Kasota (Propeller), sunk by collision, 17 Jul 1890

Description

Full Text

The steamer CITY

The owners

Peter Falcon,

If the divers

Detroit,

NOTE:-- Raised
OF DETROIT last evening at 6:30 struck and sank the steambarge KASOTA in mid river oposite the Exposition buildings and the KASOTA sank in less than a minute and a half. One life, Mrs. Sticney, was lost. The KASOTA was loaded with iron ore from Escanaba to Cleveland. The cause of the collision was the loss of the steering gear aboard the CITY OF DETROIT. The KASOTA is a total loss, being cut almost completely in two. Port Huron Daily Times Friday, July 18, 1890 . . . . . of the KASOTA have abandoned her to the insurance companies. Buffalo Evening News July 21, 1890 . . . . . of Chicago, has agreed to raise the steamship KASOTA, sunk in the Detroit river by collision with the steamer CITY OF DETROIT, and deliver her in port by July 15, 1891, for $25,000 The contract is with the underwriters to whom the KASOTA was abandoned by Capt. W.C. Richardson. Capt Richardson and others still retain a tenth interest in the hull, but have not decided whether they will take part in the wrecking work or not. Marine Review September 25, 1890 . . . . . UNDERWRITERS DISAPPOINTED. Prlvate dispatches to Chicago underwrIters give the result of a special diver's visit to the wreck of the fine steamship KASOTA. This craft was one of the largest on the lakes, and had splendid machinery and equipment. There was insurance of $100,000 and over on the hull and $10,000 on the cargo of iron ore. This insurance has all been paid, the companies on the hull being the Commercial Union. Smith & Davis, the North America, London Assurance, Detroit Fire and Marine, Michigan Fire and Marine, etc. Having been such a fine craft of course the companies want to know just what the condition of the wreck is. Good vessels are often sold by the Insurance companies for mere songs, on the strength of some unreliable diver's report that they had almost gone to pieces and were not worth recovery, and the purchasers would afterward get the craft up. Capt. Falcon, who is at work getting the iron ore out of the KASOTA, is a good, reliable diver, and a man of lntegrity, but another diver was sent down to examine the steamer, and his report is just received by the interested parties. It is a great disappointment. It is to the effect that she Is literally broken In two. The cargo Is almost all raised, and when the machinery and everything of value is brought up it is understood that the hull will be abandoned. The KASOTA was sunk by collision with the CITY OF DETROIT. could only find the schooners W. C. KIMBALL and THOMAS HUME, lost with all hands, two more secrets of the deep would be divulged. It is believed that both these vessels were run down by steamers, the officers of which failed to come forward and report the fact Buffalo Enquirer Monday, June 1, 1891 . . . . . Raising of the KASOTA. Special Correspondence to the Marine Review Mich. Oct. 15. - The KASOTA was moved to the American bank, Sunday. She is a hard looking wreck, nearly cut in two, and considerably out of line. The raising of the wreck was accomplished Saturday afternoon, and was a very interesting sight. A party of gentlemen went to the wreck in a naptha launch, and was engaged in watching the inch by inch raising of the badly wrecked upper works, as the diver kept filling the casks with compressed air. About five o'clock the hull very unexpectedly raised about six feet within a minute. Those who didn't take off their hats and cheer regretted it. Capt. Falcon. the successful wrecker, brightened up and said: "This takes a heap of trouble off the old man's mind." How much will she be worth in dock? One owner answered $50,000, a shipyard superintendent said $30,000. This is the thirty-seventh wreck raised by Falcon, with his compressed air process, although the KASOTA is considerably the largest boat ever raised. For deep water wrecking it is the only successful plan. By means of it he has raised a schooner in 100 feet of water in the Straits. The plan consists of sinking large casks filled with water, and forcing the water out by means of compressed air when the casks are secured in the hold. At the time the KASOTA was raised the casks in her hold that had not been filled with air represented 40 tons of unused power. The compressed air apparatus used was very simple. A deck hoist engine worked the compressor, and a common hose line was used as a connection between the compressor and casks. This boat is still in 23 feet of water and it will be necessary to do considerable work on her before she is ready to take to dry dock. Marine Review October 15, 1891 and renamed A. A. PARKER

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