CAPT. EDWARD CARUS

Capt. Edward Carus, veteran Great Lakes Skipper, Is Dead
Suffers Stroke While Resting at His Home
Capt. Edward Carus, 87, (Photo) veteran Great Lakes skipper who began his
sailing days back in 1874 died Friday night as Manitowoc opened its marine
centennial, marking the 100th anniversary of the construction of the first
sailing vessel here.
Captain Carus suffered a stroke as he sat in a chair in the yard of his home
at 1209 Franklin street Friday afternoon and died a few hours later. A
prolific writer in the years when he retired from sailing, Capatin Carus
authored a series of articles on early day shipping which appeared in the
Herald-Times and other newspapers.
During his years on the lakes and following his retirement he ????red a fine
collection of marine pictures which covered several volumes and was regarded
as one of the most accurate and complete collections of marine data in the
country. He also collected many marine ????ous which he turned over to the
museum of the County Historical society.
Pens His Own 'Log'
Masonic funeral rites for Capatain Carus will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the
Masonic Temple, with the Rev. F.C. St. Clair of the St. James church officiating.
Burial will be in Evergreen cemetery.
Mindful of the newspaper man's search for data, Captain Carus a few years ago
penned out a story of his activities which he captioned the
"Log of Capt. Edward Carus."
Captain Carus in 1935 completed a chronological record of disasters of lake
vessels from 1900 to 1935, with statistics on several hundred ships, which was
the culmination of years of study and research. Assisting him in his work was
his wife, Mary.
His marine album collection, which he disposed of in 1939, contained over 2,000
photographs. He took this step to get some rest from the constant flow of
visitors to his home to check on marine matters. He carried his marine life right
into his home following his retirement from the lakes. Over his study in the rear
of his home, was a large sign "Pilot House."
'Shipped Out' at 14
Born in this city in 1860 Captain Carus early turned to the lakes. When only 14
years of age he shipped on the schooners L?na and Mariner and the following year
was a member of the crew of the schooner Sea Gem. In 1878 he shipped as a watchman
aboard the steamer Oconto and that fall went to New York by way of the Erie canal
and joined the crew of the steamer Crescent City for a trip to West Indies. The
following spring he returned to the Great Lakes.
In the spring of 1881 he went out as second mate of the steamer Menominee and later
was on the steamer DePere. The next three seasons he was mate on the Corona trading
between Manitowoc and Menominee, Mich., and to 1887 was mate of the Joseph L. Hurd,
trading from Chicago to Lake Superior ports.
In 1863 Captain Carus shipped as first officer of the steamer Eastland, which capsized
in the Chicago river in 1915 with a loss of 815 excursionists. He was captain down
through the years of the following steamers: George A Marsh, North Star, Nellie, Hunter,
Corona, Sheboygan, City of Ludington, Georgia, Badger State, Empire State, Easton Soo
(Continured on Page 2, col.6)
CAPTAIN CARUS DIES FRIDAY
(Continued from Page 1)
City, George Burnham.
He was skipper of many steamers of the Goodrich Transit company plying the west shore
of Lake Michigan from Chicago to Manitowoc.
Collected Marine Data
During World War I he was employment agent at the Manitowoc Ship Building company and
took many of the cargo ships built at the yards to the Atlantic seaboard. He took all
the ships on their trial runs before they cleared the coast. He remained with the yards
until 1930, when he retired, but at times skippered the Buccaneer, a yacht owned by
President Charles West of the Ship building company.
His active sailing days over, Captain Carus did not allow his interests in marine matters
to lag. He continued his album collections of pictures, and with his typewriter before
him in a little study at his home, wrote amny interesting stories, illustrated with
pictures, of lake marine disasters.
His wealth of knowledge of lake data, brought him many visitors form other cities who
checked through his collection with great interest. He was active in Masonic circles and
was honored with a 50-year certificate of the order several years ago.
Captain Carus married Miss Mary Bahr in 1890. She died in 1945. There are no immediate
survivors.
The body may be viewed at the Frazier mortuary after 2 p.m. Sunday and will be moved to
the Masonic Temple Monday morning to lie in state until the hour of the services.
Manitowoc Herald Times, Saturday, August 16, 1947 P.1 and 2
*******
[died 08-16-1947/age 87 yrs/bur. on John G. Bahr lot]
*******
(By Capt. Edward Carus)
The above picture, taken of the lower harbor here in 1887, was a common
one in the local harbor in the seventies and eighties, with vessels in
the harbor loaded with forest products from Wisconsin enroute to the
Chicago and Milwaukee market. These vessels, encountering strong head
winds put into the harbor here for shelter. As soon as the wind shifted
they all got under way for their destination.
The vessel lying broadside in the harbor was the Mediterranean. A few
years before, on Sunday, June 22, 1871, this same vessel arrived here
from Buffalo, New York, with a locomotive on her deck. This locomotive
came here by water as did most of the inhabitants in those days. Since
the railroad has been built many people who were born in Manitowoc and
died here of old age were never out on the lake, but every year people
from the south and west come to the lakes purposely to make a trip on
the water.
The locomotive which came on the vessel was named "Ben Jones" in honor
of Manitowoc's foremost citizen of that time. It was a great day for
Manitowoc, the whole town turned out and lined the docks at North Sixth
street where the vessel was lying. The next day the vessel was towed up
river into the corner near the ship yard gate. Then the locomotive was
jacked and blocked up, rails were placed on the schooner's rail leading
to the yards and the Ben Jones was eased off into the railroad yards.
In the picture may be seen the old wooden Eight street bridge with the
hog trusses to strengthen it. This bridge was replaced about 1890 by an
iron swing bridge and again a few years ago with the present one. East
of the bridge may be seen the old city elevator built by subscription
and sold to the William Rahr's Sons Co., and moved to their plant.
Manitowoc Herald Times, Monday, May 2, 1932 P.6
NOTE: This article under the picture in the paper.