Volume 29, No 4, Ju..

\
\\
\ \~ LORE
LAKE
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MARINE SOCIETY
Incorporated
in the State of Michigan October 21,1963
www.lakehuronlore.eom
Vol. XXIX, No.4
July / August, 2008
Membership (ammal) - $14.00 (U.S. & Can. funds)
Send to: L.H.L. Port Huron Museum, 1115 6th Sf.,
Port Huron, MI 48060 - 5346. Phone (810) 982-0891
David Michelson (Editor)
51805 D. W. Seaton Dr.
New Baltimore, MI 48047-1460
EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE
President
- Fred Miller
V. President - John Coulter
Secretary
Treasurer
DIRECTORS
- Gareth McNabb
- Theresa Miller
Frank Frisk
Kenneth Niemi
Chris Tabor
David Michelson
Andrew Severson
Gene Buel
Paul Schmitt
(Hon. Advisory Director)
(Hon. Advisory Director)
SOCIETY NEWS - ANNOUNCEMENTS
Our latest dinner meeting held on Saturday May 10, 2008, at the Port Huron Museum. Dr. Dennis Zemba la, Director of the
Port Huron Museum presented a program entitled "Higltway To Tlte Heartland". Before the program, there was a general
meeting. Among the topics were the elections of four members of the LHL Board to three-year terms. Newly elected were
Ken Niemi and Chris Tabor, while Dave Michelson and Fred Miller were re-elected. Our thanks to Dr. Zembala for an
interesting program, the ladies of the Museum Guild for another delicious dinner and to those who donated items for our
successful raffle.
The Annual Port Huron Marine Memorabilia Flea Market and Model Boat Show was held Saturday, June 7,
2008 at the Seaway Terminal and was deemed a great success by all who attended and participated.
Fall 2008 Dinner MeetinJ!s - MARK YOUR CALENDARS.
Our next dinner meeting will be Saturday,
September 27, 2008, 6pm at the Museum will feature a program by Frank
Frisk featuring stories and great images of his years sailing for the Interlake Steamship Company.
The final dinner meeting for 2008 will be Saturday, October 25, 2008, 6pm at the Museum. Bob Campbell will present
his latest program featuring the ships of the Portage Canal up in the Keweenaw Peninsula in bygone years. Images from the
collection of Rudy Maki will be used in this informative presentation.
Lake Huron Lore Summer 2008 Maritime Soeaker Series The following guest speakers are scheduled to' present maritime
entertainment evenings at the Great Lakes Maritime Center (Vantage Point), 51 Water St., Port Huron:
The next scheduled speaker will be Rie Mixter with a yet-to-be-announced program during Coast Guard
Appreciation Days, August 22-24, 2008. More information about the program should be available at the Maritime
Center.
Annual Steam Whistle Blow
Saturday & Sunday, August 220d & 23rd, 2008, 11am to Spm as part of the Fall Harvest Days at the St. Clair
County Farm Museum in Goodells County Park, County Park Drive, Goodells, Michigan. Enjoy a "Blast From
The Past" with the sounds of operational steam whistles from Great Lakes ships, steam locomotives, factories,
steam shovels, and traction engines being blown on live steam! Step back in time to hear the voices of
transportation and industry of a bygone era. If you have an operational steam whistle, bring it along with you so it
can be heard and enjoyed again.
For more information contact Chris Tabor at (734)
485-5562 or
[email protected] .
Marine Memorabilia Flea Market and Model Boat Show
Saturday, August 3,2008 from 9am to 5pm at the SS WILLIS B. BOYER Museum, at the International Park, 26
Main Street, Toledo, Ohio. Admission will be $6.00 per person which includes a tour of the ship. For more
information please check the news / event page at www.boatnerd.com
or call (419) 936-3070
Fall Marine and Transportation Memorabilia Show - Important Notice
The show normally held in October at the Seaway Terminal has been cancelled for this year.
- A wann welcome goes out to our newest members Bruce Cynar, Fort Wayne, IN; Benedict
Ellis, North Street MI. Jay Wuerker, Union Grove WI;
New Members
FOR THE BOOKSHELF: Great Additions to Your Marine Library
The Sinking of the SS Carl D. Bradley and SS Cedarville by James L. Hopp. 2008 Selfpublished. Printed by Signature Book Printing, ISBN:978-0-9799270-5-8, softbound, 263 pages with photographs, $18.95
available at local bookstores. The author, a lifelong resident and teacher in Rogers City, Michigan was impacted as a young
man by these maritime tragedies to his hometown. He presents a well written factual book.
Mavdav - Trafledv At Sea
TREE SHIPS by Fred Neuschel 2007 University of Michigan Press ISBN 978-0472-11623-2, hardbound, 276 pages with photographs, $24.95 available at local bookstores. Real life stories of 19th century
people and places in the Lake Michigan region behind one of the most popular tales of the Great Lakes - the 1912 sinking of
the Christmas Tree Ship, the Rouse Simmons.
Lives and Lef(ends of the CHRISTMAS
Great Lakes LIGHTHOUSES Encvclooedia by Larry & Patricia Wright. 2006 Boston Mills Press, 123 Main Street, Erin,
ON, Canada NOB1TO (519) 833-2407, ISBN 978-1-55046-399-6, hardbound, 448 pages with photographs. $45.00,
available from the publisher and local bookstores. If you are looking for one book that comprehensively covers all the
lighthouses on all five Great Lakes in both the U.S. and Canada, this book is for you. Brief descriptions along with histories
of each lighthouse and a good photo of nearly every one. Also, a listing of all known keepers for each lighthouse.
-2-
*** NAME THIS SHIP ***
*See Answer on Page 12*
Caught Through the Camera Lens of
Russell E. Sawyer
Russell captured this outstanding image of the SOUTH AMERICAN from the Blue Water Bridge while she was
down bound on the morning of August 29, 1952. Many passengers can be seen up on the bow and upper decks
enjoying the passing scenery and the last day of what was probably a most memorable cruise to the upper Great
Lakes
-3-
NAUTICAL NEWS
From The Files -15 Years Ago .... 1993 by Cy Hudson
July 10 At Oswego the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers tug JOHN F. NASH was designated a national historic
landmark. The tug, acquired by the H. Lee White Marine Museum from the State of New York for $5,000 nearly
three years ago has now been completely refurbished by volunteers and is now in excellent running condition. The
117 foot NASH, built in 1943 as (a) MAJ. ELISHA HENSON served in WW11 and was involved in the
Normandy Invasion in June, 1944. In 1946 she returned to the lakes and renamed JOHN F. NASH, a former
senior engineer at the Buffalo Army Corps of Engineers. The tug was later mothballed in 1986.
July 16 The U.S.-flag tanker MORMACSKY departed Montreal bound for St. Petersburg, Russia with a U.S. Aid
cargo of over 36,000 metric tons of grain. The grain cargo had been previously delivered to Montreal by
Interlake's J.L. MAUTHE on June 29, and the American Steamship's AMERICAN MARINER on July 10.
20 Years Ago ..... 1988
July 6 After being 25 years of lying idle in Muskegon, AQUARAMA departed under tow of Sarnia's Sandrin
Brother's TUSKER and GLENADA. The pilot aboard AQUARAMA was Captain Morgan Howell, who was her
last captain when she last operated as a passenger ship. The tow arrived at Sarnia on July 10 and with the
assistance of the' G' tug ARIZONA, the vessel was docked at the Sydney Smith Dock. Later the vessel was open
to tours by the public which attracted about 25,000 visitors. In other news from Sarnia, the CSL/CNR freight shed
under the Blue Water Bridge is being demolished to be developed into a casino.
July 9 The tug OSA RAVENSTURM cleared Quebec City with the BENJAMIN FAIRLESS and IRVING S.
OLDS in tandem tow bound for scrapping in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, where they arrived on November 8, 1988.
Demolition soon followed.
July 20 The JU YONG GUAN unloaded 4,904 tons of talc at Cleveland. This is the first vessel of the People's
Republic of China to pass through the WeIland Ship Canal. Two other Chinese vessels have entered the Seaway,
but only went as far as ValleyfIeld and Hamilton. The JU YONG GUAN then sailed for Detroit arriving two days
later to load machinery of a Chrysler engine-making plant purchased by First Automobile Works of China.
July 21 The BADGER STATE, a 221-foot, 939 grt. cement carrier has been towed for scrapping at Manitowoc.
Built in 1943 as the tanker SPINDLETOP , she was converted to a cement carrier in1962. Her last name change
was in1980 and she has been laid up in Grand Haven as a storage barge for the last few years. Perhaps our older
readers will remember seeing the BADGER STATE (3) after she was towed from Erie by the tug BARBARA
ANDRIE on December 21, 1983, and the vessel wintered here in Port Huron both at the "Bean Dock" and
Malcolm Marine's dock. In late May, 1984 she was taken by the tug MUSKEGON to Ferrysburg, MI and used as a
cement storage barge until 1988.
July 31 The small Panamanian salty SAMARU entered the lakes back in June, 1979, and stayed for nine years,
being laid up first just inside the mouth of the River Snye at Don Lee's Dock, and for many years at Port Dover
after being purchased by Harry Gamble Shipyard. At long last however, Gamble found a buyer for SAMARU now
carrying the new registry port of San Lorenzo, Honduras and owned by Yew Seng Shipping Company PTE of
Singapore. She cleared Port Dover, her new name now spelled SA-MARUbound for Montreal and arrived there on
August 22, 1988. She departed five days later allegedly to take up operation out of the Miami River.
August 4 Erie Sand & Gravel's the 1903 built LAKEWOOD was towed out of Erie by Gaelic's WILLIAM
HOEYarriving
at Detroit the next day. The LAKEWOOD, idle in Erie since November 14, 1983 has been
purchased by a subsidiary of the Gaelic Tugboat Company.
August 10 The tug FAIRPLAY XIV departed Sorel with KINSMAN INDEPENDENT (2) and OAKGLEN (1)
both built in 1923, in tandem tow bound for Aliaga, Turkey arriving there on September 14th. It is reported that the
tow tug has duel registry, in that she shows Hamburg as her home port, but she flies the flag of Antiqua and
Barbuda.
********************************
-4-
RETURN OF THE AQUARAMA
TO THE BLUE WATER AREA
As noted in the nautical news, it has been 20 years since the passenger / ferry steamer A QUARAMA arrived in tow to our
area. It had been many years since a last passenger ship had docked in Sarnia, perhaps not since the days of the NORONIC
in 1949. It was quite an occasion for ship watchers as the AQUARAMA appeared out of distant haze of Lake Huron in tow
of the tugs.
AQUARAMA in tow of tugs TUSKER, GLENADA, and ARIZONA downbound
in Lake Huron on July 10, 1988
Photo by Cy Hudson
The tugs carefully maneuvered the unpowered ship into the "Sidney Smith" Dock adjacent to the main Government Dock in
Sarnia. There were plans to convert her into a floating hotel/convention
center. Soon she was open for public tours and it
was a real time capsule back to the 1950's for those who visited.
Aquarama at the "Sidney Smith" dock in Sarnia
01'1 July
11, 1988.
Photo by Cy Hudson
However, plans did not work out and she was towed away to Marysville the following year and then on to Windsor and
Buffalo. Finally after 19 more years of failed plans and idleness, she was sold for scrapping and met that fate in Aliaga,
Turkey last year. None the less, it was a real thrill to have her here for that short time.
-5-
Bluewater Passages
By Dick Wicklund
A Remembrance - The Boats in the River
Glenn and Lloyd Campbell grew up on a farm not far from the St. Mary's River in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
In his later years Glenn H. Campbell wrote of this time and his boyhood remembrance of the late 1920' s and the
early 1930's. This is his recollections of "the boats in the river".
"My sister, brothers and I looked forward to summers with great anticipation when we were in grade school. And
one of the things we liked best about summer was going swimming. But we seldom got to go. We were lucky to
go once, or at most twice a year. Dad worked for the Pittsburgh Supply Company, and he also farmed. That
meant we were always working, even the little ones. The Pittsburgh Supply Company ran a supply boat, called the
FRONTIER, on the St. Mary's River. Dad worked on the boat. It took supplies out to the big freighters as they
went up and down the river. So you see he didn't have much time for play. But on very hot summer day in 1930,
luck was with us.
,,-)Me
•
~',
Supply ship FRONTIER at the 500
Editor's Collection
-6-
We were taking off hay in the lower field, and the sun was burning down without mercy. There was no wind. The
temperature was over 90 degrees. Dad had come home from work at the Pittsburgh at 2:00 pm, and he was tired,
having worked all day in the heat. He looked at the panting horses on this sultry day and said, "It's too hot for the
horses, we'll all go swimming." Now, boys and girls, that was simply music to our ears. It didn't take us long to
take the wagon to the barn and get the horses unharnessed and in the shade.
We threw our swimming suits in the old Studebaker touring car and we were off to the Saint Mary's River two
miles away. Now, you could get in the water one of two ways. You could wade in slowly, or you could run as
fast as you could go and dive in. When you came up your muscles were rigid from the icy water, and the only
breathing you could do was to inhale in short pants If you waded in slowly, you froze from the bottom up a little at
a time, since the river water came right out of Lake Superior that was choked with ice most of the year. By the
time you got your whole body wet you had completely forgotten that you were too hot earlier. Once on the sand
beach we watch the boats as they plied their trade up and down the river.
In the 1930's, there were hundreds of boats ... , and there was always at least one in sight. That was before most
boats had radios. They "talked" to each other with their loud whistles. When they met in the river they would
blow one to pass to starboard, and two whistles to pass to port. They would blow one short whistle followed by
one long one to enter the locks farther up the river. If it was foggy, they would blow many short blasts to warn
other boats. Every fleet had their own whistle salute. The captains would often blow a fleet salute to friends in
their fleet as they met in the river. Sometimes dad would blow a salute to the Pittsburgh boats on the car horn as
they passed. Dad knew most of the captains in the Pittsburgh fleet ... the FRONTIER carried groceries and other
supplies to the boats. He would honk the horn, two short honks followed by three long honks. We would wait
with anticipation. Soon we would see steam shooting out of the steam whistle on the big smoke stack. Then we
would hear two short blasts and three long blasts that would almost shake the ground. That was the Pittsburgh
fleet salute. We would all wave to show our appreciation.
Supply ship FRONTIER approaching the Pittsburgh Steamship Company vessel EUGENE P. THOMAS
-7-
for a delivery.
Editor's Collection
In those days, you could always hear boat whistles if you listened for a minute or two. In the summer I always
went to sleep listening to the boats as they plied the waters of the river.
One time dad took Lloyd and me to the Locks at the Soo and took us aboard one of the Pittsburgh ore freighters for
a trip down the river. Now that was exciting! As soon as we got aboard, the captain greeted us with a big
welcome, and sent us to the galley, where the cook treated us to the most delicious hot dogs I've ever tasted. Then
he took us to the freezer to show us how modern his galley was. There were several pipes on the ceiling that were
covered with frost. We had never seen anything like that because that was before there were refrigerators, and this
was the only boat in the fleet that had remgeration. All the rest of the boats got ice from the Soo ice house, which
was carried out to the boats by the FRONTIER.
I was interested in engines even when I was very little. And when the engineer came up and took us to the engine
room I was delighted. The gates of the lock closed and the water began to lower in the lock, the big 600 foot boat
lowered too. After about 20 minutes the boat had lowered 19 feet to the level of the lower St. Mary's River. The
lower gates opened to let the boat leave the lock. In the engine room, we stood with our mouths open as we
watched the shiny connecting rods fly up and down and the heavy crankshaft spin over as the steam engine drove
the boat forward. The freighter slowly pulled down the river and was soon joined by the FRONTIER which tied
up along side and transferred supplies and laundry. A big derrick on the FRONTIER lifted the supplies high in
the air and set them on the freighter deck. Dad helped us onto the FRONTIER, and with a toot, the lines cast off
and we headed for the FRONTIER's dock on Portage Avenue."
Glenn H. Campbell would later become a school teacher, but with a continued fascination for the Great Lakes and
the ships that sail them. His brother, Lloyd A. Campbell, would as well with over a forty year career sailing for the
Pittsburgh Steamship Company and later the Great Lakes Fleet retiring as a chief engineer. Their father, Harold
William Campbell would become one of the masters of the Soo Supply vessels operated by the Pittsburgh Fleet the FRONTIER and later the OJIBWAY, which is still in service at the Soo.
The 600 foot Pittsburgh Steamship ore carrier Glenn and Lloyd rode on as young boys was likely the fleet flagship
during the early 1930's, the MYRON C. TAYLOR. In any case, what a pleasant remembrance of the boats in the
river!
Author's Collection
-8-
LAST HURRAH FOR THE SAINTE MARIE
by Bob Campbell
The venerable SAINTE MARIE was built in Toledo in 1913 by the Toledo Shipbuilding company. She sailed to Saint
Ignace on March 13th that year to begin her work as a railroad ferry at the Straits of Mackinac. She supplemented the 1911
built CHIEF WAWATAMin ferry service and also was chartered by Lake Carriers association as an ice breaker.
=
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Sainte Marie in the Straits of Mackinac
Photo by Edward J. Dowling
Jim Bishop in St. Ignace, Michigan
Photo by Author
I met Jim Bishop aboard the CHIEF WAWATAM in 1980 where he was watchman. Jim came from a family steeped in
Great Lakes tradition. His father was Captain Mike Bishop who served on the "Chief' as well as SAINTE MARIE. His
Grandfather was light keeper of Iroquois lighthouse on Lake Superior. Jim started sailing in 1942 aboard the tug JOHN
CUSHING. In the late 40's he went to the ferries. "I sailed mostly on the Chief but would fill in on the SAINTE MARIE
during winter when we would handle auto traffic across the straits or the ice breaking trips on Lake Superior. Those ice
braking trips were the big thing for me. The SAINTE MARIE was actually the better icebreaker of the two. She was egg
shaped and less apt to become pinched in by the heavy ice".
Jcebreaking railroad carferry CHIEF WAWA TAM in Straits of Mackinac
-9-
Photo by Peter J. Van der Linden
The spring of 1957 was a particularly hard one on Whitefish Bay. A hard winter and strong northwesterly
winds compacted the ice. On April 1st ice conditions at Gros Cap showed 30 inches of blue ice and 12 inches of
slush ice on top of that. The ice field extended some 40 miles to Whitefish Point. By April 4th the breaker
MACKINA W reported 20 foot windrows and pressure pacts west of Isle Parisienne. That day 9 ships were near
the Soo to await passage into Lake Superior. These included the Str. ARTHUR M. ANDERSON and other
vessels of the U.S. Steel corp. Captain Bob Parsons of the ANDERSON later described the conditions as the
worst he has seen in his 48 years of sailing.
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J.,.iO -·',islil
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Coast Guard icebreaker MACKINAW in Whitefish Bay, Lake Superior Spring 1957.
seen in the background. Photo taken from the SAINTE MARIE by Jim Bishop.
Steamers RESERVE and ARTHUR M. ANDERSON
can be
The SAINTE MARIE arrived at the scene on April 8th under the command of Captain Mike Bishop. Jim
Bishop was one of six wheelsman. " I worked the 4 to 8 watch with another wheelsman. The SAINTE MARIE
had a large wheel and with much maneuvering in the heavy ice it was very hard work. The pilot house had large
windows and steam heat. With sun coming in the windows it was like a hothouse".
-10-
Ice breaking was an art back in those days. Captain Mike would run in close to the side of a stuck freighter and
know just exactly when to order the wheelsman to sharply turn the wheel to cut in front of the bow and with
full speed ahead ram the ice.
Whistle signals were used by the SAINTE MARIE telling the freighter to be ready to follow out by giving full
throttle. Many of the freighters had little horsepower. The convoy that started out on April 9th included the
Steamers RESERVE, T.R.McLAGAN, ASHCROFT and BEAVERTON. The later was a small Canadian
canaller of about 1200 horsepower if that. Being a coal burner meant that every few days the SAINTE MARIE
had to return to the Soo for coal.
Photo by Jim Bishop
She would lock down and go to the Kemp coal dock. Crewman would winch a hopper car forward and clamps
Captain Ivor Kerr of the
would fill the car and it would be winched back in place. By Friday April
MACKINA W ordered Whitefish Bay closed as a pressure ice pack 15 to 25 feet thick was holding the convoy
fast between Whitefish Point and Isle Parisienne. At the same time the first convoy of ships had returned from
Duluth and were waiting at Whitefish point to come back down. The winds have been blowing northwest for six
consecutive days blowing in ice from the north shore.
li\
SAINTE MARIE assisting the Steamer WILLIAM
J.
OLCOTT
Bishop Photo
-11-
Cutter WOODBINE
in Whitefish Bay
Bishop Photo
By April 16th, Whitefish Bay was still in an unrelenting mood but it's toughness would start to fade as wind
conditions would shift to the south. The convoy #6 would take 20 hours to move the 40 miles ITom the Soo to
the ice edge. On April 17th navigation would again grind to a halt with the combination of heavy ice, fog and the
seasons first mishap. The down bound GEORGE A. SLOAN suffered cracked bow plates and was taking on
water. She was assisted by the SAINTE MARIE and MACKINAW to shallow water where she would be
lightered by the w.e. RICHARDSON. With the warmer air came heavy fog. The ice would eventually loosen
but on the 18th, 75 freighters were held up at the Soo by the fog. The SAINTE MARIE was listed as locking
down on April 23d.
SAINTE MARIE closely passing the Steamer ASHCROFT
Jim Bishop on deck of SAINTE MARIE 1957 Bishop Collection
For many years Captain Mike Bishop would take the SAINTE MARIE to break out the boats in the spring. In
recognition for his efforts he was named runner up marine man of the year in 1958. This was an award given
out by the shipping companies. With the completion of the Mackinac Bridge in 1957 the need for a railroad
ferry at the straits was reduced and the SAINTE MARIE being the smaller of the two ferries was made the
spare boat. She remained active on a part time basis until 1961 and made one final trip to Ashtabula where she
was scrapped in 1962. She was instrumental in opening navigation in the hard spring of 57 and had seen her
last hurrah
Huli1173 "STUBBY" (D.S .. Bulk Freighter) (Off. #DS532272) Built in 1969 at
Pascagoula, MS by Ingalls Shipbuilding Company as Hull # 1173 Hull: Steel, Length: 182 ft. Width: 75ft. Depth: 49 ft ..
Launched November 18, 1969 and in June 1970 sailed under its own power from Pascagoula, MS bound for the Erie
Marine Shipyard at Erie, PA. Instructions on the side of the ship said to "Cut Along The Dotted Line". This was the bow
and stem sections that would be joined to HulilOl, an 818 foot mid-body under construction at the Erie Shipyard to
become the Great Lakes first 1000 foot ship, the STEWART J. CORT. The fmished ship sailed on its maiden voyage on
May 1, 1972 bound for Taconite Harbor, MN. Photo taken on June 13, 1970 at Erie, PA by Robert J. McDonald. Editor's
Collection
Answer to Name This Ship (P2:. 3)
-12-
OR MY!! There's a Ship in My Yard!!
It was just another hazy, lazy summer day in the town of Marine City, Michigan ninety five years ago when a most
unusual shipwreck occurred that local residents would remember for decades. It was Sunday, August 17,1913, and
was otherwise a quiet day in downtown with most businesses closed and families attending church or just relaxing.
Ship traffic on the St. Clair River was running its normally busy pace and few people in the town paid much attention
except for those ships on which loved-ones were sailing by.
It was late morning and the whaleback steamer ATIKOKAN, owned by the Canadian Northwest Steamship Company
of Port Arthur, Ontario was down bound without cargo in the river and approaching Marine City. In those days, there
was no control over a ships speed in the river so they would often navigate at full throttle. At the north end of town,
there was a slight bend in the channel that required the ship to apply right rudder to make the course adjustment. As
the ATIKOKAN came to the bend, the right rudder was applied and the turn was made. At this moment, a failure in
the steering machinery caused the rudder to remain stuck in the right turn position regardless of the actions of the
wheelsman in the pilothouse. The hapless ship was just about a hundred yards off shore and began rapidly veering
towards downtown Marine City! The ATIKOKAN began sounding numerous short warning blasts from its whistle.
At a point where today the city water filtration plant sits, the Steamer ATIKOKAN came out of the river with its high
tapered whaleback bow and crashed up on land with a resounding crunch of wood, metal and glass. The crash scene
was just downstream of the famous Pesha Photographic Art Studio and Brake Marine Reporting Agency whose
boathouse was part of the same building. Two small out buildings were destroyed and the ship's bow came to a stop
against a small tree on the riverbank. The river current caught the stern of the ship and slowly caused it to swing
further out into river and the bow to swing further ashore. Lena Pesha must have come out of her home to say,
"there's a ship in my yard!" Fortunately, there were no fatalities or injuries in this incident.
Word of the wreck spread quickly and townsfolk still dressed in their Sunday attire rushed to see what the commotion
was all about. Lena Pesha grabbed her late husband's camera to record the event in a series of photos provided to us
courtesy of Ken Michelson. Tugs were dispatched locally and by the early evening the ATIKOKAN was pulled free.
She was inspected and after drydocking was found to have sustained almost no damage at all. The photos on the next
page show the extent of the damage to the waterfront in Marine City. What a memorable day it was!
-13-
-14-
LUEWATER AREA SHIPWRECKS
--~--------------------------------------------------------~--
HOMER D. WILLIAMS
Downbound on St. Mary's River at Mission Point in 1976
It was 40 years ago that the U.S. Steel bulk carrier HOMER D. WILLIAMS was in a collision with the
Canadian freighter WHEAT KING. The accident occurred in the St. Mary's River on May 15, 1968, and the
stem cabins of the HOMER D. WILLIAMS were damaged by the impact.
HOMER D. WILLIAMS was built as Hull 720 of the American Shipbuilding Co. at Lorain, Ohio. The 600 foot
long by 60 foot wide, 7,742 gross ton steamer was launched on Apri121, 1917, and cleared port to load iron ore
at Duluth on June 27, 1917.
Originally powered by an 1800 horsepower triple expansion engine, the ship received a new 3,000 horsepower
General Electric geared turbine engine in 1951. Two Foster- Wheeler boilers replaced the original three
scotch boilers at the same time.
HOMER D. WILLIAMS was a familiar trader through the Bluewater area delivering iron ore to Lorain or
Conneaut, and often returning with coal. On February 9, 1971, during winter lay-up at Toledo, the vessel
received extensive fire damage to the side plating and lower forward cabin in a blaze at Toledo.
The vessel saw only brief service in 1981 and then tied up for good at Duluth on July 25. The tug MALCOLM
pulled HOMER D. WILLIAMS to Thunder Bay on November 12, 1984, and the scrapping of the ship was
completed in September 1985.
-15-
By D_R_(Doug)
Schilz
([email protected])
*KAMINISTIQUA*
KAMINISTlQUA
down bound in the Weiland Canal on her first trip with new name.
Built in 1983 by Govan Shipbuilders Ltd. Govan, Scotland has Hull #258
Length -730'1"
Breadth -76'
Depth - 48'
GRT 21,548 M Bulk Carrier
Main Engine - 10,880 bhp Sulzer
For many years a familiar ship has passed through the Port Huron/Sarnia area. She has come and gone under a few
names but she is probably best remembered as the Saskatchewan Pioneer. Her orange hull and deep yellow trim,
complimented with the large Pioneer billboard on her side set her apart from other ships ofthat size.
Her original owner was Pioneer Shipping and she was managed by the now defunct Misener Shipping Ltd. Her maiden
voyage took her from Scotland to her home port of Thunder Bay in 1983. Built for ocean trading she left the lakes in
November 1983 for France with a load of grain. She eventually would be re-flagged to the Isle of Man in 1988 and
returned as an ocean visitor. You will find her listed as a new ocean transit in Rene Beauchamp's Seaway Ships1989.
With her deep ocean draft she was effectively an ocean / laker. Registering her off lakes enabled her to hire international
crews that were paid less. She was re-flagged to the Bahamas and sailed on the lakes up until 1995. She would be sold and
renamed at the end of the year. Her new name becoming Lady Hamilton and her listed owners as Pacific Queen Ltd. She
was now registered in Hong Kong and lost her colorful hull. She now sported a black hull with white trim and was on a
long term charter to Fednav. She would trade on the lakes passing up bound through this area up five times a year. She
had the distinction of being the last salty to clear Duluth/Superior back in 1999.
After sailing on the ocean for so many years she returned to the lakes again under the Canadian flag. In 2006 she was
renamed Voyageur Pioneer and was owned by Voyageur Maritime Transport Ltd. With her lay up in Sarnia this past
winter and the fact she had been sold to Lower Lakes Towing in August 2007 the future of this ship was in good hands.
When ocean ships hit that 20 year mark in their career, I tend to see them in the twilight of their shipping life. With the
purchase of the Voyageur Pioneer and her eventual renaming to Kaministiqua I'm sure now that we will see this ship on
the lakes for many years to come. Though the Pioneer colors we all became familiar with when she sailed as the
Saskatchewan Pioneer are long gone, I am sure most ship enthusiasts are more than pleased to see the now familiar colors
of Lower Lakes Towing on this ship.
A final note on this particular ship, which cannot be over looked. Lower Lakes Towing has long been known for
naming their ships after rivers and this particular ship is named after the Kaministiquia River, also known as the Kam
River to those that live in Thunder Bay. For myself personally a great choice of names has I did live at one time in
Thunder Bay, Ontario.
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