Joseph WURTZ

!BIRTH: Federal Census, 1880-listed as 8 years old; 1900 census birth given as Dec. 1872. Vol. 6, ED 29 Sheet 12, line 96. Univ. Michigan film X1209, Reel 701. DEATH: Detroit News, Wed. May 21, 1924, page 1 & 2. Granddaughter, Mary Lynn Wurtz Baczkiewicz stated Joseph went down with lake steamer Orinoco. 1900 address - 108 Seymour St. Bay City. Probate record #607, Bay County, MI shows death of baby in 1921 born to Joseph Wurtz & Maud Mulholland. 13 Mar 1996- Detroit Public Library. "1924 - Wooden freighter Orinoco sank in Lake Huron - 4 lives lost." p 21. Photo on page 101 with two barges in tow. Bown, David T. "Lore of the Lakes" David Thomas Bowen, Publisher, Daytona Beach Florida. MCMXL. 14 Mar 1996: Call to Dawson Museum. Newspaper reports of Orinoco sinking: Either on 23 or 24 of May, 1924 in Lake Superior near Montreal Island, depending upon whether Detroit News or paper of Sault Ste. Marie. Detroit News, May 21, 1924: " Capt. Lawrence refused to get into one of the two lifeboats on the Orinoco. 'Boys I'll stay with the ship. You take the boats if you can crowd in....' His wheelsman stayed with him. On the aft end Joseph Wurtz, chief engineer, decided to cast his lot with the ship rather than endanger the lives of all who were crowded in the boats." The three men on the ship died as did two crewmen who froze to death in the lifeboats.

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