James B. Colgate (ship)

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42°5′22.6788″N 81°44′16.8612″W / 42.089633000°N 81.738017000°W / 42.089633000; -81.738017000

The James B. Colgate underway
History
United States
Name	James B. Colgate
Owner	Pittsburgh Steamship Company
Completed	1892
Maiden voyage	21 September 1892
Fate	Sunk in storm, 20 October 1916
General characteristics
Type	Whaleback freighter
Tonnage	1,713
Length	308 ft (94 m)
Beam	38 ft (12 m)
Height	24 ft (7.3 m)
Crew	26

James B. Colgate was a whaleback steamer that sank off the shores of Long Point, Ontario, Canada, in Lake Erie on 20 October 1916. This day was dubbed "Black Friday" because of its fierce winds and towering waves wreaking havoc on numerous vessels traveling on Lake Erie's waters. The James B. Colgate, loaded with coal, left on its final voyage from Buffalo, New York, heading for Fort William, Ontario today known as Thunder Bay. The vessel had a tonnage of 1,713 tons and measured 308 feet (94 m) in length. Captain Walter Grashaw was the only surviving member of the 26-man crew.

History

The

Captain Grashaw was the only survivor of this shipwreck. He had been aboard the James B. Colgate for 10 years as first shipmate; this was his first voyage as captain. The ship was only fitted with one lifeboat, forcing the crew to rely heavily on life preservers to save their lives. The ferocity of the storm negated the life-saving aspect of the preserver, resulting in the drowning of the entire crew, except the captain. Captain Grashaw was one of only three men to find the lone life raft. The three men struggled to stay aboard the tiny raft as it was tossed by the waves through the night. By morning, Captain Grashaw was the only man to survive. After numerous hours, the captain finally spotted a passenger boat. His hope of rescue was quickly deflated, as the boat did not see or hear him crying for help. It was not until dawn on Sunday morning that a half-dead captain found refuge from the car ferry Marquette and Bessemer No.2 II. Captain Grashaw was one of the few survivors to tell the story of "Black Friday". Throughout the remainder of his life, he suffered with the guilt of losing his entire crew.

In 1991, offshore of

References

• Bowen, Dana Thomas. Shipwrecks of the Lakes. Ohio: Freshwater Press, 1952.
• Ratigan, William. Great Lakes Shipwrecks and Survivals. New York: WM. B. Eerdmans, 1960.
• Stone, Dave. Long Point: Last Port of Call. Ontario: The Boston Mills Press, 1988.
• Stonehouse, Frederick, and Daniel R. Fountain. Dangerous Coast: Pictured Rocks Shipwrecks. Michigan: Avery Color Studios, 1997.
• Swayze, David D. Shipwreck!: A Comprehensive Directory of Over 3,700 Shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. Michigan: Harbor House, 1992.
• Thompson, Mark L. Graveyard of the Lakes. Michigan: Wayne State University Press, 2000.