Marquette and Bessemer 1

In the opening years of the twentieth century, there were several railroad ferries which carried coal cars from Conneault, Ohio to Port Stanley. Three of these boats boats were named the “Marquette and Bessemer,” after the company that owned and operated them. This postcard, at least according to its title, shows the Marquette and Bessemer No. 1 arriving in Port Stanley. In December 1909 the Marquette and Bessemer No. 2 sank in a gale as it was trying to enter Port Stanley harbour. All 38 crew members were lost and the wreck has never been found.