Vanderbilt (Propeller), fire/aground, 10 Jun 1882

The steam barge VANDERBILT took fire this morning and was beached on Serpent Island. The crew and passengers are safe. Dispatch from Soo.
      Port Huron Daily Times
      Monday, June 12, 1882
     
      . . . . .

      A Press telegram dated Sarnia, June 11th. says the steamer QUEBEC, of the Sarnia Line, arrived down from Lake Superior this evening. When opposite Serpent Island they saw a steamer on fire on the beach. The Captain sent over a boat to offer assistance, and found that it was the steambarge VANDERBILT, bound from Midland to Mamainse, Lake Superior, with a cargo of lumber supplies for the mine at that place. The first mate, Mr. Brown, said they first discovered the fire in the forehold when opposite Meldrum Bay, Manitoulin Island, on Saturday morning, the IQth. They kept the fire confined to the hold nearly all day, but it at last got the better of them, and the Captain was compelled to beach her on Serpent Island to save the lives of the crew and eleven passengers. They were 30 in all on board. No lives lost. The boat is a total loss...
      Meaford Monitor
      Friday, June 16, 1882


Another Canadian steamer has been burned, this time the steambarge VANDERBILT. The disaster took place off Manitoulin Island, and she was beached on Serpent Island. It is stated that the 30 passenger and crew were all saved. The ANDERBILT was bound for Lake Superior from Midland, canada. She measured 169 tons. She was built at Chatham, by Mr. Simpson, in 1873, and was owned by Ferguson and others, of Chatham. She rated A 2½ and was valued at about $12,000. The hull was probably insured; also the freight list.
      The J.W. Hall Great lakes Marine Scrapbook, June/July, 1882