The following were sources for information concerning the wrecking of the Marinette and Menekaunee:

Nearly all the information is from The Gales of November, by Erik Jensen, in the 1/11/04 online issue of the Cherry Capital Paddle America Club, http://www.ccpac.org/news/articles/gales-of-november.shtml. This article quotes extensively from the Grand Traverse Herald newspaper articles of November 25, December 2, and December 9, 1886, in which the sinking of both ships is accounted as well as a recounting of the disaster by the sole survivor, Charles Annis. The desecration and robbing of the dead, as well as the subsequent arrest of F. R. Axtell, is also reported.

Information regarding the building and launching of the ships was gathered from Kit Lane's book Built on the Banks of the Kalamazoo. This book also suggests that the remains of the Menekaunee can be seen occasionally north of the Outlet, although it appears the the bulk of the ship was removed and sold, piece by piece, within the past 20 years. While the book is listed as out of print, according to the author it can be purchased for $17.50 + $3.00 shipping from Pavilion Press, PO Box 250, Douglas MI 49406The book is $17.50 plus $3 shipping and handling.

Information regarding wave height during fierce storms on Lake Michigan was derived from http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mqt/fitzgerald/gales.htm, and from various bouy reports indicating that it's not uncommon to have 20 foot waves in Lake Michigan, with occasional "freak waves" twice as large.

Data on the size and capacity of both ships, as well as the information of the scavenging of the Menekaunee, was provided by Brendon Baillod, www.ship-wreck.com. He also was generous with his time and took the trouble to scan and send information I was unable to locate anywhere else.

If you have any additional information, or can correct any information you know to be wrong, please email me. Have you seen the wreckage of the Menekaunee north of the Outlet? Do you have any photos that I could use? Please let me know.