cargo shifts, off Dunkirk NY-15

lornajarrettblanchard July 29, 1930

— 16 The Star Journal, Sandusky, OH. “9 Sandusky Men Lost.” 7-29-1930, p. 1.
— 15 Alchem Incorporated. Lake Erie Shipwreck Map “D” and Index. Site 163.
— 15 Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. 1972, p. 245.
— 15 New York Times. “Sand Boat Capsizes; 15 Lost in Lake Erie.” July 30, 1930, p. 6.
— 15 Sandusky Register, OH. “Local Sandsucker Sinks With Loss of 15 Lives…” 7-30-1930, p1.
— 15 Swayze. Shipwreck!…Directory…Shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. 1992, p. 247.

Narrative Information

Alchem Inc.: “George J Whelan: Steel sandsucker of 220 ft capsized and sank suddenly on 7/29/1930 6 miles off Dunkirk, New York. The wreck was due to the cargo of stone shifting. Fifteen crew members died.” (Alchem Incorporated. Eastern Erie Shipwrecks.)

Newspaper

July 29, NYT: “Sand Boat Capsizes; 15 Lost in Lake Erie.”
“All But Six of Crew Are Caught Asleep or in Fire Hold When Craft Sinks.”
“Survivors in Lake 2 Hours”
“Picked Up by Buffalo Collier – Federal Inspectors Order an Inquiry Into Overloading.”

“Special to The New York Times.

“Erie, PA., July 29. – Fifteen of the crew of the sandsucker George J. Whelan were drowned when the dredge capsized in Lake Erie near Dunkirk, N.Y., early this morning during a squall. Six survivors were rescued two hours after the vessel went down by the collier Amasa Stone, bound from Buffalo to Erie.

“Six Coast Guard vessels were searching the lake tonight for bodies of the victims, only one being recovered during the day.

“Captain W. H. McNeill of the Amasa Stone heard the cries of some of the Whelan crew at 2:30 o’clock this morning, and immediately launched a boat. He was able to save Irving Ohlemacher, first mate of the Whelan, and five others, and although he remained in the vicinity until daybreak he could locate no others….

“It is believed that the vessel, which was carrying sand from Sandusky to Tonawanda, N.Y., might have been overloaded, causing it to capsize when the squall hit the lake shortly after midnight.

“Those of the crew saved declared that the Whelan suddenly turned over on its side, then all the way over. They managed to cling to the sides of the boat as it floated upside down for nearly half an hour before it sank.

“Members of the crew who were asleep or in the engine and fire-holds had no chance to escape. Those who were rescued were on watch in the forward part of the 200-foot steamer, which was converted into a sandboat by the Kelly’s Island Lime and Transport Company of Sandusky, Ohio, last Winter. Most of the crew of the vessel were from that city or from near-by lake ports.

“Arthur Stamm, a member of the crew, was swimming toward shore, eight miles away, when saved. ‘Had we had a chance to get some life preservers or to have launched our boats we probably could all have been saved, as the sea after the sudden squall was not rough,’ he stated….” (New York Times. “Sand Boat Capsizes; 15 Lost in Lake Erie.” July 30, 1930, p. 6.)

July 29: “9 Sandusky Men Lost. 5 Are Rescued After Stone Carrier Whelan Sinks.”
“16 of Crew, One Woman Included, Sank in Lake Erie.”
“Captain Waage, of K.I.L. & T. Co. Sand and Stone Boat George J. Whelan Went Down With Craft Five Miles Off Dunkirk, N.Y. – Huron and Venice Men Drowned
– Cargo Shifted and Boat ‘Turned Turtle’ Is Report.”

“Cleveland, July 29. – Sixteen members of the crew of the Sandsucker George J Whelan owned by the Kelly Island and Transport Co., of Cleveland and Sandusky, were reported drowned today when the dredge capsized six miles off Dunkirk, N.Y.

“The captain T. J. Waage of Cleveland, and a woman cook, were reported among the victims….

“No trace of the sunken rock and sand carrier could be found.

“The George J. Whelan was enroute from Kelleys Island to Tonawanda, N.Y., with a load of limestone most of the boat’s crew of 21 were asleep under decks.

“Waters of the lake were quiet, it was reported, just before the windstorm that came before daybreak. It was 12:30 a.m. when suddenly the deck of the dredge listed. Before an alarm could be spread, the big hulk suddenly dipped its decks into the water, and turned over.

“Six men succeeded in clambering to the top. Two of them grabbed life saving belts when they were thrown into the water, and with their aid, the six managed to remain afloat two and a half hours after the dredge had gone to the bottom. The survivors said the hull of the dredge remained above water for a half hour after it had turned turtle.

“The greater part of the victims were from Sandusky and Cleveland. The woman, who with her husband, did the cooking on the dredge, both were Cleveland residents according to the survivors. They are Mr. and Mrs. Charles Godfrey….

“Because of the manner in which the Whelan sank, lake sailors said it was most probable that its heavy load suddenly shifted….

Lost And Saved As Whelan Sank

“The Kelleys Island Lime and Transport Company Tuesday issued the following official list of dead and survivors, based upon a telephonic report from Irving Ohlemacher, Sandusky, first mate, one of the survivors: [We rearrange the listing of fatalities alphabetically.]
Dead

Carl A. Biechele, first assistant engineer, Sandusky.
Harry Brooks, oiler, Sandusky [?] [or Huron, MI ].
Ed. Donner, fireman, Sandusky [?].
Ned DuMars [or DuMurs ], derrick operator, Bay City [MI].
M. J. Emling, second mate, Cleveland.
Chas. Godfrey, steward, 1863 E. 57th St., Cleveland.
Mrs. Chas. Godfrey, assistant steward, Cleveland.
W.P. Longnecker, deckhand, Venice. [Sandusky ]
William Neuschler, second assistant engineer, Sandusky.
Thomas Pearce, fireman, Sandusky [?].
Jack Staley, fireman, Sandusky [?] [Also noted as Bay City, MI.]
Vincent Strempki, deckhand, address not known. [Not listed in Sandusky Register.]
T. J. Waage, master, 3581 West Boulevard, Cleveland.
A. [Arthur] A. Walters, chief engineer, Sandusky.
Ralph Weis, watchman, Sandusky.
Walter Zech, watchman, Sandusky….. [Incorrect, Walter’s cousin Arthur Zech died.]

Sources

Alchem Incorporated. Lake Erie Shipwreck Map “D” and Index. Accessed 1-28-2009 at: http://www.alcheminc.com/east.html

Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. Boston: Mariners Press Inc., 1972.

New York Times. “Sand Boat Capsizes; 15 Lost in Lake Erie.” July 30, 1930, p. 6. Accessed at: http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F0091EFE395C11738DDDA90B94DF405B808FF1D3

Sandusky Register. “List Of Dead And Survivors.” 7-30-1930, p. 1. Accessed 2-9-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/sandusky-register-jul-30-1930-p-1/

Sandusky Register, OH. “Local Sandsucker Sinks With Loss of 15 Lives…” 7-30-1930, p. 1. Accessed 2-9-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/sandusky-register-jul-30-1930-p-1/

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

The Star Journal, Sandusky, OH. “9 Sandusky Men Lost.” 7-29-1930, p. 1. Accessed 2-9-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/sandusky-star-journal-jul-29-1930-p-1/