MAY • JUNE, 1994 VOLUME XLII; Number 3
GREAT LAKES MARITIME INSTITUTE DOSSIN GREAT LAKES MUSEUM Belle Isle, Detroit, Michigan 48207 TELESCOPE Page 58
MEMBERSHIP NOTES • There are two new books available at the museum's gift shop that will be of interest to members. Iron Fleet-. The Great Lakes in World War II bv George J. Joachim traces the contributions made to the war effort. Beginning with the late 1930’s, bulk carriers and passenger ships remained idled due to the Depression. With the outbreak of war in Europe, several Great Lakes passengers ships and package freighters were requisitioned for service overseas. When the United States entered the war, transportation of raw materials became vital. Each chapter details the cooperation of government agencies, Lakes Carriers' Association, vessel crews and dockside companies in meeting production quotas. Also covered are placement of soldiers to guard the Soo Locks, problems of dwindling numbers of men to serve aboard Great Lakes vessels and shipbuilding activities around the Lakes. This book 139-page book retails for $21.95. Queen o f the Lakes by Mark Thompson honors a particular group of Great Lakes vessels that were given this title when launched. Beginning with the Frontenac, launched on Lake Ontario in 1678, the histories of dozens of vessels are detailed. Not only is the usual background data provided, but so is the role that economics played in changing the interior design of cargo holds and overall ship design that produced the modem ships of the late 1970's and 1980's. Some well-known vessels are covered such as David Dows, Onoko, Christopher Columbus, Victory, Zenith City, Samuel F.B. Morse, Augustus B. Wolvin, and 600-footers built in the early 1900's. Canadian vessels are well represented with the title given to W. Grant Murden of CSL in 1914 and the Lemoyne in 1926. The modem lakers include the Carl D. Bradlley in 1927, the first seIf-unloader to have the honor and the Wilfred Sykes in the late 1940’s. With the boom in shipbuilding in the 1950’s and 1960's, the title of Queen of the Lakes changed rapidly. This 224-page book retails for $32.95. Both of these books are published by Wayne State University Press as part of their Great Lakes Books publications.
MEETING NOTICES • The annual Curator Robert E. Lee Dinner will be held at the St. Clair Inn on Friday, September 23,1994. The dinner notice is included in this issue. Reservations will be limited to 110 persons.
CONTENTS* Membership Notes, meeting notices, etc. 58 Detroit River Crossing by Evelyn McLean 59 Sailing Aboard the John W. Boardman in 1940 by Lawson Browne 65 Fiftieth Anniversary of the USCG Mackinaw by Kathy McGraw 69 Great Lakes & Seaway News Edited by Don Richards 73
Published at Detroit, Michigan by the GREAT LAKES MARITIME INSTITUTE Printed in the United States by Macomb Printing, Inc.
OUR COVER PICTURE ... Transportation across the Detroit River has developed rapidly from the small ferries to those able to withstand the harsh ice conditions in winter. As tunnels and a bridge were built between Detroit and Windsor allowed for a direct linkbetween Canada and the U.S., the number of ferries declined until only the carfloats, pushed by tugs remained on the Detroit River. The cover photo was taken by John Polacsek as the R.G. Cassidy made her last crossing fromDetroit to Windsor in April, 1994. The back cover photo of the Detroit River shows a much different waterfront as six ferries are docked in Detroit and several passenger ships are docked further upriver in the downtown area.
Telescope is produced with assistance from the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, an agency of the Historical Department of the City of Detroit. MAY *JUN, 1994 Page 59
DETROIT RIVER CROSSING
by EVELYN G. McLEAN
For decades the twenty-five mile border be 1906, the construction of the Michigan Central Rail tween the international cities of Windsor and Detroit way tunnel commenced. At a cost of $8,500,000 twin has been threaded by commercial traffic ducts from steel tubes 262 feet long and 23 feet high were sunk numerous points along the shores. The solutions to into prepared trenches and encased in cement. It its the problem of transportation posed by the natural first year of operation, 1910, the rail artery conducted barrier have been many, ranging from shuttling fer over 243,000 cars. Its continuing and current utiliza ries, to rail and automobile tunnels, to the obvious tion has disproved the grim speculation of early 20th Century answer, an aerial highway. critics who feared cave-ins. The idea of a bridge was first seriously pro By 1924 the need for more rapid and versatile posed in 1903 by engineer George S. Morrison, transportation precipitated a new group's campaign to whose death caused the abandonment of the proposal. raise funds for the erection of a bridge, under the aegis Private interest in a tunnel prevailed, based on the of former Detroiter Joseph A. Bower, whose banking success of the Grand Trunk Railway tunnel at Port interests had taken him to New York. Construction Huron which had opened in 1891. On October 1, began three years later, and the work was accom
Tug C.A. LORMAN towing section of Detroit-Windsor tunnel. TELESCOPE Page 60 plished within the promised thirty-six months. levard to the island. The sky-slung Ambassador Bridge was com The vehicular Detroit-Windsor Tunnel opened pleted early in America's great bridge-building pe for traffic on November 3,1930. It was engineered by riod between 1925 and 1936. Its main span stretches Hugh Kellner, who began planning in 1925. The between its towers on self-anchored cables across actual construction, employed the same method as the 1,850 feet of the busiest commercial waterway in the Michigan Central Railway tunnel, took only slightly world, fulfilling the design of the firm of Smith, over two years to complete. It has remained essen Hinchman and Grylls (engineered by Jonathan Jones tially unchanged since its opening, other than for and the renowned Leon S, Moissieff) in spite of modifications to the approaches at its extremities. structural setback imposed by the shifting river bed. Two single traffic lanes permit trucks, buses, and cars As spectacular as the bridge is in its size and to move with reasonable speed across the border. grace, the view it affords from its walkway of the Ferry service has been recorded here since river's traffic is perhaps even more stimulating. A 1802, when Geoffrey Godefroy was issued a license, pedestrian gains a panoramic impression of the chan facilitating the passage of livestock, produce and nel sweeping past metropolitan skyscrapers and freight people across the Detroit River. The rail service's yards on its flanks. Upstream, the Detroit River barely extension from Niagara to Windsor in 1854 spurred begins its course out of Lake St. Clair before it's the expansion of such ferries to convey Detroit's interrupted by Peche Island (reputedly the summer products to New York and the East, but freight cars camp of Shawnee Chief Tecumseh), split by Belle didn't cross until 1867, an event somewhat overshad Isle and rhythmically spanned in part by that civic owed by Canadian Confederation and the British park's low-arched bridge to the American shore. The North American Act. United States Coast Guard station on the island's The steamer Great Western (launched in 1867 south-east point oversees traffic to the downriver and named after the parent company) was the first narrows approaching LaSalle and Wyandotte, where railroad carferry to operate here. It replaced in part, the spewing industrial stacks of Michigan's shore the ferries Ottawa and Windsor, which had been built contrast with the Canadian setting of flat, marshy in Detroit by Dr. George B. Russel for the railroad's farmland and fishing grounds. Below this point the passengers and freight. Like many of its type, the river's final bend around Ontario's peninsula corrects Great Western was prefabricated in Scotland. Its iron the topographical whim which here places Canada plates arrived in 1865 and were assembled at Henry south of its American neighbor. Jenkin's shipyard above Walker's distillery and upon Beneath the bridge from mid-March to Christ completion it was placed under the command of Capt. mas glide great longships of the lake fleets bearing John D. Sullivan. grain, ore, coal and limestone. Interspersed is an Two of the muscled old ferries which still ply abundance of local pleasure craft and work boats, all upstream for a mile or so, and did so under their own scuttling over submarine telegraph and telephone power until last year, have given service for nearly a cables (the first laid in mid-1857, the latter in 1881), century. S.S. Huron was a propeller driven ferry and and the tunnels conveying automobiles and trains had transported laden freight across the three-quarter across the international boundary. mile channel since 1875, the year of her registry at A wooden bridge spanning the shallow channel Sarnia. Her sister ship, S. S. Lansdowne, demonstrated between Detroit and the north shore of Belle Isle the purely functional characteristics of Scottish de burned in 1915, and was not replaced until 1923. sign and was aesthetic by accident of today's stylistic During those years people travelled from Detroit by over-refinements and, perhaps by time colored nos ferry to a dock on the park's south side. Frederick Law talgia for the robust, grassroots, 19th century spirit. Olmstead, Central Park's planner and a landscape Huron's clinker-built hull emerged from the architect with Chicago’s World's Colombian Exposi yard of Smith and Company at Point Edward, to be tion, was named consultant on the planning of Belle fitted with coal fired boilers to supply power to the Isle in 1881. engines built by Wilton and McDonald by Dundas, The present bridge, renamed in honor of Dou Ontario. In the 1920's she was converted to oil fired glas MacArthur in 1942, far surpasses its predecessor boilers which consumed 2,500 gallons of bunker "C" in styling, composed of a series of graduated concrete fuel per day. Her river crossings continued around the arches supporting a four lane roadway and broad clock during the season when the passage was free sidewalk reaching from the foot of East Grand Bou from ice, but under winter conditions the younger MAY *JUN, 1994 Page 61 ship Lansdowne demonstrated her prowess. Shoul Although recently retired captain, Nicholas dering her way across the choppy water with sides Saad, who cared for the C.N. fleet here since 1942, wheels flailing at the ice, she would rise atop the floes claimed the two old workers were good for another and crash her cast iron hull down through the frozen twenty-five years of service, unfortunately for those thickness, clearing a passage as well as her berth. who love old steamers, both of these venerable ships Lansdowne, named in honor of the Marquis of were reduced to barges last year and are now pushed Lansdowne, Canada's Governor General from 1883 back and forth by a modem diesel tug. to 1888, came down the ways in the autumn of 1884 The latest addition to the carferry fleet on the at the Detroit Shipbuilding Company and was regis Detroit River arrived in December of 1968. Her tered on November 28 of that year. She too had been captain, John Taylor, brought her from Nova Scotia designed and fabricated in Scotland. Her reciprocat with a thirty-five man crew to step up the transfer of ing engines, built in 1872 at the Montreal works of freight. But the Scotia II was a coal-burner. It wasn't Gilbert and Sons for a wooden vessel far too small to long before the Air Pollution Control and the federal withstand the vibrations of the two cylinders' forty- government, alerted to this "public nuisance" darken eight inch bore, were installed locally, permitting an ing the river front with a black shroud, called for a halt average speed of twelve knots. Her independent to her activity. The romance of the double-propelled paddle wheels, set amidships had a thirty-six foot craft was short-lived for she too was reduced to a diameter and turned an eighteen to twenty-one r.p.m. barge and is now seeing service at Port Huron-Samia. A steam operated steering unit maneuvered the great Passengers were denied the pleasures of cruis square rudder. Lansdowne's bridge straddled a pair of ing across the Detroit River in July of 193 8 when ferry tracks running the length of the 319-foot deck carried service was finally terminated. The news of the up to fourteen cars on one crossing. cessation of this service recalled for many commuters Dossin Dossin Museum Coll.
Detroit & Windsor Ferry Company's CADILLAC carried passengers until being withdrawn from service in 1938. TELESCOPE Page 62 Photo Photo by Karl Kuttruff
Tug AMHERSTBURG pushing the HURON on her regular run on the Detroit River.
the winter chills and summer breezes of the ten trim, may ease out these dignified old ladies whose minute trip aboard such smaller crafts as Cadillac, live have been worked out in confined patterns. which were noted in 1884 by Willard Glazier "as But the Ambassador Bridge should stand for a being of the most attractive type". It's fitting that they while, gracefully linking the cities; the tunnel traffic should have been, since Glazier was moved to de is reportedly more active than ever; an aerial cable car scribe the Detroit of that year as "the fair 'City of the may one day augment the cross-stream commuters' Straits' . . . (situated on) one of the most beautiful numbers, harbor terminals will expand, and life on the water avenues west of the Hudson . . . always of a Detroit River will prevail regardless of the pollution clear green color..." in its stream. No longer "of a clear green color". Today, the Detroit-based pleasure boats Ste. Claire and Columbia of the Browning Lines become international steamers, picking up crowds of eager This article was reprinted from the December, excursionists in Detroit (site of the erstwhile ferry 1971 issue of the Bulletin. formerly a monthly docks), and bustling them off to Bob-Lo, the Cana publication of the Detroit Historical Society. Even dian island park downriver on the Amherstburg Chan though much of the history of the Detroit River has nel. These are the last remnants of the once-popular changed in the last twenty years, the memories of the fleets of lake giants which graced Detroit's waterfront vessels mentioned in this article remain to those of us until the 1950's. who stand along the riverbanks on both Windsor and It's only a question of time until the quaint and Detroit. curious relics of the past century join their forebears on the scrap heap. Newer ships, more respectable and MAY «JUN, 1994 Page 63
DETROIT RIVER TRANSPORTATION - CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY
March 5,1802 - License granted to Gabriel Godfrey for a ferry from his house across the Detroit River.
August, 1825 - Horse boat ferry powered by French ponies which walked on a treadwheel to power the paddlewheels begins operations. Measured 50' by 32' for wagons, passengers, horses and cattle.
1827 - Steamer Argo was the first steam powered ferry with a four-horse power engine to operate paddlewheels.
1854 - Great Western Railway Company of Canada completed a line from the Suspension Bridge at Niagara Falls to Windsor and began direct railway traffic. At the Detroit River, it was necessary to off-load passengers and freight because the railroad company built the whole line in an off- standard gauge so that cars couldn't be used across the river with the standard gauge American line.
1856 - Steamer Globe was used to transfer passengers and freight across the river. March 9,1858, the vessel capsized at the Michigan Central wharf with a load of cattle.
January 1,1857 - The Detroit & Windsor Ferry Company incorporated with $80,000 in capital stock. It was the union of the steamers Windsor, Ottawa, Argo and the 116-foot barge Union Express.
The GREAT WESTERN began operating on 1867, carrying fourteen cars. TELESCOPE Page 64
January 1,1867 - The steam sidewheeler Great Western was placed in operation. In the mid-1860's the Great Western Railway Company laid a standard-sized track next to their line and could move cars from New York to Windsor. The Great Western had two tracks mounted on her deck and accommodate fourteen cars. She loaded cars through the bow and they ran 220 feet to her stem.
1873 - Railroad line ran across Grosse Ile to Stony Island and then cars were transferred by ferry to Amherstberg. The line lasted about fifteen years.
1875 - Steamer Huron, assembled at Port Edward, Ontario and the iron hull was 238' x 53'. There were three tracks and it could carry twenty-four cars. By this time the Canadian railroads had switched to standard gauge.
1883- Six passenger ferries running across the river. The Fortune, measuring 126' x 42', could carry 1350 passengers. The rate was a nickel in summer and a dime in winter. This also gave rise to the phrase "Nickel Immigrant" in which Canadians would ride over in the morning and back at night.
1884 - Steamer Lansdowne was 294' x 41’. There were two tracks for sixteen cars. Passengers were allowed to stroll on deck during transit. On July 15,1885, as the Lansdowne departed her dock late at night, she was struck in her paddlewheel box by the Str. Clarion. Using only one paddlewheel, the Lansdowne made the dock and unloaded.
1898 - The Detroit-Windsor Ferry Company created the Bois Blanc Amusement Company (Bob-Lo) and also began to run boats to Belle Isle, the new city park.
1890’s - The railroad activities included the Transit with 10 car capacity, Michigan with 16 cars, Transfer with 18 cars, Transport with 21 cars and the Trenton with 8 cars. The rails at the docks could be raised or lowered depending on the water level. The annual transfers were 15,000 passenger cars and 400,000 freight cars.
1904 - Detroit River Tunnel Company commissioned the Great Lakes Engineering Works to build two parallel
tubes, 23 feet wide and 262 feet long. These tubes were floated to the site, sunk and encased in concrete. The Michigan Central was responsible for the line which was completed July 1, 1910 and the first electric locomotives pulled the first train through on July 26,1910. Many of the railroad ferries began to be withdrawn from service.
1929 - The Ambassador Bridge opened on November 15,1929 and allowed for a direct link between Canada and the U.S
1930 - The Detroit River Tunnel was opened November 3,1930 with a second link to Windsor from Detroit. At this time the Detroit-W indsor Ferry Company was out of business and created Bob-Lo Excursion Company and sold off the cross river ferries.
1940’s - World War II created a need for longer rail cars which couldn't go through the tunnel. In 1945 the Pere Marquette 10 was built measuring 386 feet long and could accommodate 27 cars on three tracks.
1950's - The Norfolk & Western began run car floats, pushed by tugs. Many of the carferries were later pushed by tugs, reducing the number of men needed to operate.
1990's - The tugs F.A. Johnson and R.G. Cassidy, currently move four carfloats: Detroit, Roanoke, Windsor and Manitowoc across the river.
1994 - Canadian Pacific converts one of the rail tunnel tubes to handle cars twice as high as previous height. On April 20,1994, the Canadian Pacific announces they will close rail traffic on the Detroit River and use the tunnel only. MAY *JUN, 1994 ______Page 65
SAILING ON THE JOHN W. BOARDMAN IN 1940
by LAWSON BROWNE
In the spring of 1940, "Brownie" was in the foot of Riopelle Street, Brownie was there. Finding struggle of supporting a wife and seven month-old Mr. Ziem, the usual questions and answers were son. Steady jobs were scarce and money was still spoken, then Mr. Ziem said, "I have twenty-five tight, following the Depression. applications for this job. Although most of them are Painting houses in Detroit was spotty at best, so more qualified, I'm giving it to you." A pause, then he he was looking for a better way. In his search, he went on. "In 1922,1 was in a desperate strait. I went wrote to a man he knew only slightly, Fred A. Ziem, to the paper mill and asked your father for work. As mate on the Str. S.T. Crapo, asking if he knew of we stood in a pulp storage place, he said," I know you anything to help. to be a good worker and believe you to be in need of To Brownie's surprise, he received an answer of work, I'm sure you will quit for the first sailing job, but hope. A lead or tip and a note of sympathy was what I do need some laborers. Come in tomorrow." he expected. Instead it said," Come to see me when Mr. Ziem continued, "Well, he died before I had the Crapo in Detroit", and gave a date. a chance to thank him for his kindness. And I did When the Crapo arrived at the terminal at the exactly as he said. Now, I have the opportunity to Massman Photo
The JOHN W. BOARDMAN, built in 1923 at Toledo, OH. TELESCOPE Page 66
The Pure Oil tanker L.S. WESCOAT, formerly a Pittsburgh Steamship ore carrier. repay him in a late fashion. I'll call you when the On the face of the dock, parallel to the river, Boardtnan fits out in a week or two. She is at the another ship was being readied to go overseas. A shipyard in River Rouge. I will be first mate and will WWI-type ship, Montfaucon, then EM. Bunce, was see you there." Brownie thanked him and went back being re-fitted, cleaned and painted. Her new name to the paint brushes and ladders to await a call. was being painted on her stem, Intrepido. Her Italian About the first of June a letter arrived. "Take port of registry is now forgotten. this letter and be at the shipyard in River Rouge June When the J.W. Boardman was ready, with 10. Get on the J. W. Boardtnan and find the mate." gleaming green hull and snow white cabins, she left Brownie was there on time and soon met the rest the shipyard and headed for Alpena to load. Destina of the crew. It was the usual "fitting-out", getting tion of that first load is forgotten, but subsequent acquainted, working, joking, laughing and quite a cargoes of bulk cement went to various ports and happy time. A barrel of soap powder, a couple of terminals on all the lakes. Duluth, Green Bay, Mil cases of scouring powder, a dozen scrub brushes, waukee, Saginaw, Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, Buf rags, brooms and all the things necessary to clean up falo, Oswego, and Muskegon. At that time the Str. the ship. Samuel Mitchell was lying at the Green Bay terminal The engineers were busy in the engineroom, and used for extra storage. The Mitchell also had a and the steward and his crew in the galley. It seemed bagging machine which apparently was being used. that everyone was happy to be working on this ship. Sometime during the season, the Boardman Brownie thought, "I've only been working on three sustained some slight damage. While landing at other ships, but this is the happiest, friendliest and Alpena, a gust of wind caught her and set her against cleanest one I've seen". the pier. Not serious, two plates were taken off, rolled The shipyard crews were very busy at that time. and put back on. Whenever the cleanup and fit out crew rested, they In 1940 the unloading was done in the pre- would watch all the activity nearby. airslide way, that is, small openings controlled by There was a complicated and detailed conver men in the tunnel let the bulk cement run into screw sion in the next slip. The former Pittsburgh Steamship boxes, which ran the length of the cargo hold. These Company ore carriers Wm. R. Linn was being con carried the cement forward to where it was mixed verted to a tanker. She would later be known as the with air and forced off the ship and into silos ashore. L.S. Wescoat, (akaLS. Wescoat on some lists) a Pure When the cargo got low and would no longer run out, Oil Co. tanker. it was pulled and pushed into the openings and screw MAY »JUN, 1994 Page 67 boxes by men using hoses. This was a premium wage than fifty years. He only had one arm! The U.S. Coast job. Three deckwatches and three deckhands, two Guard arrived in a few minutes and recovered the compartments apiece. It seems there were some ex body. perimental devices trying to put air into the cement. Although the entire 1940 crew of the Boardman Things were working well. Chief Engineer "Pete" were kind, friendly and considerate fellows, along Walker boasted of unloading in twelve hours. A with Mr. Ziem, who stands out as an inspiration for the record! author's interest and ability in seamanship. At one unloading in Detroit, the summer heat, A wheelsman named "Ed" befriended this be along with the heat of warm cement was affecting the ginner. From the same hometown and neighborhood, fellows hoeing out. Warning them not to drink the they would have some very enjoyable conversations. cold water from the deck fountain aft, the Steward Ed had secured a First Class Pilot's license the previ provided a large kettle of water with oatmeal floating ous winter and was hoping to better himself. He told in it. It seemed to work, no one got sick. Brownie to study, he had potential and could get On another occasion, while approaching the ahead. Giving the beginner an Able Seamans hand terminal in Detroit, a distasteful incident occurred. book, he urged him to study it in his spare time. They The ship had turned around and was close to the dock would meet in Ed's room and Ed would ask the when a woman's body was seen floating close to the questions. When Brownie went for his AB, it was dock. Later, we discovered that after screaming her simple. The author found Ed six years later. He was dismay at all the problems that had befallen her, she First Mate for another company. Brownie never for jumped into the river. A man was crouched on the got Ed Greskowiak, for it was his inspiration that lower stringer of the dock. He had tried, we found out made it easy for Brownie to become a tug captain. later, to persuade her to climb back on the dock, or The John W. Boardman ran for short periods swim toward him. This well-dressed man, in a suit and twice in 1940. The first from June 10th to September hat, made a real effort, mentally and physically, to 28th. The a lay-up for eighteen days until October prevent this loss of life. I still admire him after more 16th, when she came out to run the rest of the season. Dossin Dossin Museum Coll.
The E. M. BUNCE would be converted for service overseas during World War II. TELESCOPE Page 68
In 1965, the BOARDMAN was renamed LEWIS G. HARRIMAN.
The second fit-out was not so detailed. Engineers had a winter job there, so asked to be laid off. The job kept her ready to go. proved to be a permanent one, so he didn't return to the On November 11 th, while loaded and bound for ship the following year. Oswego, New York, we encountered a bad storm. That 1940 season, although short, is remem Going down Lake Erie, the ship was in an easy roll all bered tenderly. The crew was such a nice bunch of day. The southeast wind increased in velocity so that fellows, the officers so efficient and considerate. All the decision was made not to enter Port Colborne and in all, that sailing time on the Boardman could be the Welland Canal. Going down to Buffalo, she tried called a most pleasant experience. She now sails as anchoring there. The wind veered to settle in the the Lewis G. Harriman. southwest and soon the lake was in a terrible state. The ship had turned, although she rolled to a danger ous angle and having weighed anchor, headed for Crew members aboard the John W. Boardman shelter behind Long Point. in 1940: Getting to the anchorage, an anchor was set. Soon it was found that the wind was too strong. It was Capt.: Thompson Campbell Chief Eng.: "Pete"Walker driving the ship astern and dragging the anchor. The First Mate: Fred A. Ziem First Asst.: Art Johnson Second Mate: Angus MacQueen Second Asst.: Justin Houstin anchor was raised and the ship went further into the Third Mate: Martel Campbell Oiler: Ed Pugh anchorage until nearly aground. Two anchors were Wheelsman: Ed Greskowiak Fireman: "Whitey” Wallace set and chain run out until the ship could ride easy. All Wheelsman: Art Henry Watchman: Rupert Niles Steward: Harold Lozen this was done in the dark on night. Deck Watch: Hubert Guthrie Second Cook: "Carney" Knechtel When daylight came, many ships were seen Deck Watch: Merle Gwilt anchored nearby. Perhaps as many as thirty or more. Deck Watch: Jack Wicks Conveyorman: "Chick" Schuelke Deckhand: Billy Gang Asst. Conveyorman: Ed "Shy" Ryan Most were canal-size and wisely waiting out the Deckhand: Lawson Browne storm. The" Armistice Day Storm" struck Lake Michi gan the hardest, sinking and grounding several lakers. The rest of the season was pleasant. When the cement hauling was over for the year, the Boardman went back to the shipyard at River Rouge to spend the winter. During the fall lay-up and cleanup, the author called home to Bay City. He was told he could have MAY GUN, 1994 Page 69
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF USCG MACKINAW
By Kathy McGraw
The Toledo Shipbuilding Company was contracted to propellers only work well in ice that is uniform in built the icebreaker Manitowoc on July 16,1942. Her thickness, such as on the Lakes. Bow propellers were name was changed to Mackinaw when it was discov removed from the Mnd-class vessels. ered that the Navy had assigned Manitowoc to an The Mackinaw is powered by six Fairbanks - other vessel. At the time the Mackinaw was launched Morse diesels engines at 2000 hp and connected to six on March 4, 1944, she was the most powerful ice electric generators to drive one, two, or three main breaker in the world. Her design was similar to the propulsion motors of 5000 hp each, in turn driving "Winds class" and to quote Admiral Edward Thiele two stem propellers and one bow propeller. Accord (USCG), "The Mackinaw was nothing, but a Wind- ing to original specs, the Mackinaw could break ice class ship that was squashed down, pushed out and 2.5 feet continuously of 11 feet by backing and extended to meet the requirements of the Great Lakes." ramming. Both the Mackinaw and Wmd-class icebreakers were When the Mackinaw arrive at her home port of built especially strong with frames 16" apart. Both Cheboygan, Michigan in late December, 1944, the were designed with bow propellers, however, bow town held a parade and banquet in their honor. Shortly
The USCG MACKINAW launched on December 28, 1942 at Toledo. TELESCOPE Page 70 Photo Photo by Treloar Photo by Dwight Boyer/MacDonald Coll.
Top: MACKINAW on trial run passing through the Ash Street Bridge in Toledo on December 8, 1944. Bottom: Drydocked at Manitowoc in May, 1952. MAY «JUN, 1994 Page 71 Dossin Dossin Museum Coll Gordon MacCaulay Photo/Dossin Mus.
Top: MACKINAW escorting Pittsburgh ore carriers Arthur M. Anderson, Philip R. Clark, and Cason J. Callaway in Whitefish Bay in April, 1959. Bottom: Icebreaking in the St. Clair River in the early 1980's. TELESCOPE Page 72
after the New Year the Mackinaw was called upon to November 21, 1966 and participated in winter navi break ice for four new ore carriers from Superior, WI. gation on the Lakes. to Chicago. A few years later in March, 1948, she With the construction of the new Coast Guard would open the port of Buffalo to allow the passage ".Bay-class" icebreakers, the role of the Mackinaw has of twelve icebound ships. This was the earliest port been constantly debated as the Coast Guard faced opening in Buffalo in fifty years. budget cutbacks. This spring it was announced that In recent memory the Mackinaw has served on the Mackinaw wouldn't be decommissioned after her scene after the Cedarville-Topdalsfjord collision in 50th Anniversary, which was good news for the port the Straits of Mackinac inMay, 1965, rescued seamen of Cheboygan and the entire Great Lakes. from the grounded Nordmeer i n Lake Huron on GREAT LAKES & SEAWAY NEWS
Those who have contributed to the News Editor: Donald Richards Section in this issue are: 21101 Violet Raymond Bawal Rene Beauchamp St. Clair Shores, MI. 48082 Michael Beck Bruno Boissoneault William Keller Tim Kroeff Dan McCormick m .B. MacKay Seaway News Editor: Skip Gillham Alan Mann Don Mercer Terry Sechen Jim Sprunt John Vournakis
Dec. 27. . . American Steamship's Buffalo made a rare visit to Marine City when she unloaded stone at the McLouth Dock.
Jan. 1 ... The Russian Nicolay Gologanov arrived in Montreal and was the first vessel of the season to arrive there. The captain received a gold-headed cane in a ceremony that goes back 154 years. At one time, the cane was presented to the first vessel to reach Montreal after the ice in the St. Lawrence River broke up. The tradition changed to the first ship to arrive in the New Year about thirty years ago when icebreakers began keeping the port open all year.
... The Algoway cleared Superior with the last shipment of the season from the Burlington Northern Ore Dock. Her cargo of 17,633 gross tons of pellets was bound for Algoma Steel at the Soo.
The U.S.-St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. reported that preliminary figures indicate that shipments on the Montreal-Lake Ontario section of the Seaway are up about 2% over last year. Preliminary figures show that 31.9 million metric tons moved thru this section of the Seaway, the first increase since 1988. Cargoes which showed an increase were: iron ore-12%, coke-16%, stone-40%, misc.-37% and chemicals-24%. Canadian grain shipments were down 20%.
• • • Skillings' Mining Review reported that iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes dropped 6% in November compared to the same month last year. Since the opening of the 1993 shipping season, iron ore shipments have declined by 2.3%. Coal shipments in November declined 15% compared to November, 1992. Coal shipments at Lake Erie ports decreased 35.6% while coal shipments from Lake Michigan and Lake Superior ports increased by 24%. For the season, the Lake's coal trade has declined by 14.1%.
.. . Skilling's also reported that November shipments of limestone and aggregates rose 13% over the same period last year. Total stone shipments for this season were up 7% as of the end of November. During November there were 54 out of 65 U.S.-flag lakers in service.
Jan. 3.. . Lake Shipping's Lee A. Tregurtha arrived in Duluth for winter lay-up in the Fraser Shipyard.
. .. Last August, Algoma Central and Upper Lakes Shipping announced that they were pooling their self unloaders to form a new company, Seaway Self-Unloaders. The Canadian government has approved the merger. In 1990, the two companies pooled their straight-deckers under the name Seaway Bulk Carriers. Page 73 TELESCOPE Page 74
• GREA T LAKES & SEAWAY NEWS
BUFFALO made a rare visit to unload stone at Marine City, Ml. Photo by Pete Worden
Jan. 4. .. The Arthur M. Anderson was floated out of the drydock at Fraser Shipyard following her 5-year inspection. She was laid-up for the winter. After the Anderson departed the drydock, the Lee A. Tregurtha went in for her 5-year inspection.
Jan. 5... Bethlehem’s Stewart J. Cort arrived at Bay Shipbuilding for winter lay-up. She was placed in drydock for her 5-year inspection and hull bottom repairs which occurred on December 30th at Superior, WI.
... The cement carrier Alpena arrived in Cleveland for winter lay-up. She was the final vessel of the Inland Lakes fleet to lay-up.
... A proposal has been made by the St. Lawrence Development Corp. to amend Seaway regulations to allow vessels with up to 78-foot beam to transit the Seaway. The present maximum beam is 76 feet. During the 1993 season, several vessels with 78-foot beam were allowed to transit the Seaway. If approved, the new regulation would go into effect at the beginning of the 1994 shipping season.
Jan. 7 ... Because of heavy ice in the upper Great Lakes shipping channels, the Coast Guard has moved the icebreaker Mackinaw to the Soo to assist the Katmai Bay. The Canadian Coast Guard has moved the Samuel Risley from her homeport of Thunder Bay to the Canadian Soo to assist the two American icebreakers.
Jan. 8... Interlake's James R. Barker arrived in Erie Marine and tied up at their west slip for the winter and general maintenance. Because of heavy ice in Erie Harbor, the tug Ohio broke ice and assisted the Barker in docking.
... The Seaway Port Authority of Duluth-Superior reported that waterborne commerce in the Twin Ports thru the end of November decreased by 6.5% over the same period last year. The drop was blamed on reduced shipments of iron ore pellets.
Jan. 9 ... Lake Shipping's Kaye E. Barker arrived at Erie Marine for winter lay-up and her 5-year inspection. She will be drydocked in Erie Marine’s 1,000-foot plus drydock along with Erie Sand's 174-foot sandsucker J.S. St. John, which was also due for her 5-year inspection. MAY »JUN, 1994 Page 75
GREAT LAKES & SEAWAY NEWS •
The two tugs, Indok and W.B. Indok were moved by flat bed trailers to the Welland Canal between Locks 1 and 2 to assist in icebreaking. The tugs were normally at the Thorold Industrial dock.
Jan. 12... Interlake's 1,000-footer Mesabi Miner was the last upbound commercial vessel to pass through the Soo Locks for the season. She spent 22 hours working through heavy ice in the St. Marys River assisted most of the way by the Mackinaw. She arrived in DeTour on January 11th at 11 p.m. and cleared the river at Ile Parisienne, above the Locks at 9:17 a.m. on the 12th. She arrived in Duluth on the 13th for winter lay-up. With the arrival of the Mesabi Miner, the Twin Ports closed for the season.
Jan. 14. .. The Cason J. Callaway loaded the final pellet cargo of the season at the D.M.&I.R. Ore Dock at Two Harbors. She cleared with 23,346 gross tons of Minntac pellets for Gary, IN.
.. .After unloading pellets at Algoma Steel, Algoway locked downbound through the Poe Lock at 3:30 p.m. and was the last commercial vessel downbound for the season. She will lay-upfor the winter at Sarnia, Ontario. Earlier in the day, the Cason J. Callaway and John B. Aird passed downbound thru the Locks.
. . . In June an agreement was reached between the Army Corps of Engineers, Michigan DNR, shipping interests and other environmental agencies concerning the date of the opening of the Soo Locks. Under the agreement, the Soo Locks will open on March 25th for the next three to five years while several agencies cooperate on environmental studies concerning the effect of shipping on the St. Marys River. The closing of the Locks on January 15th will not be affected.
The KAYE E. BARKER, shown here in the Calumet River in May, 1993, was given her 5-year inspection at Erie Marine on January 9, 1994. TELESCOPE Page 76
• GREA T LAKES & SEAWAY NEWS
Jan. 17. . .The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority has retained the services of the Sarnia-based tug Glenada to break ice in the Sydenham River at Wallaceburg, Ontario in the event of flooding due to ice jams.
Jan. 19.. Ontario Northland announced that the carferry Chi-Cheemaun will begin operating two weeks later than she did in 1993.
Jan. 20 .. .Although it has not been announced as yet, the U.S. and Canada have reached an accord to expand discounts on St. Lawence Seaway tolls in 1994. The discounts being offered on tolls and other fees would allow shippers to make lower bids on prices to potential Seaway shippers.
Jan. 21. . . A sunken barge that was carrying more than three million litres of Bunker "C" oil was being described as an environmental time bomb. The Irving Whale, sank about twenty-three years ago in the Gulf of St. Lawrence between Prince Edward Island and Iles-de-la-Madeleine. The barge has been leaking oil intermittently since then. It would cost about $7 million to raise the barge which would be a dangerous operation considering how long it has been in the water. To pump the oil out, would cost about $20 million. The sunken barge is in a prime fishing area and the center of the snow crab fishing industry.
Jan. 25. . . The Cason J. Callaway loaded the last pellet cargo of the season at the C.& N.W. Ore Dock in Escanaba. She cleared in the morning with 23,068 gross tons of Tilden Mine pellets for Gary, IN.
Jan. 26... The tanker Gemini, escorted by the USCG Mackinaw, arrived at the Soo, Ontario with a cargo of fuel oil.
... The John G. Munson arrived at Bay Shipbuilding for winter lay-up. It's reported that she was the last laker to lay-up for the season. Tim Kroeff reported that Bay Shipbuilding is busy this year with the following vessels: Stewart J. Cort, St. Clair, H. Lee White, Charles E. Wilson, Calcite II, George A. Sloan, John G. Munson, Wilfred Sykes, Edward L. Ryerson, Joseph L. Block and Paul H. Townsend.
iJQiLi Photo Photo by Fr. Pete Vanderlinden
The tanker GEMINI was escorted by the USCG MACKNAW to the Soo on January 26, 1994. MAY *JUN, 1994 Page 77
GREAT LAKES & SEAWAY NEWS • MacDonald Coll/Dossin Mus. Scrapping has begun on the rail carferry GRAND RAPIDS at Port Maitland, Ontario.
Jan. 28.. . The Algomarine replaced the Algolake on the Port Weller Drydock.
. .. The lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority has retained the services of the tug Princess (Gayton Marine, Windsor) to break up ice jams in the Thames River from Lighthouse Point to Chatham.
Jan. 29.. . Amelia Desgagnes arrived in Halifax for bunkering. She was enroute to Burnside, Louisiana.
... Upper Lakes' Montrealais was towed out of Port Weller Drydock. The Canadian Enterprise entered the drydock the next day.
Feb. 1 ... A jury has awarded $2,475 million in damages to the estate of Thomas Sexton, the only crewman killed in the explosion and fire aboard the tanker Jupiter on September 16,1990. After the verdict, two other claims were settled out of court for $2 million and $500,000.
Feb. 2.. .The ferry Sugar Islander lost one rudder in the morning due to heavy ice. Later in the day, she became stuck in an ice jam at Mission Point in the St. Marys River. The Coast Guard's Katmai Bay freed her about 8 p.m. Heavy ice has interrupted ferry service from the mainland to Sugar Island several times this winter, requiring assistance of icebreakers.
Feb. 3.. .The ferry Nindawaytna developed a list to port at Owen Sound due to the build-up of ice and snow. The vessel which is owned by Ontario Northland Transportation Commission will be idle again in 1994.
Feb. 5.. .National Steel announced that it won't reopen their pellet plant at Keewatin, MN this year. The plant has been idle since last summer due to a strike. About 620 hourly workers and 109 salaried employees will lose their jobs. National Steel will purchase their pellets on the open market.
Feb. 9.. . For the first time in sixteen years, the National Weather Service reported that Lake Superior was completely frozen over. The last time that Lake Superior was declared ice-covered was on March 3,1978. So far this winter, the Coast Guard has spent 309 hours assisting eighty-six vessels trapped in ice on the Great Lakes. Last year they spent only 73.4 hours assisting twelve vessels. Most of the vessels being assisted were TELESCOPE Page 78
• GREA T LAKES & SEAWAY NEWS tankers and tug/barge combinations delivering heating oil to various ports. This year's shipping season was scheduled to begin on March 25th.
. . .At Windsor, Ontario the retired passenger vessel Aquarama was renamed Marine Star.
Feb. 10... The Lake Carriers Association reported that shipments of iron ore on US-flagged vessels rose 2% in 1993 season over Iast year. A late season demand for ore reversed a slump that began in late summer. In November, iron ore shipments were down 2.3% from 1992.
. . . Total tonnage of iron ore, stone and coal carried by US and Canadian lakers for the season declined by less than half a percentage point from 1992. The reason for the decline was blamed on a drop in coal shipments from Lake Erie ports.
... The American-Canadian-Caribbean Cruise Line of Warren R.I. has announced that they will begin cruise service on the Great Lakes this summer. The 92-passenger Mayan Prince will operate between Montreal and Chicago and Chicago to Rhode Island once this summer. Two stops will be made at Mackinac Island and Manistee, ML A new cruise ship, Niagara Princess is under construction and will enter service in 1995. The new vessel will offer exclusive service on the Great Lakes.
. . . The tug Princess enroute to Windsor from Erieau, Ontario became trapped in the ice in Lake Erie. She was bound for the Thames River after being retained by the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority to break ice. The tug was freed the next day by the Canadian Coast Guard's Samuel Risley and the U.S. Coast
The AQUARAMA was renamed MARINE STAR in Windsor, Ontario. She remains laid-up below the Ambassador Bridge. MAY *JUN, 1994 Page 79
GREAT LAKES & SEAWAY NEWS •
: 1 Photo Photo by Terry Sechen The AMOCO MICHIGAN/AMOCO GREAT LAKES was trapped in the ice at Grand Traverse Bay and later freed by the USCG NEAH BAY.
Guard's Neah Bay. The tug was escorted to Amherstburg, Ontario by the Risley. Within a few hours, she sank at the Coast Guard dock. Ice damage to the hull was blamed for the sinking.
Feb. 11.. .The tug Mary E. Hannah became trapped by heavy ice in Lake Erie and was freed by the USCG Neah Bay, which also escorted the tug to Toledo.
... The tug/barge Amoco Michigan/Amoco Great Lakes became trapped in heavy ice at the mouth of Grand Traverse Bay. They were freed by the Mackinaw out of Cheboygan, MI.
Feb. 10... A federal administration law judge has ruled that Coast Guard negligence charges brought against the 3rd mate on the 1,000-footer Indiana Harbor were justified. The 3rd mate was on the bridge of the vessel when it struck the Lansing Shoals Lighthouse in Lake Michigan, west of the Straits of Mackinac on September 8,1993. Damage to the vessel totaled $1.96 million while damage to the lighthouse was estimated at about $100,000. The judge could revoke or suspend the 3rd mate's license or enter a reprimand into his records.
Feb. 20.. . McKeil Marine Limited's new tug Arctic Tuktu was to be renamed John Spence.
Feb. 22.. .Afire broke out aboard the Algolake, laid-up below Lock 2 in the Welland Canal. The fire extended to teflon lining and the conveyor belt before being extinguished by firefighters. Damage was estimated at about $50,000.
. . . Algoma's Sauniere was towed to the Port Weller Drydock.
Feb. 26. . . It's reported that Fort St. Louis will be refurbished and returned to service under Panamanian registry.
Feb. 27.. . Scrapping has begun on the rail ferry Grand Rapids at Port Maitland.
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