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The CITY OF CONCORD - Part II By Jack Mesmer During the winter of 1886-1887, W. F. Botsford completed arrangements for operating a line of vessels between Sarnia, Ontario and Duluth in conjunction with the Grand Trunk Railroad. This organization was eventually called the Sarnia & Duluth Steamboat Company. The: ..'Clny _30F: CONCORD, the DEAN RICHMOND, the WISCONSIN and the ROANOKE made up the ships of the line. It would appear that the CITY OF CONCORD was not suited for the line, as she was the only vessel of those mentioned that was not a two decked, package freighter. She probably completed the 1887 season but it not likely she operated for this line after that. In late March of 1888 the steamer went to the Wolverine Drydock where she received general repairs and recaulking. Two to three weeks later she was beginning the 1888 season by loading salt and lumber at Port Huron for ports in Ohio. Over the next four years the CITY OF CONCORD appears to have operated with little or no major mishaps. During this time Captain Frank Hebner purchased the controlling interest in the vessel, on October 7, 1889. W. F. Botsford continued to hold a share in the vessel, but at this point it was reduced to a quarter share. Sometime in 1889, Possibly during winter layup, the steamer received a new fire box boiler, measuring 10 feet in diameter and 16 feet in length, as well as being recaulked throughout. Again in 1891 the steamer underwent extensive repairs having a new deck put in. On July 27, 1892 the steamer collided with the tug CHICAGO off Chicago. The tug, a vessel of the Dunham Line, was overturned and sunk in Lake Michigan two miles off Hyde Park. With the sinking of the tug, two men lost their life, the steward Oscar Page and linesman William Kopfer, as they were in the cabin asleep at the time of the accident. The three remaining crewman of the CHICAGO were rescued from the water by the steamer. The cause of the accident was disputed, with Captain Brandstretter claiming that the steamer sheered off her original heading capsizing the tug, while Captain Hebner and the men of the CONCORD stating the tug attempted to cut across the bow of the steamer. After the collision, things returned to normal. The 1893 season also appeared as though it were going to be trouble free, but on December 2, THE CITY OF CONCORD and her consort DUNFORD, went aground in Maumee Bay while on a trip from Toledo to Port Huron, loaded with coal. The steamer had attempted to proceed to Port Huron through ice in the bay that was eight inches in thickness. She proved unequal to the task and grounded on the north side of the channel. Later that night, the water levels rose shifting the two vessels, pushing them solidly aground on the south side of the channel. On Sunday, the tugs SCHENK and ROY went to their assistance. They cleared a channel, but were unable to release either vessel, snapping several lines in the process. Further efforts were suspended by the tugs. On Monday, December 4, the crew of the two grounded vessels began jettisoning some of the cargo overboard. On Tuesday, the tug ROY succeeded in getting both vessels free. Captain Hebner attempted to continue the interupted voyage but got only as far as Stoney Pt., a mile or two north of Monroe Michigan when he decided to turn back. The ice in the Lake was a good six to eight inches thick and didn't appear to be thinning out at the approach to Detroit. In addition, since neither vessel was sheathed in iron at the water line, Captain Hebner feared that the ice might puncture the hulls. On arrival back at Toledo, preparations were begun to layup the vessel. That night, December 7 at 9:00, the steamer caught fire. Although the origin of the fire was unknown, it undoubtably started in or around the engine or boiler rooms as the flames were first discovered issuing from around the smokestack. The fire spread so rapidly, that if it had not been for the timely arrival of the Toledo Fire Department, the CITY OF CONCORD would have been completely destroyed. As it was, the entire aft end of the vessel was almost completely burned away. In addition, the next morning the steamer sunk up to her main deck at the slip where she burned, with just her cabins above water. Captain Baker, wrecker, was hired on about ¢ the 20th of December, to raise the vessel. He began work almost immediately. He boxed the steamer in and then placed pumps on her and pumped her out. This was completed and the , w