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The Oconto Which Started Fire At Green Bay Destroying.78 Buildings£ (By CAPTAIN EDWARD CARUS)ABOVE is pictured the propeller Oconto, which was built in Manitowoc in 1872 by G. S. Rand for the Goodrich Transportation company. The steamer gained some prominence by being given the blame for setting the big fire” at Green Bay on September 20, 1880, 63 years ago last month.In'that fire 78 buildings were destroyed. It was a wild night at Green Bay. A gale was blowing from the southwest. The Oconto passed through the Cherry Street bridge at 3 p. m. on her way to De Pere. Soon after passing the old Astor planing mill which was located where the present C. M. and St. Paul depot now stands, it was discovered that the mill was afire.Cinders Get FireIt was tho contention of Green Bay citizens that cinder* from tho stack of the Oconto ret fire to the mill. Long drawn out litigation followed which lasted six yeara In which the Goodrich company was eventually victor. The Green Bay fire at that time burned a strip two blocks wide, extending from the Fox river to the East river which Included 69 homes, a school, churches, stores, a bank and vinegar factory, *On this trip the Oconto was commanded by Capt. F. W. Spafford. Ray Flint Sr. was chief engineer and the late John Mahnke, for yeara ourcity treasurer, was steward. The writer was wheelsman.DimensionsThe Oconto was 143 f«W long. 32 foot beam. 10 foot depth of hold and a tonnage of 606. The above picture shows the Oconto loading shingles at Depore for the Chicago market. In 1883 President Goodrich sold her to Detroit parties and In 1886 she was again sold to the Grand Trunk railroad. The Oconto was taking s valuable cargo of silk from Detroit to Quebec, Ont.. In command of Capt. James Martin when she struck a rock In the St. Lawrence liver and went down In 100 feet of water. The OcapVv a tptal loss.more particularly If It Is above the turn and Jupiter takes place. Fpl- iretary of the Treasury under Presl-
Newspaper Details
Manitowoc Herald Times
Manitowoc, Wisconsin, US
Sat, Oct 14, 1933
Page 11
Full Page
Clipped by
Badgerlink
WI, USA 23 Nov 2016
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