1862 — Aug, , Steamer Planet sinks, Lake Superior, near Eagle River, MI — 35

— 0 Blanchard: See footnote in title and Sep 7, 1863 New Albany Daily Ledger report. Mansfield and Swayze have apparently been confused by the details – the Planet did not sink, but instead picked up the lone survivor of the sinking of the Sunbeam off Eagle River, MI, on 28 Aug 1863.

–35 Mansfield, John Brandts (Editor). History of the Great Lakes (Vol. 1). 1899, p. 697.
–35 Swayze, David D. Shipwreck!…Directory…Shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. 1992, p. 191.

Narrative Information

Mansfield: “Other Events of 1863….August….Steamer Planet foundered on Lake Superior near Eagle river; thirty-five lives lost.” (Mansfield, John Brandts (Editor). History of the Great Lakes (Vol. 1). 1899, p. 697.)

Swayze: “Planet. Steamer. Lake Superior: Little seems to be known about the loss of the steamer Planet, except that she was reported to have gone down near Eagle River, Michigan, on the Keweenaw Peninsula, in August of 1862 [sic, 1863]. Reports state that 35 lives were lost in the accident.” (Swayze, David D. Shipwreck!…Directory…Shipwrecks on…Great Lakes. 1992, 191.)

Newspapers

July 17, 1862: “The fine steamer Planet, Capt. Chamberlin, left last evening for Lake Superior, her third trip this season. She had a large load of passenger, pleasure seekers from all parts of the West. Her round trip occupies eleven days. On her next trip she will extend her voyage to the North Shore of Lake Superior, to Grand Portage…She leaves for such destination on the 28th of July…” (Chicago Daily Tribune. “For Lake Superior.” 7-17-1863, p. 4, col. 4.)

July 31, 1862: “The Steamer Planet, of the Lake Superior Line, which was to have left Milwaukee, on the 28th on an excursion trip to the Upper Lakes, is reported wrecked. – So we are informed in a private note from Milwaukee.” (Whitewater Register, WI. “Wrecked.” 7-31-1863, p. 2, p. 3.)

Sep 7, 1863: “Sept. 7. The steamer Planet arrived this morning bringing news that the steamer Sunbeam foundered in Lake Superior on the 28th ult. [previous month]. All on board, except the wheelsman were lost….The passengt4rs and crew numbered 35 names….The scene of the disaster is located a little northwest of Eagle River, ten miles out….” (New Albany Daily Ledger, IN. “Terrible Disaster on Lake Superior – Steamer Sunbeam Wrecked…” 9-7-1863, p. 3, col. 2.)

Sources

Chicago Daily Tribune. “For Lake Superior.” 7-17-1863, p. 4, col. 4. Accessed 1-7-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/chicago-daily-tribune-jul-17-1863-p-4/

Mansfield, John Brandts (Ed. and Compiler). History of the Great Lakes (Vol. 1). Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co., 1899. Google digitized. Accessed at: http://books.google.com/books?id=iHXhAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=&f=false

New Albany Daily Ledger, IN. “Terrible Disaster on Lake Superior – Steamer Sunbeam Wrecked – All on Board Except One Lost.” 9-7-1863, p. 3, col. 2. Accessed 1-7-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-albany-daily-ledger-sep-07-1863-p-3/

Swayze, David D. Shipwreck! A Comprehensive Directory of Over 3,700 Shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. Boyne City, MI: Harbor House Publications, Inc., 1992.

Whitewater Register, WI. “Wrecked.” 7-31-1863, p. 2, p. 3. Accessed 1-7-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/whitewater-register-jul-31-1863-p-2/