Description
Researched and compiled in 1986 (reprinted in 2025) by descendants of survivors of the Phoenix disaster.
The Phoenix steamed out Buffalo on the morning of November 11, 1847, with approximately 175 Dutch immigrants, a crew of 23, an unknown number of other passengers, and a heavy load of coffee, sugar, molasses, and hardware, destined for ports on Lake Michigan. After a few hours’ stop on November 20, on the lake’s western shore at Manitowoc due to rough seas, the ship was again on its way.
The Hollanders aboard, who had left their homes at Winterswijk, Varseveld, Holten, and other towns in the eastern parts of the provinces of Gelderland and Overijssel, two months before, retired for the night knowing that the very next day they would be free of the crowded confines of the ship, free of the constant movement of the swells, and at last be able to set foot upon their “promised land.” Children were tucked into their sleeping places for one last time — dreams of “Amerika” dancing in their tiny heads. Husbands and wives may have stayed awake for hours excitedly making plans which they hoped would begin when they disembarked at Sheboygan in just a few short hours.
At last, all was peaceful, but the Phoenix labored hard under her enormous load of passengers and freight, and her boilers grew red hot. About 3:00 am some awoke and noticed a smell of burning wood. The odor of burning wood was nothing strange, arrogant crew members told them, lake vessels burned wood. At 4:00 am smoke poured out of the engine room, and the alarm of fire rang out. Bucket brigades proved fruitless, and it soon became apparent that the Phoenix was doomed. Two small lifeboats carried the forty–three survivors fire miles to shore. Of these, twenty–five were Dutch immigrants, and estimates are that from 200 to 300 persons lost their lives.
