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The
story of the triple wreck at Pilot Island begins with the
scow
-
schooner
Forest . Built in 1857 at Newport, Michigan,
by David Lester for his own use, the Forest measured
87' 6" in length, 22' 3" in beam, and 6' in depth of hold.
The two-masted scow had a single
deck
and was issued official
number 9740. Over the winter
of 1879-1880, she was lengthened and had her rig changed
from two to three masts. Her new dimensions were 115.6' by
23'
by 6', with a
gross tonnage
of 113.
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The
J.E. Glimore (left), the A.P. Nichols
(right), and the remains of the Forest
(between dock in foreground and the Gilmore )
ashore on Pilot Island, October 1892. |
Prior
to her wrecking at Pilot Island, the Forest was driven
ashore at Newport, Wis., while loaded with lumber at the lumber
pier. While anchored offshore awaiting a favorable wind, an
east gale drove the Forest , her companion (the scow-schooner
R.H. Becker ), and the lumber pier itself ashore.
The Forest was thought to be a total loss.
The
ship was put up for sale in February 1882 with this advertisement
in the Door County Advocate:
Vessel
for Sale
Scow
Forest now lying on the beach at Newport, 6 miles east of
Ellison Bay: $3,500 expended on
hull
in
the last 18 months. Can be got off with little expense.
The whole vessel and her outfit, which is all safely stored
in Hans Johnson's barn will be sold for $1,000 cash. For
further
information inquire of the subscriber, Harrison Fellows,
Racine, Wis. The vessel has a carrying capacity for 160,000
feet of
lumber.
There
were no buyers. An expedition under Capt. George Decatur
Fellows (nephew of the Forest's owner) removed
the Forest
from the beach in August, assisted by the
tug
John
Gregory of Sturgeon Bay. The Forest,
not damaged as badly as had been thought, was refloated
in about an hour and towed by the Gregory to Manitowoc,
where she was repaired and put back in service by October.
continued
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