SS Ironsides

Add links
Coordinates: 43°2′53.88″N 86°19′8.76″W / 43.0483000°N 86.3191000°W / 43.0483000; -86.3191000
This is a good article. Click here for more information.
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Not to be confused with SB Ironsides.
For other uses, see Ironsides.

Ironsides while she was owned by the Englemann Transportation Company
History
United States
NameIronsides
Owner
  • John E. Turner (1864–1867)
  • Dwight Scott (1867–1869)
  • Thomas A. Howe (April 30, 1869 – May 10, 1869)
  • Nathan Englemann (May 10, 1869–1873)
Operator
  • Cleveland & Lake Superior Line (1864–1867)
  • Englemann Transportation Company (1871–1873)
Port of registry
  • Cleveland, Ohio, United States
  • later
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin
BuilderIra Lafrinier or Quayle & Martin of
Cleveland, Ohio
LaunchedJuly 23, 1864
In service1864
Out of serviceSeptember 15, 1873
IdentificationUS official number 12091
FateSank in a storm on Lake Michigan 43°2′53.88″N 86°19′8.76″W / 43.0483000°N 86.3191000°W / 43.0483000; -86.3191000
General characteristics
Class and type
Package freighter
Tonnage
Length
  • 231 feet (70.4 m) LOA
  • 218.66 feet (66.6 m) LBP
Beam
  • 30.75 feet (9.4 m)
  • 38 feet (11.6 m) (with overhanging guards)
Depth12.75 feet (3.9 m)
Installed power
Propulsion2 × 9 feet (2.7 m) 4–bladed fixed pitch propellers

SS Ironsides was a wooden-hulled American

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and operated between Milwaukee and Grand Haven, Michigan
. In 1871, she became part of the Englemann Transportation Company.

On the night of September 14, 1873, Ironsides left Milwaukee for Grand Haven with 13,000 bushels of wheat, 500 barrels of flour, 125 barrels of pork, general merchandise, 19 passengers and about 30 crewmen on board. Later that evening, the light breeze that had been blowing became a powerful gale. At 4:00 a.m. the next day, Ironsides began to take on water quickly. After failing to navigate Ironsides into Grand Haven harbour twice, Captain Harry Sweetman decided instead to anchor, and ride out the storm offshore. Later that morning, the water extinguished the fire in Ironsides' boilers. By 11:00 a.m., all people onboard had escaped in five lifeboats. Ironsides sank at 12:10 p.m. Three of the five lifeboats capsized, killing roughly 18 to 28 people.

In 1878, pieces of Ironsides' wreck were brought up by fishermen in their nets. In 1887, the Englemann Transportation Company claimed they would raise Ironsides' wreck, however, the salvage never occurred. The wreck was discovered in about 1966 by shipwreck hunter Gene Turner. The wreck lies partially collapsed in between 109 feet (33.2 m) and 122 feet (37.2 m) of water.

History

Design and construction

Ironsides (US

Cleveland, Ohio. Sources conflict on who built her; she was built by either Ira Lafrinnier or Quayle & Martin.[1][2][3][4] She had an identical sister ship named Lac La Belle, built by Lafrinnier.[5] Her name stemmed from the metal plating her hull was sheathed in.[5] Her hull contained two watertight bulkheads, and was stiffened with two "hogging arches" which were reinforced with iron.[5][6][7] Ironsides had 44 state rooms, which were furnished with chandeliers, damask curtains and colourful carpets.[5][6][7]

Ironsides' hull had an overall length 231 feet (70.4 m) and a length between perpendiculars of 218.66 feet (66.6 m) (some source states 218.8 feet (66.7 m) or 219 feet (66.8 m)).[2][3][4][8] Her beam was 30.75 feet (9.4 m) (some sources state 30.7 feet (9.4 m) or 31 feet (9.4 m)) wide.[2][3][8] At her main deck, Ironsides had overhanging hull guards, which brought her over all beam to 38 feet (11.6 m).[4][8] Ironsides' hull was 12.75 feet (3.9 m) (some sources state 12.9 feet (3.9 m) or 14 feet (4.3 m)) deep.[1][2][3][8] She had a gross tonnage of 973 tons.[3][9]

She was powered by two dual-cylinder 1,284 

kW) low pressure direct acting engines, designed by J.F. Holloway, and nicknamed "Jack and Jill" by Ironsides' crew.[2][5][6][9] The cylinders of the engine were 34 inches (86.4 cm) in diameter, and had a stroke of 42 inches (110 cm).[2] Steam for the engine was provided by two 21 feet (6.4 m) long and 10 feet (3.0 m) wide firebox boilers with 378 return tubes.[2][6] Ironsides' engine and boilers were both built by the Cuyahoga Iron Works of Cleveland. She was propelled by two four-bladed fixed-pitch propellers, 9 feet (2.7 m) in diameter.[2][5][6]

Service history

Ironsides in Grand Haven, Michigan

Ironsides was launched at 4:00 p.m. on July 23, 1864.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[11] Throughout her career, Ironsides was involved in multiple accidents and incidents.[2]

During the

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on April 30, 1869; on May 10, that same year, Ironsides was sold to Nathan Englemann of Milwaukee, and travelled between Milwaukee and Grand Haven, Michigan.[2][5][9]

Ironsides had three accidents in 1869. While loaded with corn and 15,000

revenue cutter Andrew Johnson in Milwaukee.[2][17]

On May 30, 1871, Ironsides became part of the Englemann Transportation Company of Milwaukee, and operated in conjunction with the

Floretta on December 5, 1872.[2] She was repaired at the Wolf & Davidson shipyard in Milwaukee, in March 1873. The repairs cost $10,000 (equivalent to $232,000 in 2023[19]).[2][11]

Final voyage

Ironsides' sinking, as illustrated by Samuel Ward Stanton

At 9:30, 9:40 or 9:45 p.m. on September 14, 1873, Ironsides left Milwaukee for Grand Haven under the command of Captain Harry Sweetman, with 13,000

midships gangways had been smashed in by the waves, causing her to take on water fast.[10]

Captain Sweetman tried to guide her into Grand Haven harbour, but the bad weather pushed Ironsides off course, forcing him to turn back and try again.[5][21] After failing to guide her into the harbour a second time, Captain Sweetman decided to ride out the storm while anchored offshore. At the time, it was reported that Ironsides "narrowly missed going on the beach".[5][21]

By 9:00 or 9:30 a.m., Ironsides began to sink; the rising water in her engine room extinguished the fire in her boilers, and her

stern first, her bow remaining in sight a full minute".[5][21][22] Out of the five lifeboats, three of them capsized before they reached land.[22] Between 18 and 28 people died.[1]

In 1878, pieces of Ironsides' wreck were brought up by fishermen in their nets. In 1887, the Englemann Transportation Company claimed they would raise Ironsides' wreck, however, the salvage never occurred.[5]

Ironsides wreck

The wreck of Ironsides was discovered in about 1966 by Illinois shipwreck hunter Gene Turner.[5][25] Resting 4 miles (6.4 km) west-southwest of the Grand Haven harbour entrance, the stern of her wreck rests in 109 feet (33.2 m) of water, while the bow lies slightly deeper at 122 feet (37.2 m).[24] The hull is split open at the bow. Although both of the "hogging arches" have fallen inward, they remain intact.[5] Ironsides' engines, boilers, propellers and rudder remain in place.[5][24] Investigation of her wreck revealed evidence that Ironsides did run aground on the beach, likely sustaining damage to the bottom of her hull.[5][21] Six of her eight propeller blades are missing, indicating that they were turning at a high speed when they were damaged.[5][21] The wreck is considered an advanced dive due to the depth.[26]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Swayze (2001).
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library (2021).
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Bowling Green State University (2021).
  4. ^ a b c d Johnston (1957), p. 11.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Michigan Shipwreck Research Association (2013).
  6. ^ a b c d e Detroit Free Press (1864).
  7. ^ a b c Michigan Underwater Preserves (2021).
  8. ^ a b c d e Stanton (1895).
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Berry (2021).
  10. ^ a b Kohl (2005), p. 300.
  11. ^ a b Maritime History of the Great Lakes (1) (1873).
  12. ^ Detroit Free Press (1865).
  13. ^ a b The Cleveland Leader (1869).
  14. ^ Maritime History of the Great Lakes (1) (1869).
  15. ^ Maritime History of the Great Lakes (2) (1869).
  16. ^ Maritime History of the Great Lakes (3) (1869).
  17. ^ Maritime History of the Great Lakes (4) (1869).
  18. ^ Maritime History of the Great Lakes (1871).
  19. Gross Domestic Product deflator
    figures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
  20. ^ a b c Daily News (1873).
  21. ^ a b c d e Donahue (2021).
  22. ^ a b c d Maritime History of the Great Lakes (2) (1873).
  23. ^ Kohl (2005), pp. 300–301.
  24. ^ a b c Kohl (2005), p. 301.
  25. ^ Kohl (2005), p. 284.
  26. ^ "Great Lake Shipwreck Dives". www.sassdive.com. Sub-Aquatic Sports & Service Ltd. Retrieved September 3, 2021.

Sources

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=SS_Ironsides&oldid=1098636717"