SS John Mitchell (1906)

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Coordinates: 46°50′3″N 85°4′48.6″W / 46.83417°N 85.080167°W / 46.83417; -85.080167
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For other ships with the same name, see SS John Mitchell.

46°50′3″N 85°4′48.6″W / 46.83417°N 85.080167°W / 46.83417; -85.080167

John Mitchell in the St. Clair River
History
United States
NameJohn Mitchell
NamesakeCaptain John Mitchell of
Cleveland, Ohio
OwnerC.W. Elphicke (Elphicke & Company) of
Chicago, Illinois
OperatorCornell Steamship Company of Chicago
Port of registry
Fairport, Ohio
BuilderGreat Lakes Engineering Works of St. Clair, Michigan
Yard number25
LaunchedNovember 28, 1906
In service1907
Out of serviceJuly 10, 1911
IdentificationUS official number 203943
FateSank on Lake Superior after a collision with William Henry Mack
General characteristics
TypeLake freighter
Tonnage
Length
  • 440 feet (134 m) LOA
  • 420 feet (128 m) LBP
Beam52 feet (15.8 m)
Depth23 feet (7.0 m)
Installed power
Propulsion1 × fixed pitch propeller
Capacity7,500 long tons (7,620 t)
NotesSister ship of William B. Davock

SS John Mitchell was a steel-hulled, American

Indiana Harbor, Indiana
, while loaded with iron ore.

Early in the morning of July 7, 1911, John Mitchell left

list
to port due to the rapid influx of water. After establishing that John Mitchell would not remain afloat, a ladder was placed between her deck and William Henry Mack's deck. The majority of the passengers and crew climbed over to William Henry Mack, while six people escaped using a lifeboat, which eventually capsized; all of the people in the lifeboat were rescued. Three crewmen jumped overboard to aid in the rescue, but were sucked under and drowned when John Mitchell sank.

The wreck of John Mitchell was discovered in 1972, resting upside down in between 140 feet (43 m) and 150 feet (46 m) of water, roughly 3 miles (5 km) west-northwest off Whitefish Point. The wreck is protected by the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve as part of an underwater museum.

History

Background

In 1843, the gunship

prefabricated by shipyards in the United Kingdom. However, it would not be until 1862 that the first iron-hulled merchant ship, Merchant, was built on the Great Lakes.[1] Despite the success of Merchant, wooden vessels remained preferable to iron ones until the 1880s, due to their inexpensiveness, and the abundance of timber.[2][3][4] In the early 1880s, shipyards around the Great Lakes began to construct iron ships on a relatively large scale,[4][5] and in 1884 the first steel freighters were built there.[6][7] By the 1890s, the majority of ships constructed on the lakes were made of steel.[8][9] The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw a rapid increase in the size of lake freighters; the first 400 feet (121.9 m) freighter was built in 1895, the first 500 feet (152.4 m) freighter was constructed five years later.[10]

Design and construction

John Mitchell on the ways
John Mitchell's launch

John Mitchell (US official number 203943) was built on the banks of the St. Clair River in 1906, by the St. Clair, Michigan, shipyard of the Great Lakes Engineering Works.[11][12][a] She had a sister ship named William B. Davock, which succeeded her out of the shipyard.[12] The only differences between John Mitchell and William B. Davock were their steering poles (John Mitchell's was upright, fixed, and was adorned with a colourful orb, while William B. Davock's was a straight, hinged pole), and the size of their boilers (William B. Davock's boilers were 4 inches (10.2 cm) larger).[12][13]

The hull of John Mitchell had an overall length of 440 feet (134 m), and a length between perpendiculars of 420 feet (128 m).[11][12][14] Her beam was 52 feet (15.8 m) wide, while her hull was 23 feet (7.0 m) (some sources state 28 feet (8.5 m)) deep.[11][12][14][15] John Mitchell had a gross tonnage of 4,468 tons, a net tonnage of 3,246 tons, and a cargo capacity of 7,500 long tons (7,620 t).[11][12][15][16]

She was powered by a 1,442 

triple expansion steam engine, which had the builder's number 344; the cylinders of the engine were 21 inches (53.3 cm), 34.5 inches (87.6 cm) and 57 inches (144.8 cm) in diameter, and had a stroke of 42 inches (106.7 cm).[11][12][15] Steam for the engine was provided by two coal-fired, single-ended 180 pounds per square inch (1,200 kPa) 13 feet (4.0 m) by 11.6 feet (3.5 m) Scotch marine boilers. The engine was built by the Great Lakes Engineering Works, while the boilers were manufactured by the Marine Boiler Works of Toledo, Ohio.[11][12]

John Mitchell was named after Captain John Mitchell, a

Cleveland, Ohio, resident who may also have had an interest in her.[13][15] She was launched into the St. Clair River on November 28, 1906, as yard number 26.[12][15] After she was launched, the shipyard worked through the remainder of 1906, and early 1907 to complete her, after which, they started building William B. Davock.[12][15]

Service history

John Mitchell underway

John Mitchell was built for the Cornell Steamship Company of

downbound ones.[17][18]

The only known incident in John Mitchell's career prior to her loss occurred on October 14, 1908, when while loaded with

tugs G.W. Gnau and Tomlinson.[17]

Final voyage

After loading 7,000 long tons (7,112 t) to 7,500 long tons (7,620 t) of coal bound for Superior, Wisconsin, at the Erie coal dock, John Mitchell left Buffalo, New York, at 2:00 a.m. on July 7, 1911, under the command of Captain John H. Massey.[18][20] In addition to Captain Massey, there were 33 passengers and crew, including six women and a small boy on board.[20][21][22]

William Henry Mack after she sank John Mitchell

Early on the morning of July 10, John Mitchell entered Lake Superior.

foremast fell onto William Henry Mack's deck, briefly keeping the two vessels together.[20] After establishing that John Mitchell would not remain afloat, a ladder was placed between her stern deck and William Henry Mack's deck.[20][24]

The majority of the passengers and crew climbed over to William Henry Mack, while three men and three women escaped using a lifeboat.[20][24] Seven minutes after the collision, John Mitchell capsized and sank.[20][24] The suction created by her sinking capsized the lifeboat.[20][24] Sixteen year-old passenger Fay Clemens, one of the six people in the overturned lifeboat was able to get William Henry Mack's crew to throw her a line, which she fastened to the overturned lifeboat, enabling two crew of William Henry Mack to right it.[18][20][24] As she was sinking, three crewmen, second officer Archie Causley, watchman George Austin and steward Albert "Al" Clemens, father of Fay Clemens jumped overboard to aid in the rescue, and were sucked under and drowned when John Mitchell sank.[18][20][24] William Henry Mack remained afloat, and headed for Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.[18]

At $240,000 (equivalent to $5.71 million in 2023[25]), John Mitchell was the worst insurance loss on the Great Lakes in 1911.[26]

Investigation

An investigation conducted in

fog whistle was sounded, and her speed was reduced to 7 miles per hour (6.1 kn).[23] It was discovered that as William Henry Mack was travelling 16 miles (26 km) east-southeast of Manitou Island, she encountered a thick fog bank, sounded her fog whistle, but did not reduce her approximate speed of 12 miles per hour (10.4 kn).[23] Evidence given by Captain Massey and Captain Burnham regarding the fog signals conflicted. Captain Burnham claimed that he sounded the correct passing signals, while also claiming he heard no signals from John Mitchell.[23] However, Captain Massey claimed that he exchanged the appropriate passing signals. Evidence given by the captains was supported by their respective crews.[23] Captain Massey's licence was suspended for 30 days, while Captain Burnham's licence was suspended for 12 months.[27]

John Mitchell today

The wreck of John Mitchell was discovered in 1972, resting upside down in between 140 feet (43 m) and 150 feet (46 m) (some sources state 120 feet (37 m) and 150 feet (46 m)) of water, roughly 3 miles (5 km) west-northwest off Whitefish Point.

stern.[32] Mostly overlooked by divers, the wreck is protected by the 376-square-mile (970 km2) Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve as part of an underwater museum.[35] The wreck of the steel freighter John B. Cowle is located east of John Mitchell.[29] There is usually a mooring line on her rudder.[32]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The St. Clair, Michigan yard of the Great Lakes Engineering Works was active between 1903 and 1911.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b Bugbee (1) (1962), p. 24.
  2. ^ Bugbee (1) (1962), p. 26.
  3. ^ Bowlus (2010), p. 85.
  4. ^ a b Thompson (1994), p. 32.
  5. ^ Bugbee (2) (1962), p. 48.
  6. ^ Bugbee (2) (1962), p. 50.
  7. ^ Thompson (1994), pp. 40–42.
  8. ^ Bugbee (2) (1962), p. 49.
  9. ^ Bugbee (2) (1962), p. 51.
  10. ^ Thompson (1994), pp. 59–84.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library (2021).
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Toronto Marine Historical Society (1990), p. 4.
  13. ^ a b c Toronto Marine Historical Society (1990), p. 5.
  14. ^ a b c The Marine Review (1) (1911), p. 271.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Berry (2021).
  16. ^ The Marine Review (1914), p. 79.
  17. ^ a b c d Maritime History of the Great Lakes (1908).
  18. ^ a b c d e Maritime History of the Great Lakes (1911).
  19. ^ Toronto Marine Historical Society (1990), p. 6.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Toronto Marine Historical Society (1990), p. 8.
  21. ^ Swayze (2001).
  22. ^ British Whig (1911).
  23. ^ a b c d e f The Marine Review (3) (1911), p. 381.
  24. ^ a b c d e f The Marine Review (2) (1911), p. 309.
  25. Gross Domestic Product deflator
    figures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
  26. ^ British Whig (1912).
  27. ^ a b The Marine Review (3) (1911), p. 382.
  28. ^ Harrington (1998), p. 327.
  29. ^ a b Hillstrom & Hillstrom (1998), p. 304.
  30. ^ Sportsman's Connection (2016), p. 74.
  31. ^ a b Harrington (1998), p. 326.
  32. ^ a b c Merryman (2021).
  33. ^ Hanakova (2021).
  34. ^ Nordic Diver (2021).
  35. ^ Exploring the North (2021).

Sources

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