The beginning
and the end, two parts of the story of this Cayuga Lake steamer.
The maiden voyage was June 4, 1870, there were numerous items
in the early days of the new Cayuga Lake Steamer.
“Fast Time—The new steamer Frontenac, made her regular fifty
mile trip in 3 hours and 3 minutes, making ten landings, with an average of
three minutes each. That would be accomplishing the trip of fifty miles in 2
hours 38 minutes. Good time for Cayuga Lake.” Auburn July 8, 1870
The Ithaca
Daily Journal July 18, 1870, carried a description of a trip taken that
day. “The new steamer Frontenac goes over Cayuga Lake like a bird…The trip up
the lake this forenoon, with a fine breeze, was a perfect luxury, and if this
terrible hot weather continues, we can recommend nothing better for a relief to
our citizens than to take to the Cayuga Lake Steamer until there is a change.”
Or for something
different, you could take an evening cruise. “The steamer ‘Frontenac’ has been secured. She will leave Cayuga at 7:30
P.M., stopping at Union Springs and Aurora. All who love ‘by moonlight and
starlight to bound o’er the billow,’ are invited to participate.” The cost for
this trip was “single tickets one dollar; lady and gentleman’s ticket a dollar
and a half. Refreshments may be obtained on board the boat, and good music will
be in attendance.” Ithaca Daily Journal August 9, 1870.
“Two new boats,
the Frontenac and the Wilcox are running regularly on Cayuga Lake, and are met
at Goodwin’s Point by the Taughannock House omnibus.” Ithaca Daily Journal
Tragic Ending,
July 27, 1907
The Interlaken Review, like many local and
regional newspapers carried the story of the end. “The Cayuga lake steamer,
Frontenac, the largest vessel on Cayuga Lake, was entirely destroyed by fire
last Saturday afternoon near Aurora…” (Interlaken Review August 2, 1907)
The main points
of the tragedy included the wind, “A strong wind was blowing, some say 40 miles
an hour, making it the roughest lake seen in five years. It was so rough that a
landing could not be make at Aurora, where many were waiting to board the
steamer…” When smoke was discovered coming from the pilot house, pumps were
turned on and an attempt made to put out the fire. Also on fire were the life
boats.
The captain had
the boat grounded, and passengers were given life preservers. Even though they
were only in water 7 feet deep, and about 50 feet from where people could walk,
the clothing of the day and general confusion caused the loss of eight lives,
seven ladies and a four-year-old boy.
Over the years,
many articles have been written about the event. One article in the New York
Archives magazine, Summer 2008 issue carried an article about the fire,
“Fire on the Frontenac” by Sharon A.
Andrus.
The almost
iconic picture of the burned-out steamer sums up much of the article. “Fire in
the midst of water, wind, and waves: these were the parameters for a steamboat
tragedy in central New York at the turn of the century that still haunts the
communities, the families—and the archives.”
Working from
sources in an archive we can build a picture of many of the events from
history. I hope this blog is a testament to the value of having and using
archival materials for sharing the stories of our past.
Dewitt’s Diary
Friday, July 27, _____
The temperature
was 85 at noon today. We painted on the south side of the house today. Went
down to Lem’s this evening. Caught some carp from Lem’s dock.
Corn and beans
are growing well. My field corn is just beginning to show a little tassel.
Everything in
the garden looks swell. Plenty of moisture.
Rye grass and
all stated in the field corn.
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