The wreck of the Lucius Newberry PAGE 2 • JUNE 2019 • GENEVA LAKES BREEZE
It was largest, most grand boat on Geneva Lake – until it sank in 1891
By Sandra Landen Machaj CORRESPONDENT
On April 24, 1875, an impressive new side-wheel steam paddleboat appeared on Geneva Lake. It was the largest boat on the lake with a length of 115 feet, which bested the Lady of the Lake (98 feet). That designation was important to Oscar Newberry. The new boat, according to local lore, was built in revenge because of Newberry’s alleged slight from Lady of the Lake Captain Quigley, who was said to have been a friend of the family. The story is that Newberry, son of Lucius, was fishing on Geneva Lake in a small boat when a storm came up. He signaled to the nearby Lady of the Lake for help. But for some reason, Quigley declined to help. Perhaps he didn’t see Oscar’s signal, but Newberry vowed he would build a larger and more luxurious boat than the Lady of the Lake, and so he did.
Spared no expense
Local and well-respected boat builder John W. French constructed the Lucius Newberry in Lake Geneva. Newberry spared no expense and indeed proceeded to have the most luxurious boat on the lake. It was capable of holding 700. The hull was designed using 3-inch thick oak planking, which was nailed to heavy, steam-bent oak frames. The paddle wheels were said to be 21 feet in diameter with 4-foot wide buckets. Early reports described the wheelhouses “as being beautifully ornamented and representing a rising sun and a starry heaven. The boat was powered by a two-
COURTESTY OF GENEVA LAKE MUSEUM AND JAY THOMPSON The Breeze
The Lady of the Lake (left) and the Lucius Newberry docked in Lake Geneva in the late 1800s. The Newbery was the longest side-wheel steamboat ever to sail on Geneva Lake and was built to overshadow The Lady of the Lake.
cylinder, 125-horsepower Torrant steam engine.” The ladies cabin was designed with utmost elegance. Heart-shaped, it measured 39 by about 17 feet. Brussels carpets and richly upholstered furniture
filled the room. The woodwork was appliquéd with Hungarian veneer and with heavy-gilded molding along the top and edges. The interior of the cabin could have been an art gallery; there were more than 40 oil works by popular painter and photographer John Bullock. Bullock painted a lot of nature scenes around the lake. He reportedly received $1,500 for his artwork. The aft portion of the room featured a restroom and a dress circle with finely made plate glass mirrors that included ground edges and the vessel’s name etched in. Located on the side near the wheelhouses was a convenient wash closet for male passengers, albeit with much less elegant accommodations. The three-level ship contained an ornately carved bar and a piano. Exquisite kerosene chandeliers were hung to add to the beauty and produce proper lighting. The circular office and salon were located in the forward section and measured 9 feet in diameter.
Deck and dance floor
Wide stairs led from the first floor to the promenade deck and dance floor. They traveled halfway up before splitting so that passengers could choose which side of the ship they wished to enter. The dance floor featured quality Georgia pine and measured 41 by 21 feet with a railing and seats surrounding it. There was ample space for an orchestra at the forward end. Music from the ship could be heard on the lake and ashore during its cruises. The boat also had a bell that was said to have come from a Mexican cathedral after the Spanish-American War. The finding of the COURTESTY OF GENEVA LAKE MUSEUM AND JAY THOMPSON The Breeze A diver in full scuba gear prepares to enter the water in search of more artifacts solid brass bell clapper helped identify the ship as the Newberry. from the Lucius Newberry.
The boat was built at a cost of about $16,000. The Lucius Newberry usually made three trips daily from Lake Geneva to Fontana. A round-trip ticket cost 50 cents.
Owner becomes captain
Upon its completion, Oscar Newberry was named captain, carrying passengers, mail and cargo across the lake. He remained captain until 1879, when John Wilson of the Anchor Line Company purchased the Newberry and one or two of the smaller boats from the Newberry Steam Line. According to one report, Wilson also purchased Lady of the Lake from Edward Quigley. The Lucius Newberry underwent major repairs – rotting wood on the hull was replaced, the engines were overhauled and hogging trusses (large steel frames with steel rods attached to the bow and stern to make the hull stiffer) were added. However, these were not the only changes Wilson made. A member of the Temperance movement, he also changed several policies. In what he claimed was a means to make the ladies more comfortable, he forbade liquor, cigars or confections to be used or sold onboard. He also created uniforms to make the crew look more professional and hired a band for each cruise. In 1890, the boat was again sold, this time to C.A. Noyes, who only kept it for three months before transferring it to Wesley Johnson. Johnson’s first act was to change the name to the City of Lake Geneva. He also renamed the company The Lake Geneva Steamer Line.
A fiery end
His ownership also didn’t last long. A night watchman noticed a fire in the stern while the boat was docked on Dec.