Posted by Robert Myers on June 08, 1999 at 12:07:43:
In Reply to: Wreck of Havana posted by Pete on May 17, 1999 at 08:55:02:
:
: Hello,
: I am trying to find information on the Lake Michigan Shipwreck of the Havana.
: I know that it is 6-8 Miles North of St. Joseph and 1 mile out from shore.
: I have not been able to find any info on the net regarding this wreck.
: It is of interest to me since my great Grandfather received a congretional
: medal of honor for the rescue of the men onboard this vessel before it went
: down.
: Any info you know of would be greatly appreciated.
: I can be reached at petefister@juno.com
: Thank You,
: Pete
Havana was built in 1871 in Oswego, NY, and in 1887 was owned by Alonzo P. Read of Kenosha, WI. She was caught by a storm while en route from Kenosha to St. Joseph, MI, with a cargo of 551 tons of iron ore. She had a crew of seven: Capt. John Curran, 1st Mate Samuel McClemant, cook John Morse, and seamen Joseph Clint, Charles Hagen, George Hughes and Robert H. McCormick. Havana went aground about a mile north of St. Joseph and went down on October 3, 1887. Charles Mollhagen and the tug Hannah Sullivan went out with a volunteer crew and rescued four of the Havana's crew, but John Curran, John Morse and Joseph Clint died in the disaster. In November 1887, Mollhagen and August Kuehn received gold life-saving medals from the U.S. Life-Saving Service for their rescue efforts. The other crewmen received silver medals.
I'm writing a book about local shipwrecks and would appreciate any further information you have on Mollhagen. Thanks!