1910 — May 23, fog, Frank H. Goodyear hit by Wood, sinks, Lake Huron ~Pt. Aux Barques MI-17-19
–16-23 Swayze, David D. Great Lakes Shipwrecks Beginning with the letter G.
–16-23 Swayze. Shipwreck! A Comprehensive Directory of Over 3,700 Shipwrecks… 1992, 99.[1]
— 20 Petersburg Democrat, IN. “20 Die in Boat Crash.” 5-27-1910, p. 2.
— 19 Baillod. Great Lakes Shipwreck Research. “Great Lakes Shipwreck News…Fall 2003.”[2]
–17-19 Blanchard estimated range.[3]
— 19 Oleszewski, Wes. Stormy Disasters: Great Lakes Shipwrecks. 2001, p. 159.[4]
— 19 Salt Lake Evening Telegram, UT. “Investigating Lake Huron Disaster.” 5-28-1910, p. 20
— 19 Thompson. Graveyard of the Lakes. 2006, p. 181.
— 18 Escanaba Press, MI. “Death List From Wreck Reaches a Total of Eighteen.” 5-26-1910.
— 18 Evening News, Sault Ste. Marie, MI. “All Hope is Abandoned.” 5-25-1910, p. 1.[5]
— 18 Evening News, Sault Ste. Marie, MI. “Eighteen Rest in a Water Grave.” 5-24-1910, p. 1.
— 18 Pearson’s Magazine, July 1910, Vol. XXIV, No. 1, p. 38.
— 18 The Gazette, Cleveland, OH. “Epitome of a Week’s News,” 5-28-1910, p. 2.
— 18 U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service. Annual Report, 1910, p. 13.
— 17 Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. 1972, p. 244.
— 17 U.S. Bureau of Navigation. Merchant Vessels of the United States…1910, p. 408.
Narrative Information
Pearson’s Magazine: “On May 23, 1910, the steamer Frank H. Goodyear was sunk in collision with the steamer James B. Wood, thirty-five miles north of Au Barques, Lake Huron, in forty fathoms of water. Eighteen lives were lost. The crew was a green one. The firemen had had practically no experience and hardly understood the signals. Both were foreigners. John Papp of Cleveland, the wheelman, had had only a few weeks’ experience, and William Schluetter, the lookout watchman, was utterly inexperienced. The deck hands were green. Several of them were boys. One of the crew of the steamer Wood said in describing the accident: ‘Standing amidships on the Goodyear were the entire crew huddled closely together, and I saw first one and then another jump overboard.’ One man saw his baby drown before his eyes.[6] The Goodyear was fully insured. Big Business lost nothing….
“The effect of unskilled manning and undermanning of vessels has been strikingly illustrated on the Great Lakes during the past two years. The inefficient crews of men and boys who have been sent to take the places of the striking sailors are utterly incapable of handling the vessels even in ordinary weather.” (Pearson’s Magazine, July 1910, Vol. XXIV, No. 1, p. 38.)
Swayze: “She collided with the steamer James B. Wood and sank in less than 4 minutes. WOOD was heavily damaged as well. She was one of the largest vessels in operation when lost. Master: Capt. M. R. Nemenger. Owner: Buffalo & Susquehanna Trans Co., Buffalo and operated by Mitchell Trans. Co., Buffalo. Had a luxury rail car installed athwart her deck for the private use of her owner. The vessel’s wreck was found in the summer of 2003, 35 mi N of Port Austin.” (Swayze, David D. Great Lakes Shipwrecks Beginning with the letter G.)
Thompson: “Early on the morning of May 22, 1910, the steamer Frank H. Goodyear was headed down Lake Huron in one of the pea-soup fogs that were so common during the spring sailing season. Owned by Mitchell and Company, the freighter was on her way to Lake Erie with a load of iron ore.
“Captain Russell Heminger was on watch in the Goodyear’s pilothouse….Every minute, the eerie silence of the foggy morning was pierced by the deep-throated roar of the Goodyear’s…steam whistle as Captain Heminger blew the fog signal to warn other ships that they were on their way down the lake….
“That morning in May of 1910, the conversations in the galley were interrupted by a series of sharp blasts on the Goodyear’s steam whistle. It was the danger signal, and several of the crewmen started to get up from the tables to go out on deck to see what was happening when all of the sudden there was a loud crash and the Goodyear heeled over….Hurrying out onto deck…the bow of another freighter just a few yards away from the Goodyear’s hull. The ship – the James B. Wood – was almost perpendicular to the hull of the Goodyear, and she appeared to be dead in the water. Leaning over the gunwale that ran alongside the galley, they looked down the side of their hull. Nearly amidships, a swirl of water disappeared into a massive void in the side of the Goodyear’s hull…Tons of water were cascading into the freighter’s cargo hold….
“While some dashed for their rooms to get their lifejackets, others raced up the stairs leading to the boat deck in a desperate effort to launch the two lifeboats. Some of the crew looked at how fast the Goodyear was sinking and merely jumped overboard and began swimming toward the Wood, not wanting to get trapped in the suction when their ship went down. Before those at the lifeboat stations could even get the canvas covers off the boats, the mortally wounded Goodyear noisily dove for the bottom, pulling those on deck beneath the cold water….
“The crewmembers on the Wood immediately launched their own lifeboats and began pulling the Goodyear’s survivors from the water. There weren’t many. The ship had simply gone down too fast – ‘like a stone,’ one of the Wood’s crewmembers said. In addition to Frank Bassett [the cook] and his mother, only Captain Heminger, Engineer George Grant, and Fireman Frank Mallick were plucked from the water. The cook’s wife and son and seventeen crewmembers had gone to the bottom with their ship. Most were trapped in their cabins when the Goodyear sank, while others were sucked under in the whirling vortex of water created when the ship dove to the bottom….
“The crewmen from the Wood continued to search for survivors at the scene until early afternoon. By then, the sun had burnt off the layer of fog and it was painfully obvious to all that there were but five survivors from the Goodyear….
“As a result of the continuing carnage resulting from midlake collisions each year, the shipping companies that belonged to the Lake Carriers’ Association finally agreed to establish separate upbound and downbound courses on Lake Huron and Lake Superior in 1911, thirteen years – and many collisions – after they had first been proposed.” (Thompson 2006, p. 181.)
U.S. Bureau of Navigation: Listed as having 22 aboard, with 17 fatalities. (U.S. Bureau of Navigation. Merchant Vessels of the United States…1910, p. 408.)
U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service: “On May 23, 1910, the steamers Frank H. Goodyear and James B. Wood, collided on the regular course on Lake Huron, about 40 miles below Thunder Bay Island, in a dense fog, at 6 o’clock a.m. The Frank H. Goodyear sunk so rapidly that only 5 of her crew of 23 were saved, 18 lives being lost.” (U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service. Annual Report, 1910, p. 13.)
Newspapers
May 24: “Port Huron, Mich., May 24. — The big steel steamer Frank H. Goodyear of the Mitchell Transit company lies in 40 fathoms of water in Lake Huron about 35 miles off Point aux Barques, and probably 18 persons met a watery grave following a collision between the vessel and the steamer Jams B. Wood, another steel boat belonging to the Gilchrist fleet. The collision occurred about 6 o’clock Monday morning in a heavy fog and when the two steamers came together the crew of the Goodyear, which is reported as being stuck amidship, had only time to seize life preservers and only a few could jump overboard before the boat began to fill with water. The cook had just sounded the second call for breakfast on the Goodyear when the crash came, and many were in the mess room. All rushed on deck and then the boat began to sink. Some jumped into the water and managed to get out of reach of the boat, which was fast filling.
“Suddenly the Goodyear parted in the center and with a sound which could be heard above the whistling of the Wood sank from sight. The bow of the Wood was badly stove in, but she rested on her bulkhead and although some water flowed into her hold she was kept afloat through the efforts of the pumps.
“Following the accident, Captain Gibson of the Wood ordered the lifeboats lowered and gave the crew instructions to make every possible effort to save any of the sailors off the sinking steamer. Within a short time a yawl boat was brought alongside the Wood and five people, Captain Hemenger, Frank Bassett, Mrs. Emma Bassett [his mother] Frank Mollick and George Grant, were taken aboard, all in an exhausted condition caused by their exertions to save themselves and the length of time they were in the water.
“For over seven hours the Wood remained at anchor near the scene of the collision, the captain hoping he would be able to save some of the crew of the Goodyear. When the fog rose there was nothing in sight and as his boat was badly damaged and in danger of sinking Gibson decided to return to this port, arriving here shortly after 6 o’clock Tuesday morning. Immediately upon the arrival of the boat at this port the captain notified his office of the collision and tied up at the Grand Trunk docks.
“Captain Hemenger of the ill-fated steamer, also notified the owners of the Goodyear of the accident and received orders to bring the surviving members of the crew to Cleveland. With the exception of a few facts no details of the accident were given out….
“One member of the crew of the Wood, who was seen by the Associated Press, in telling the story of the collision and the ghastly sight, said:
I was standing on deck having just come from my room when I heard the alarm whistle. A moment later the two boats were together. I ran forward and found our boat had not been damaged to any great extent. I then turned my attention toward the Goodyear and could see she was sinking fast. Standing amidship on the Goodyear were the entire crew all huddled together and I could see first one and then another jump overboard. Suddenly the Goodyear made a lurch to one side and went down, leaving only a big hole in the water, and the suction carried the crew down with it. The next moment I saw a woman come to the top with a child in her arms. Then one of the hatches bubbled up and when going down struck and I was forced to turn my head from the sickening sight.
Soon the fog cleared and all that could be seen was some clothing and small pieces of debris floating around. It was an awful sight.
“….Cleveland, Ohio, May 24.–The steel steamer Frank H. Goodyear, which was sunk in collision with the steamer James B. Wood…was owned by the Buffalo & Susquehanna Transportation company of Buffalo, but was operated by Mitchell & Co. of this city. The boat was fully insured. The Goodyear was 436 feet over all and of 3,438 net tonnage. She was built in 1902 at Lorain, Ohio. Usually the boat carried a crew of 23 men. Captain F. R. Hemenger of Bellevue, Ohio, was in charge.
“The James B. Wood is owned by the Gilchrist Transportation company of this city…a steel steamer of 5,744 net tonnage and 514 feet long. The Wood was bound down the lakes, light. The Goodyear was going up. The boats met head on in a dense fog.” (Evening News, Sault Ste. Marie, MI. “Eighteen Rest in a Water Grave.” 5-24-1910, p. 1.)
May 25: “Port Huron, Mich., May 25….It is impossible as yet to get an accurate list of the missing. A partial list [of 17 names] follows:
Mrs. Lillian Bassett, wife of the cook;
John Bassett, 3 years old;
Gus Zaetsch, first mate;
Archie Fuller, second mate, all of Algonac;
Chief Engineer John Gibson;
Wheelman Jacob Plergis of Chicago;
Wheelman John Pappa of Cleveland;[7]
Watchman William Pitt of Midland, Ont.;
Watchman William Schluter, of Milwaukee;
Deckhands Louis Kramer and
Iver Carter, of Kenosha;
Fred Herman, deckhand, of Sheboygan, Mich.;
Frank Jankovits, deckhand, of Chicago;
William Rowert, oiler, of Carsonville, Mich.;
Howard Shook, oiler, of Au Sable, Mich.;
Fireman Standerslaw Klubozewski, of South Chicago;
Fireman Ernest Streek of Kenosha.
“The vessel carried a crew of 23.” (Evening News, Sault Ste. Marie, MI. “All Hope is Abandoned.” 5-25-1910, p. 1.)
May 28: “Detroit, Mich., May 28. — Instead of being completed, it was announced last night the government has but begun its investigation of the circumstances leading to the ramming of the steamer Frank H. Goodyear by the James Wood and the loss of nineteen lives on Lake Huron Monday.
“Capt. Gill Wescott, supervisor of the eighth district, yesterday instructed Inspectors W. W. Stewart and Frank Van Liew, of Port Hudson to continue investigations until the testimony of the entire crew of the Wood, all of the survivors, and that of the crew of th steamer Sir William Siemens, which was in the vicinity of the collision, is secured.
“The question of filing charges against individuals will depend on the findings of the Port Huron inspectors, who will exercise their functions of complainant, prosecutor and judge.” (Salt Lake Evening Telegram, UT. “Investigating Lake Huron Disaster.” 5-28-1910, p. 20.)
Sources
Baillod, Brendon. Great Lakes Shipwreck Research. “Great Lakes Shipwreck News & Rumor, Fall 2003.” Accessed 7-15-2018 at: http://www.ship-wreck.com/shipwreck/Fall2003.jsp
Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. Boston: Mariners Press Inc., 1972.
Escanaba Morning Press, MI. “Death List From Wreck Reaches a Total of Eighteen.” 5-26-1910, p. 1. Accessed 7-15-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/escanaba-daily-press-may-26-1910-p-1/
Evening News, Sault Ste. Marie, MI. “All Hope is Abandoned.” 5-25-1910, p. 1. Accessed 7-15-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/evening-news-may-25-1910-p-1/
Evening News, Sault Ste. Marie, MI. “Eighteen Rest in a Water Grave. Goodyear Went Down off Point Aux Barques, Lake Huron, Monday Morning.” 5-24-1910, p. 1. Accessed 7-15-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/evening-news-may-24-1910-p-1/
Oleszewski, Wes. Stormy Disasters: Great Lakes Shipwrecks. Gwinn, MI: Avery Color Studios, Inc., 2001.
Pearson’s Magazine. Vol. 24, No. 1, July 1910. Accessed 7-14-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=q4wxAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q=cowle&f=false
Petersburg Democrat, IN. “20 Die in Boat Crash.” 5-27-1910, p. 2. Accessed 7-15-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/petersburg-pike-county-democrat-may-27-1910-p-2/
Salt Lake Evening Telegram, UT. “Investigating Lake Huron Disaster.” 5-28-1910, p. 20. Accessed 7-15-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/salt-lake-telegram-may-28-1910-p-20/
Swayze, David D. Great Lakes Shipwrecks Beginning with the letter G. Accessed 7-15-2018 at: http://www.boatnerd.com/swayze/shipwreck/g.htm
Swayze, David D. Shipwreck! A Comprehensive Directory of Over 3,700 Shipwrecks on the Great Lake. Boyne City, MI: Harbor House Publications, Inc., 1992.
The Gazette, Cleveland, OH. “Epitome of a Week’s News,” 5-28-1910, p. 2. Accessed 7-15-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/cleveland-gazette-may-28-1910-p-2/
Thompson, Mark L. Graveyard of the Lakes. Detroit, MI: Wayne State University Press, 2004.
United States Bureau of Navigation, Department of Commerce and Labor. Forty-Second Annual List of Merchant Vessels of the United States…For the Year Ended June 30, 1910. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1910. Google preview accessed 7-14-2018 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=jcDQrscv2roC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=&f=false
United States Steamboat-Inspection Service. Annual Report of the Supervising Inspector General, Steamboat-Inspection Service to the Secretary of Commerce and Labor for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1910. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1910. 391 pages. Digitized by Google. Accessed at: http://books.google.com/books?id=JlgpAAAAYAAJ
[1] “The exact number of lives reported lost when the Goodyear went down varies from 16 to 23.” [Blanchard note: while we have noted a range of fatalities within early press reports, we find early reporting is not always reliable. Thus we do not use the number 23 in our own estimated range.]
[2] Writes that the Goodyear wreck was discovered in 2003.
[3] Most sources note 18 or 19 deaths, though two we have cited note 17, which is the number of names we have seen listed of those lost. Thus, not being able to discern the exact number, we choose to use the range of 17-19.
[4] Notes many were in the galley eating breakfast when Goodyear was hit by the James B. Wood (traveling at nearly full speed), going down four minutes later, sucking down others who were on the deck.
[5] Notes the loss of “18 members of the crew” which we presume includes the 3-year-old cook’s son, as passenger.
[6] Oleszewski notes that the cook, Frank Basset, had his wife, mother and three-year-old son onboard. (p. 156)
[7] John Papp. Escanaba Morning Press, MI. “Death List From Wreck Reaches a Total of Eighteen.” 5-26-1910, p. 1.