Evening Star (Barge), sunk, 10 Sep 1875

The Chicago Tribune of yesterday makes the following comment on the disaster: "In the construction of the MORNING STAR great carrying capacity was studied, to the utter disregard of fine lines. A degree of strength proportionate to the burden she was calculated to bear was also lost sight of by her builder, who used quantities of pine where oak should have been substituted. Hence she never classed above B1, and at the time of her loss had graded down to B1 1/2. Pine will do well enough for lumber carriers, but grain freighters should be constructed either entirely of oak or of iron, to make them perfectly seaworthy in heavy weather. It must therfore be held that the underwriters are greatly to blame for the terrible calamity that has befallen the craft and her crew, for it was their power to confine her to the trade for which she had originally been intended. An interesting reminisence connected with the disaster is that the EVENING STAR, a full sister of the MORNING STAR, in tow of the prop. MENDOTA, went down on Lake Michigan off Pt. au Betsy in Sept. 1875. The MENDOTA and several others foundered at the same time.
      Buffalo Commercial Advertiser
      November 17, 1880 1-8