George F. Foster (Schooner), 10 Jul 1870

      Three Men Lost From a Vessel. - The schooner GEO. F. FOSTER, of Chicago, Henry Smith, master, and bound from Chicago to Lincoln, Mich., lost three men by drowning and the yawl-boat yesterday at 2 o'clock p.m., when about 6 miles north of the Kalamazoo. Charles Grimes, an American, and one of the crew had been sent to haul aft the main sheet, when the boom swinging around knocked him into the water. The captain immediately ordered the yawl-boat to be lowered, which was manned by the mate, John Lynch, and Charles Peterson, a sailor; but a big sea being on at the time and a strong wind blowing made the yawl-boat drift away very fast from the schooner, which had been hove to. Nothing could be seen of the man overboard, and although the captain had kept a look out for his yawl-boat from the deck and had also sent one of his remaining men to the masthead for the same purpose, nothing could be seen of the yawl for about fifteen minutes. The captain supposes that the yawl was swamped, and that the two other men also lost their lives. He stood by as long as he dared, for the safety of the schooner, which in the meantime had also commenced to drift toward the beach. In consequence of this he had to set sail again for Chicago, in order to get a new crew, and the schooner arrived here this morning at 9 o'clock. There might be a possibility that the yawlboat drifted ashore, but the captain thinks she must have been swamped. Chas. Grimes has parents residing in Iowa. John Lynch was born in New York and Chas. Peterson was Norwegian. All three were unmarried and resided in Chicago. - Chicago Post, 8th.
      Detroit Free Press
      July 10, 1870

      Not Lost. - Charles Peterson and John Lynch, the sailors of the schooner GEO. F. FOSTER, who were supposed to have been drowned on Thursday last, arrived in Chicago on Saturday and from them we received the following particulars of the recent disaster: They state that when Grimes fell overboard, the yawlboat was lowered, and they proceeded to rescue, if possible, the drowning man. Their efforts were, however, fruitless. They then started for the schooner, but the vessel was not in sight, and, after drifting for about an hour or more, they concluded that the captain had left them to their fate. At this time they were about fifteen miles from Holland. They made for the shore, and arrived at Kalamazoo at about 5 o'clock p.m. - Chicago Times.
      Detroit Free Press
      July 12, 1870