1902 — Nov 23, MI freighter Silvanus J. Macy sinks, Lake Erie storm, off Port Burwell Ont.–13-14

— 14 Alchem Incorporated. Lake Erie Shipwreck Map “C” and Index.
— 14 Boston Daily Globe. “Owner Believes the Macy Sunk.” 11-29-1902, p. 4, col. 3.
— 14 Swayze. Shipwreck!…Directory…Shipwrecks on the Great Lake. 1992, p. 138.
— 14 Swayze. The Great Lakes Shipwreck File: Total Losses of Great Lakes Ships 1679-1999.
— 13 Evening Gazette, Monmouth, IL. “Macy Is Certainly Lost.” 11-29-1902, p. 3, col. 4.*

* Our number based on counting of list of named crewmembers.

Narrative Information

Alchem Incorporated: “Silvanus J Macy: Wooden freight steamer of 165 ft sank 11/23/1902 in a gale with the loss of the entire crew of 14 off of Port Burwell, Ontario. The Macy carried a cargo of coal.” (Alchem Incorporated. Erie-Ashtabula Shipwrecks.)

Swayze, Great Lakes Shipwrecks M:

“Silvanus J. Macy
….
“Type at Loss: propeller, wood, bulk freight
“Build info: 1881, W. Morley, Marine City [MI]
“Specs: 165x32x11, 753g 613n
“Date of loss: 1902, Nov 23
“Place of loss: abeam of Port Burwell, Ont.
“Lake: Erie
“Type of loss: storm
“Loss of life: 14 (all)
“Carrying: coal
“Detail: Bound Buffalo for Kenosha and Racine, WI, she foundered after dark with all hands
after fighting through a heavy gale for a full day. She released her barge Mable Wilson and was never seen again.
“Owned by Inter-Lake Trans. Co. of Detroit.”

Newspaper

Nov 28: “Detroit, Nov 28 – H. C. Ralph of this city, managing owner of the steamer Silvanus J. Macy, which is supposed to have foundered early Monday morning [24th] in lake Erie, carrying down with her a crew of 14 men, said this afternoon he had given up all hope of the steamer’s safety. Mr. Ralph says that Capt. James Gorham of the barge Mabel Wilson, the Macy’s consort, told him yesterday at Amherstburg [Ont.] that he could see the lights of the Macy for some time after the Wilson’s towline was cast off. His attention was called away for about five minutes, and when he again looked for the lights they were gone. He supposed that the Macy sank during the interval.” (Boston Daily Globe. “Owner Believes the Macy Sunk.” 11-29-1902, p. 4, col. 3.)

Nov 29: “….The Macy foundered Sunday night [23rd] in Lake Erie, off Port Burwell, Ont. The news did not reach any place ashore until Thursday. The list of those on board is as follows: [We break paragraph into separate lines.]

M. W. Gotham, captain, Richard City, Wis.;
M. A. Gotham (son of captain), mate;
W. F. Gregory, Detroit, first engineer;
George Webb, Marine City, second engineer;
Mrs. M. Ganger, cook;
W. F. Giese and
William H. Donovan, wheelmen;
H. St. Clair and
L. R. Gotham (son of captain) lookouts;
Mark Hornby and
James Mack, firemen;
John Hanolly and
James Mahoney, deck-hands.”

(Evening Gazette, Monmouth, IL. “Macy Is Certainly Lost.” 11-29-1902, p. 3, col. 4.)

Sources

Alchem Incorporated. Lake Erie Shipwreck Map “C” and Index. Accessed 12-6-2020 at: http://www.alcheminc.com/asht.html

Boston Daily Globe. “Owner Believes the Macy Sunk.” 11-29-1902, p. 4, col. 3. Accessed 12-6-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/boston-daily-globe-nov-29-1902-p-4/

Swayze, David D. Shipwreck! A Comprehensive Directory of Over 3,700 Shipwrecks on the Great Lake. Boyne City, MI: Harbor House Publications, Inc., 1992.

Swayze, David D. The Great Lakes Shipwreck File: Total Losses of Great Lakes Ships 1679-1999. 2001. Accessed at: http://www.boatnerd.com/swayze/shipwreck/