Muskegon

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Muskegon's Worst Maritime Disaster - At 4:20 in the morning of October 28, 1919, the wooden side-wheel steamer, City of Muskegon, tried to make its way into the Muskegon channel during a powerful storm. Huge waves slammed the ship into the south pier and in less than 10 minutes the Muskegon was battered to pieces. Fifteen of the 37 passengers lost their lives in the disaster, along with seven of the crew. Many more may have drowned if not for the efforts of Coast Guardsman, R. J. Jahnborsky, on watch at the Life Saving Station at the time. “I saw the boat coming towards the piers,” he said. “There was a gale but the ship seemed to be making good headway. It came alongside the piers and was caught by the undertow and struck. I sounded the whistles and the Life Savers were out within two minutes. By that time, however, the boat was being pounded to kindling.” When daylight came, masses of wood and debris choked the channel, with trunks, cases of food, tobacco, and all manner of produce dotting the wreckage.

 

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