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60 years ago
MUNISING -- Five Grand Rapids skin divers have returned home after finding what they hope is a ship which sank in 1889 in Munising Bay with a cargo valued at $75,000. The quintet left for the Furniture City with miscellaneous ship's fittings taken from the sunken steam-sail freighter, tentatively believed to be the Smits E. More, which went down in a storm carrying 350 kegs of whiskey and 150 barrels of high-grade silver ore. On Aug. 3, they plunged into the chilly waters at the mouth of the bay to find on their first dive the hulk of a 300-foot wood freighter, 106 feet below the surface. Franklin R. DeLano, one of the party, said they would not discern the ship's name nor could they find evidence offering positive identity of the ship. The vessel appeared to have four decks. Three, including the main deck, were intact, and it was from these that the divers recovered the stores. But the fourth, presumably the hold, was covered with slit. DeLano said his group plans to return next month, this time with dredging gear to determine what the hold contains. Reports say the More was eastbound from Minnesota when it sank June 13, 1889. It was suggested the vessel may have struck a reef, causing it to go down. The Grand Rapids quintet returned with two ventilator covers, a steam gauge, block and tackles, a belaying pin, crock galley kettle, grinding wheel and drinking mug. Besides DeLano, the party includes Roger Smits, Bernard E. Sobie, Teunis R. Klenjan and Louis Hass.
90 years ago
ISHPEMING -- Weather permitting, several hundred residents of Ishpeming and vicinity will go to Marquette Wednesday to attend the county fair. Chief of the attractions, from an Ishpeming representation, will be the appearance of the Ishpeming Industrial association band. The members will leave here about 1:30 O'clock Wednesday afternoon and expect to begin their march at the fairgrounds about 2:30 o'clock. The program and schedule is in the hands of Director Tom Robinson. While there will be no other official representation there will be plenty of Ishpeming residents on hand to greet the band and to visit the exhibits and witness other features of the fair. Stores in Ishpeming will be closed Wednesday afternoon to permit clerks and proprietors, as well as the public to attend. Announcement of closing, made at the meeting last night of the Industrial association, was greeted with general agreement.
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