the local port.

Blames Wind for Accident

Mr. Reynolds attributes the sinking of the vessel to last night's wind storm which he said, blew the boat over and thus sunk it. Fortunately there was no watchman aboard. He declares that the boat did not leak a drop, and was in tip top shape. It is insured sufficiently to cover any loss due to the sinking.

The boat was today in the west Racine slip alongside the slab wharf. It is tilted over toward shore, the two[ ] and the light tower on top of the [ ] her piles. This is fortunate for the company. Had the vessel tilted the other way, it would have been much more difficult to disentangle the masts and tower from the mud and edgings in the bottom of the lake at this place and raise the boat.

A portion the tarpaulin rail, the funnel, and a portion of the pilot house can also be seen above the water line. The decks are seven feet under water.

Took Recent Trial Trip

Last Friday the boat took a trial trip under Captain Louis Larsen. Captain Larsen refused to make a statement this morning about the condition and behaviour of the boat at that time. The Milwaukee coaled up Christmas day for its first trip on Lake Michigan.

Captain Seth E. Baldwin of the "White Wing" which is in the Racine slip on the opposite or city dock side of the slip, declares that the boat was still above water when he retired at about 11 o'clock last night but was sunk when he woke up at about 12:30 o'clock. He heard no noise of its sinking, he said. When he woke up at 12:30 o'clock and looked out, he declares, the boat was in practically the same position it is now.

Scouts Wind Theory

Captain Baldwin asserts that the lightship was decks down and rolling yesterday morning when a Racine crew got up steam and righted the vessel. He scouted the idea, however, that the wind could have been responsible.

"At 11 o'clock last night," declares Captain Baldwin, "the lightship was listed considerably toward the west or toward open water. In some way during the next hour and a half the water ballast must have shifted, as when I woke up about 12:30 o'clock and looked out, the boat was sunk and the masts listed in the opposite direction, or toward the wharf, just as it is now."

William Phillips, who was with Captain Baldwin last night, also declares that the vessel was listed considerably toward open water at 11 o'clock last night. "I remarked at the time to Captain Baldwin," declared Mr. Phillips, "that they would have to do something with the boat right away or she would sink."

Rudolf Zirpell, the government superintendent of construction and inspector on the job, refused to discuss the sinking of the lightship this morning.