Captain Herman Schuenemann's family and friends waited. Days went by. Finally, on Dec. 5, 1912, the Chicago Tribune's headlines read: "'Christmas Ship' Lost On the Lake With 17 On Board." No proof that it was, though.
The family still waited, but a note found along the Wisconsin shore, reportedly written by Schuenemann, read: "Friday--Everybody goodbye. I guess we are all thru. Sea washed over our deck load Thursday. During the night the small (liveboat) was washed over. Leaking bad...God help us."
There were no survivors and a Chicago tradition was gone.
His wife, called the "Christmas Tree Lady' continued the family business. She died in 1933. Her daughters continued for a few more years.before ending it.
A diver found the well-preserved remains of the Rouse Simmons in 1971, 170 feet deep, east of Two Rivers, Wisconsin.
The Chicago City Council has authorized placement of a cast bronze plaque this year, 2013, at the southwest corner of the Clark Street bridge. On it will be a line drawing of the Rouse Simmons.
The Story of a Tradition. --Cooter
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