By Suzette Lopez
On August 11, 1890, the three masted schooner TWO FANNIES of Kenosha sprung a leak and sank as the day was breaking. The crew consisted of Capt. Alfred Miller (who was also a half owner), Mate Losier, Second Mate Bull and Alexander Last; Harry Anderson; Claud Merchant and James McDonald along with the Captain’s niece Mrs. Alice Stowell.
On Lake Erie, the last in a tow of the tug CRUSADER and loaded with iron ore from Escanaba to Cleveland, she went down 12 miles off Cleveland’s harbor when the tow line parted in heavy seas of a storm. The crew and a kitten took to the yawl boat and were picked up by the steamer CITY OF DETROIT and tug JAMES AMADEUS. The TWO FANNIES had just been in dry dock prior to her sinking where her bottom was recaulked and she was fitted with new pumps. Her value was about $15,000.
The kitten belonged to Mrs. Stowell and was given to her by her daughter. Mrs. Stowell claimed the evening before the sinking the cat warned her of the impending danger by following her closely and continuously whining. When ordered to the yawl boat, Mrs. Stowell was already wearing her life preserver. She grabbed her purse, an extra dress and the kitten which she tucked inside her bosom.
The yawl boat barely got away, escaping being drawn under by the suction of the sinking TWO FANNIES. After rowing for several hours, the yawl was seen by the steamer CITY OF DETROIT. The yawl was nearly dashed to pieces by her rescuer and broke her oars trying to stay clear. Lines were thrown out by the steamer and two men were pulled up. This proved dangerous and the others in the yawl opted to wait for the tug to rescue them. The tug JAMES AMADEUS came out and was able to rescue the others with difficulty.
The TWO FANNIES was first enrolled at Chicago on August 8, 1862. She was built in 1862 at Peshtigo, Wis. for the Peshtigo Company of which Thomas H. Beebe of Chicago was the president. She measured 152.9 x 33.5 x 12.32. She had wrecked once before on November 21, 1879 after loading pig iron at Elk Rapids, Mich. Upon departing that evening she was hit by a terrific storm that stripped her of her canvas and dragged her ashore near Elk Rapids. When rescued the next day around noon her crew was in the rigging and half frozen. The TWO FANNIES was about five feet underwater. Within a few days, the Seamen’s union held a special meeting to provide provisions for her frozen crew. She was given up as a loss at that time but was rebuilt.
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Suzette Lopez is the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society.
Photo at top of page: Schooner TWO FANNIES. Ken Thro photo. Photo credit: Great Lakes Marine Collection of the Milwaukee Public Library and Wisconsin Marine Historical Society.
