Duncan Corbett
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The schooner Metropolis was built in 1857 at Cleveland by Peck & Masters. It was canal
sized measuring 125 by 28 feet with a depth of hold of 11 feet. In its early years the
Metropolis carried a variety of cargoes including grain, lumber, and pig iron. By 1882 it
was sailed by Captain Duncan Corbett who maintained homes in both Elk Rapids and
Chicago. On November 24, 1886, the Metropolis left Elk Rapids for Chicago with a cargo
of pig iron and lumber. She immediately disappeared into a dense snow storm and lost
her way. She ran aground south of Old Mission Point and her Captain scuttled her to
prevent further damage. Salvage efforts commenced two days later but were
unsuccessful. Eventually the pig iron was salvaged and the lumber disappeared some
reportedly building a nearby barn. Today the skeleton of Metropolis lies in shallow water
while a portion of a side lies nearby in deeper water where it was abandoned by an early
scavenger.
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From the Elk Rapids Prgress:
Sept. 17, 1880 The marriage of Capt. Duncan Corbett, of the schooner Metropolis, and Miss Mary Hughes which took place at the Hughes House, Sept. 17, was a very pleasant event. A number of invited friends were present to enjoy the occasion. Eight o'clock was the appointed time, and punctual to that hour the ceremony was performed. After the congratulations the guests adjourned to the dining hall to enjoy the bounteous repast placed before them. A number of elegant presents were given. The happy couple sailed at 12 P.M. on the schooner Metropolis. And all their friends wish that their voyage through life may be as beautiful as was the night they left our shores.
Nov. 12, 1896 THE WAUKESHA LOST-Capt. Duncan Corbett's vessel goes down-six lives lost.
The schooner Waukesha sank off Muskegon Saturday night. She was owned and
sailed by Capt. Duncan Corbett, for many years a resident of Elk Rapids, and well and
favorably known here. Six of the crew, including the Captain, were drowned, and only
one man, Frank Dolach, a seaman on the ill-fated schooner, was saved. He was rescued
while clinging to the ship's mast by the Muskegon life-saving crew, and tells the
following story:
"Capt. Duncan Corbett was in command of the Waukesha. She was loaded with
600 tons of salt in bulk and 25 barrels of apples, and bound from Ludington to South
Chicago. We left Ludington at 4:30 o'clock Friday afternoon, Nov. 6--Dolach was in the
water twelve hours, and this was his first trip on this boat. The Waukesha was built in
Manitowoc in 1862, thirty-four years ago, and was of 310 tons burden. She was rotten
from stem to stern."
Nov. 19, 1896 Muskegon, Nov. 10.--Two of the bodies of the crew of the wrecked
schooner Waukesha have been identified. One was named Johnson and lived in
Chicago. He formerly lived in Muskegon. The name of the other was Martin, and his
residence is unknown. The body of Thomas Gayton, the colored cook, has been taken to
Benton Harbor by friends.
Nov. 19, 1896 "I have known captain Duncan Corbett for the last twenty years," said
Franklin H. Head, the owner of the Waukesha. "During most of that time he sailed
vessels for me, and I never knew that he took a drink of liquor in all that time. As for
the report made by this sailor that he was drunk when the Waukesha got into trouble, I
do not believe there is a word of truth in it. He was a careful navigator and a moral
man, and I am grieved to learn of his unfortunate death". Captain Duncan Corbett was
probably as well known in Elk Rapids as anywhere, having made this his home for a
number of years, and his acquaintances here seriously question the truth of the story in
regard to Captain Corbett being drunk. The writer of this has been personally
acquainted with the Captain for several years and never knew him as a drinking man.
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There is a great account of the sinking of the Waukesha in the book, "Beyond the Windswept Dunes: The Story of Maritime Muskegon", by Elizabeth B. Sherman, Chapter 2, pages 44 through 48.
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The Rock Island Argus, Volume 45, Number 20, 10 November 1896
DULACH IS CHARGED WITH MUTINY. I
Only Surrivor of the Waukesha Te Be Prosecuted, It Is Said. Chicago, Nov. 10. Frank Dulach, the sole survivor of the crew of the schooner Waukesha, which was lost off Muskegon Saturday night, saved his life only to lose it for mutiny If the indignant marine men of this city can' fix the crime upon him. A subscription was started yesterday morning to prosecute the sole survivor In the federal courts, his sworn statement Sunday night being taken as sufficient evidence of his crime. A fair-sized purse was quickly raised among the life-long associates of Captain Duncan Corbett. and the case will be placed In the hands of a prominent admiralty lawyer. Dulach's arrest will quickly follow. All the marine men here who knew Captain Corbett say he was an entirely sober man, and are positive that he was not drunk, as charged by Dulach. The mutiny consists in slipping the schooner's anchor. Dulach's statement was to the effect that the captain, mate and one of the FPilirs were intoxicated, having been drinking since the vessel left Ludingtor. Friday. The boat was anchored off Muskegon, but the crew slipped the anchor and allowed the craft to drift toward shore. The crew took to ttv; rigging, and all. except Dulach, weri washel off and drowned.
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From Maritime History of the Great Lakes
http://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/54097/data
Schooner WAUKESHA Went to Pieces in the Gale on Lake Michigan. Muskegon, Mich. Nov. 9. -- The schooner WAUKESHA broke up while trying to ride out the gale at anchor near here and only one survivor of her crew of seven has been rescued. He is still too weak to talk.
The vessel had a load of salt and apples, which was taken on at Manistee Saturday morning. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon she was sighted running with the gale with torn mainsail. An attempt was made to enter Muskegon harbor, but the schooner drifted a mile south of the pier and then her anchor was dropped. She was riding three-quarters of a mile from shore at dark. The engineer and firemen of the city pumping station watched the lights until 9 o'clock, when they disappeared. Shortly afterward wreckage began coming in, and today nothing can be seen of the lost boat above the water where she anchored. All night long the wreckage continued to come up on the beach, and five bodies have been recovered. The names of the dead cannot be learned, as nothing about the clothing will identify them. The surviving sailor was washed ashore unconscious and nothing can be learned from him. The WAUKESHA is one of the old fleet of "canalers," and true to all tradition she has taken almost her entire crew down with her in her last disaster. She was owned by F. H. Head, of Chicago and was formerly known as the NABOB. She was built at Manitowoc in 1864 and rated 295 tons. Sbe had a valuation of $2,500 and was given a rating of B 1. She has been engaged in the salt trade between Ludington and Manistee and Chicago for Joy, Morton & Co., all the season.
CAPTAIN AND CREW DRUNK. Delach, the Survivor, Says the Captain Refused to Signal the Life-savers For Help.
Muskegon, Nov. 9. -- Last evening Frank Delach, the only survivor of the wrecked schooner WAUKESHA, made affidavit to the effect that there were seven men aboard the WAUKESHA, Capt. Duncan Corbett, the mate, four seamen and a colored cook. When they arrived off Muskegon, Delach said the captain, mate and some of the sailors were very drunk. They signaled for a tug but showed no distress signals and no tug under these circumstances started out in the heavy sea. The captain anchored a mile south of Muskegon harbor. The craft began leaking badly but the captain refused to light the torch to make known their condition to the life-saving crew. The crew donned life preservers, their yawl boat having been washed away. They let go the large anchor cable and the schooner drifted towards shore somewhat, with the smaller anchor dragging, all hands taking to the forward rigging. The craft, however, began sinking rapidly and a sudden lurch threw some of the men from the foremast. As part of them clung to the rigging the main topmast broke off and fell upon them striking some of them and sweeping all into the lake. Delach said he contrived to get together a raft from the wreckage to which five of the men hung for a time. They dragged the captain with them, but he was too helplessly drunk to hold on and they had to drop him. Delach and one other sailor stood it till 5 o'clock in the morning, but finally the other man gave up and sank and Delach was shortly afterward taken off by the life-saving crew.
Buffalo Evening News
Monday, November 9, 1896
The three masted schooner WAUKESHA of Chicago, sank off Muskegon on Saturday night and was the cause of six being drowned and one rescued. The Captain and mate were supposedly drunk. The WAUKESHA was owned by F.H. Head of Chicago and was loaded with apples and salt from Ludington to South Chicago. She was built in 1864 and rated at 295 tons.
Port Huron Daily Times
Monday, November 9, 1896
The schooner WAUKESHA, wrecked off Muskegon, she came ashore 3 miles below Lake Michigan Park, and will be a total loss. Built 1862 of 310 tons and 138 feet length and 26 feet beam.
Toronto Globe
November 10, 1896
One of the victims of the schooner WAUKESHA disaster at Muskegon has been identified as Albert Forter, 22 years of age, who leaves a wife at 149 South Halsted Street, Chicago. Another of the victims proves to be one McGuire, a batchelor who makes Chicago his home. Two bodies remain unidentified, and will be buired in the Potter's Field.
Milwaukee Wisconsin
November 12, 1896
A Muskegon correspondent attributes the talk of prosecuting Frank Dulach, the sole survivor of the schooner WAUKESHA disaster, for Mutiny, to a strong desire to collect the insurance, which might be vitiated by proof of Capt. Corbett's drunkenness.
Milwaukee Wisconsin
November 13, 1896
Schooner WAUKESHA.* U.S. No. 18175. Of 310.38 tons gross; 294.87 tons net. Built at Manitowoc, Wis., in 1862. Home port, Milwaukee, Wis. 137.6 x 26.5 x 11.6
* Formerly schooner MABOB
Merchant Vessel List, U.S., 1891
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