1936 — July 29, barge Material Service sinks, Lake Michigan storm, off South Chicago, IN –15

–15 Blanchard.*

–16 Hammond Times, IN. “Lake Michigan Takes Sixteen Lives Today.” 7-29-1936, p. 2.
–16 NOAA Office Nat. Marine Sanctuaries. Screening Level Risk Assess.…Material Service, 2013, p5.
–15 AP, “Funeral Services for Lake Victims Held.” Manitowoc Herald-Times, WI, 8-3-1936, 2.
–15 Door County Advocate, Sturgeon Bay, WI. “Mate Blamed for Barge’s Disaster.” 10-16-1936, 1.
–15 Freeport Journal-Standard, IL. “Mate of Sunken Barge Ordered to Stand Trial,” 10-10-1936, p1.
–15 Hammond Times, IN. “7 Corpses are Recovered From Sunken Vessel.” 7-31-1936, p. 1.
–15 Hammond Times, IN. “L.C. Officials Await Result of U.S. Probe.” 7-30-1936, p. 1.
–15 Hammond Times, IN. “Lone Reminder of Death Ship in Lake Michigan.” 7-31-1936, p. 1.
–15 Long. “Lake Disaster…is Recalled by an Old-Timer.” Sheboygan Press, WI. 8-4-1936, p.2.
–15 Manitowoc Herald-Times, WI. “More Bodies of Lake Tragedy are Recovered.” 8-1-1936, 9.
–15 Mansfield News-Journal, OH. “Blame Captain in Ship Mishap.” 8-7-1936, p. 4.
–15 Sheboygan Press, WI. “Charged Admitted by First Mate.” 10-22-1936, p. 27, col. 2.
–15 Sheboygan Press, WI. “Chronology Tells Story of Sheboygan During Year…” 12-31-1936, p12.
–15 Swayze. Shipwreck!…Directory…Shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. 1992, p. 146.
–15 The Pointer, Riverdale IL. “Round About Illinois.” 8-21-1936, p. 5.
–15 True Republican, Sycamore, IL. “State Drowning List is Growing.” 8-15-1936, p. 2.
–15 UP. “15 Drown, Seven Escape as Lake Barge Sinks.” Wisc. State Journal, Madison, 7-29-1936, 1.
–15 Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso, IN. “‘Round About.” 10-6-1936, p. 4, col. 5.
–14 Alton Evening Telegraph, IL. “Mate Cited in Barge’s Sinking.” 10-9-1936, p. 1.

*Blanchard: In that a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration document notes sixteen deaths, as well as one day-of-event newspaper, we did a word search in a newspaper archive through the end of the year (last paper looked at was Dec 31). We found names of fifteen victims, and found no other accounts of sixteen deaths. We speculate that the writer of the NOAA report did not have information not at our disposal, but rather, may well have simply used the number of deaths noted in many newspapers on July 29.

Narrative Information

NOAA: “Her final voyage was on July 28, 1936, her 114th trip. She began loading sand at 12:47 pm, and completed loading at 5:15 pm. She departed from Lockport at 5:31 pm with a full cargo of 2,400 tons of sand. It was only a few hours from Lockport to the 92nd yard, and the A-Frame was kept erect. Just past midnight on the 29th the lake began to get choppy. Captain Charles D. Brown was on duty, piloting the Material Service towards Calumet Harbor, the entrance to the Calumet River. The lake was rough, and water had been splashing over the deck and hold covers for some time. The ship was in no apparent danger, so Captain Brown decided that there was no need to make the steel hold covers watertight with tarpaulins. These were kept handy in order to cover forty-eight 8″ holes that were cut in the hold hatches to speed up the loading of sand.

“Most of the crew of 22 were asleep in their berths. Below decks, 3rd assistant engineer Joseph Change noticed an unusual amount of water in the bilges. Within five minutes this rose over two feet. The 3″ and 6″ pumps were put into action, but could not keep up with the influx of water. Change went to wake the chief engineer and arrange for the main pump to be utilized (this involved employing one on the ships engines). On his way the ship suddenly lurched to port. The Material Service was five minutes away from Calumet Harbor, when a wave washed over her decks, causing the lurch to port felt throughout the ship.

“John M. Johnson, the first mate, reported that Captain Brown stated ‘Jack, we’re going over’. The ship jerked upright. Asleep in his bunk, deck hand Alfred Melby was wakened by a jolt to the shouts of ‘we’re sinking!’ Melby and six other sailors raced up the ladder leading to the deck. Clutching a life-vest, he was the last to flee. Melby was pulled under by the suction of the sinking ship, the lake ‘swallowing him up’. He credited the life-vest with saving his life. In the pilot house, Johnson grabbed the captain’s arm to help steady him, but lost his hold. In a pendulum motion, the deck swung almost vertical, starboard and port becoming up and down. Johnson and Brown were thrown into Lake Michigan. In under a minute the Material Service was gone.

“The upright A-frame and bow light staff were visible above the surface, mute tombstones of steel that marked the graves of Captain Brown, the Chief Engineer and 14 others. Many were trapped in their berths or pulled under by suction. Change, Johnson and Melby were counted among the seven survivors….The disaster was eventually blamed on water entering the holds, and possibly on the erect A-Frame making the ship top heavy (the added see-sawing motion could have added to the water entry)….” (NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. Screening Level Risk Assessment Package, Material Service. March 2013, pp. 4-5.)

Newspapers

July 29: “Chicago, July 29. — (INS) – The Material Service, a large sand boat with 23 men aboard, capsized and sank in a heavy sea in Lake Michigan off 96th street on the south side early today. Seven of the crew were rescued as they clung to bits of wreckage but little hope was held for the lives of the other 16.

“The disaster occurred about four miles off shore as the 160-foot boat was enroute to the South Chicago harbor with a load of sand.

“Capt. E. E. Brown was in command of the ship and was among the missing. First Mate Al Johnson was one of those saved.

“Survivors were too exhausted to give a coherent account of what made the boat capsize as coast guardsmen explained it would ordinarily be deemed seaworthy under present conditions.” (Hammond Times, IN. “Lake Michigan Takes Sixteen Lives Today.” 7-29-1936, p. 2.)

July 29: “By United Press. Chicago – Fifteen sailors drowned in Lake Michigan today when their heavily loaded sand-barge, the Material Service, capsized and sank. Owners of the barge said 22 men were on board when the barge left Lockport, Ill., Tuesday with 2,000 tons of sand for the company docks at South Chicago. Seven were known to have escaped from the barge as it plunged to the bottom. ‘All the others must have drowned,’ said Capt. Albert Gross of the South Chicago coast guard station. ‘I figured 15 of them. I don’t know how they could have escaped, and we would have found them before now if they were alive.”

“First Assistant Engineer John Palme4r of Lockport missed the boat. He was believed drowned until he telephoned friends ‘Thank God I missed her.’

“The survivors:

John Johnson, Chicago, first mate.
Elton Washburne, Sturgeon Bay, Wis., handy man.
Herbert Larson, Chicago, scrapper.
Joseph Change, Chicago, third assistant engineer.
Joseph Weber, Sturgeon Bay, Wis., second assistant engineer.
Holgar Hanson, Lockport, wheelman.
Alfred Melby, Chicago, deck-hand.

“The missing:

Capt. Charles D. Brown, Port Huron, Mich.
Melvin Tufts, Lockport, Ill., mate.
John Melby, Chicago, wheelman.
Carl Brown, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., deckhand.
Elmer Bergein, Chicago, deck-hand.
Fred Samuelson, Chicago, deckhand.
Leif Olson, Lockport, scrapper.
Elmer Bergland, Lockport, boom man.
Dan Hanson, Sturgeon Bay, Wis., oiler.
Harry Mauer, Lockport, oiler.
Charles Bergstead, Chicago, oiler.
Marshall Oberlin. Lockport, assistant cook.
Tony Catsi, Lockport, cook.
Odin Johnson, Lemont, Ill., chief engineer.
A new hand, identified only as ‘Mickey.’

“The barge was less than a mile off shore when it sank. She had been laboring in heavy seas for more than an hour, the survivors said, but the disaster came with only a few seconds warning.

“‘I was on deck with Capt. Brown, when I felt her list heavily,’ John Johnson said. ‘She started to turn over, and I grabbed the captain’s arm just as we were thrown into the water. ‘We both sank when we hit the water, and which I came up the captain was missing.’

“The barge apparently struck bottom heavily, and broke up. Pieces of wreckage bobbed to the surface with the men who were thrown free.

“Johnson, Change, Weber, Larson and Washburn snatched at the timbers that floated around them, and succeeded in staying afloat despite the churning waves. The heavy inshore wind swept them to the foot of the South Chicago lighthouse.

“The cutter Rush removed Change, Weber, Washburn, Johnson and Larson from the lighthouse breakwater and took them to a hospital. On its way in it picked up Alfred Melby and Hanson, whe were being washed ashore on pieces of wreckage.” (United Press. “15 Drown, Seven Escape as Lake Barge Sinks.” Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, 7-29-1936, 1.)

July 30: “Chicago, July 30. – (INS) – Federal and state investigations were underway today into the sinking of the S. S. Material Service, which claimed fifteen lives in Lake Michigan early yesterday.

“The seven surviving members of the crew on the ill-fated sand barge, were unable to offer any definite reason for its sudden plunge to the bottom in the choppy waters near the South Chicago lighthouse.

“It the waves have subsided sufficiently today divers will be sent down to recover the bodies of the victims, most of whom are believed to have been trapped in their bunks below deck.

“The Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation opened its inquiry into the tragedy at the United States courthouse here last evening with the questioning of Joseph Weber, second engineer, from Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

“About 1 a.m. Weber said he had noticed the bilge water rising rapidly below the engine room and put two pumps to work. He said he had started out to ask the mate’s permission to use also the main cargo pump, the engine of which was in use to help propel the ship. Before he could reach the pilot house, however, the long, low-slung barge listed suddenly and he was thrown into the water. The boat sank, he said, within a minute or two.

“From his statements, it was considered that the heavy seas had sprung some of the motorship’s plates, allowing enough water in to unbalance the 2,000-ton cargo of sand and gravel. A large wave then might have caused the cargo shift and the sudden list which preceded the sinking.

“A number of other theories were also brought forward however. Among these were that the hatches might have become loosened allowing considerable water into the hold as the boat shipped heavy waves; or that the bottom plates were cracked when the boat struck bottom in the trough of a particularly deep wave. This latter possibility was discounted by Weber, who said he had felt no shock.

“Lake county, Indiana, officials, who have jurisdiction over the waters in which the boat sank, were awaiting results of the federal probe and recovery of the bodies before opening an inquest and proceeding with their investigation. The inquest will be held at Hammond.” (Hammond Times, IN. “L.C. Officials Await Result of U.S. Probe.” 7-30-1936, p. 1.)

July 31: “Seven bodies on the ill-fated gravel boat, Material Service, which sank early Wednesday morning had been recovered up to noon today with the probability that the eight remaining bodies will be brought to the surface before the day is over.

“Two government divers who have been working since the accident were able to force open the iron door of the hold, and without any aid from above took the one body to the shore where the South Chicago police took charge of it.

“With the aid of a government coast guard cutter, the divers returned and within an hour had six more bodies to the surface. All seven bodies were taken from the government statin under the care of Deputy Coroner Andrew Hofmann of Hammond who is in charge of the investigation of the accident.

“The seven bodies were taken by a police patrol wagon and the Emmerling’s funeral car to the Emmerling funeral home.

“The bodies are not recognizable by facial markings because of the long exposure to the water. Relatives and friends of the dead seamen were anxiously awaiting any possible identification of the bodies.

“The deputy coroner as yet, has not set any definite time for an inquest. He said today that all the seamen and others who had made statements at the federal inquiry would be subpoenaed to testify at the Hammond inquest as soon as he was convinced that the last body had been recovered. Statements made at the U.S. hearing would be of no avail here because the men all refused to sigh the papers after telling their versions of the sinking of the ship.” (Hammond Times, IN. “7 Corpses are Recovered From Sunken Vessel.” 7-31-1936, p. 1.)

July 31: [Text below photo.] “A single spar sticks up out of Lake Michigan two miles off Hammond’s shore to mark the shop where the motor barge Material Service sank during a heavy sea. Fifteen of the crew of 22, including the captain, were drowned. Chicago skyline can be seen in background. (Central Press Soundphoto).” (Hammond Times, IN. “Lone Reminder of Death Ship in Lake Michigan.” 7-31-1936, p. 1.)

Aug 1: “Chicago. (AP) – the body of Capt. Charles D. Brown of Port Huron, Mich., skipper of the sand boat Material Service which sank in Lake Michigan Wednesday with a loss of 15 lives, was found floating near the scene of the tragedy today.

“Bodies of three other victims also were recovered, bringing the total to 13. Two of the bodies had not been identified.

“Bodies identified by relatives or other members of the crew were those of: [we break into lines]

Melvin Tufts, 34, second mate, [Buried Aug 3 at Sturgeon Bay, WI.]
Leif Olson, 32, sand scrapper. [Buried Aug 3 at Sturgeon Bay, WI.]
Anthony Casty [or Catlic ], 45, first cook, and
Elmer Bergsland, 28, boom-man, all of Lockport, Ill; [Buried Aug 3 at Sturgeon Bay, WI.]
Michael McEvoy, 27, deckhand,
Charles Bergstead, 30, an oiler;
John Melby, 47, a wheelsman and
Fred Samuelson, 29, watchman, all of Chicago;
Darwin Hansen [or Hanson ], 47, wheelsman, of Sturgeon Bay, Wis., [Buried Aug 3.]
Capt. Brown,
Carl Brown, deckhand, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.”

(Manitowoc Herald-Times, WI. “More Bodies of Lake Tragedy Are Recovered.” 8-1-1936, p. 9.)

Aug 2: Harry Mauer, of Lockport, IL, is listed as among the identified dead. (United Press. “Sunken Vessel Can Be Salvaged, Claim.” Telegraph-Herald, Dubuque, IA, 8-2-1936, p. 9.)

Aug 7: “Rumor around the city last week had it that one of the members of he ill-fated Material Service which sunk in Lake Michigan was a former Harvey resident, but investigation revealed that this was not true. One of the crew, Harry Meurer, however, was a former resident of Steger and is reputed to have been well known in Chicago Heights. Meurer had been an oiler on the barge for several years, during which time he made his home in Lockport. He, in company with his wife and two children had visited relatives in Steger the previous week-end, and had returned to work just one day before the tragedy.” (Harvey Tribune, IL. “Former Steger Man Dies in Lake Tragedy.” 8-7-1936, p. 1, col. 7.)

Aug 7: “Chicago – (AP) – Capt. William Nicholas, one of the federal officials conducting the investigation into the sinking of the sand barge Material Service with the loss of 15 lives, said that in his opinion the fault of the disaster ‘lies with Capt. Charles D. Brown for failure to order the hatches battened down.’

“After hearing three witnesses at the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation Inquiry, Captain Nicholas said he believed the sinking of the vessel was caused by water going down the hatches.

“Captain Brown was believed to have gone down with his ship in the rough waters of Lake Michigan two miles out from the Illinois-Indiana border.

“Captain Nicholas said that witnesses testified the tarpaulins were not fastened over the hatches and cater could have leaked into the boat through the steel plate covers. He said he believed the water could have gone through the hatches in the cargo and through a tunnel to the port side, causing the ship to list.

“The sinking was so sudden that it was impossible to warn seamen asleep below deck, First Mate John M. Johnson, one of the seven survivors, told investigators.” (Mansfield News-Journal, OH. “Blame Captain in Ship Mishap.” 8-7-1936, p. 4.)

Aug 14: “Chicago, Aug. 14. – Raising of the gravel barge, Material Service, which sank July 29 off Calumet lighthouse with loss of fifteen lives, will probably begin next week, resulting, it is believed, in recovery of two still missing bodies, federal steamboat inspectors said yesterday.” (The Pointer, Riverdale IL. “Round About Illinois.” 8-21-1936, p. 5.)

Sep 2: “State police today were attempting to learn if the body washed ashore Sunday night at the Dunes State park beach in north Porter county was that of one of the men who went down with the lake steamer, Material Service off the South Chicago harbor in July. The fact that the body was clothed only in a pair of shorts led to the theory that it might be that of one of the men who were trapped in their bunks below deck when the boat suddenly rammed a sandbar [sic] and sank in the early morning. Several [two] of the members of the crew are still missing.” (Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso, IN. “Lake Body May be from Ship Sunk in July.” 9-2-1936, p. 2.)

Oct 6: “The body of Herbert Johnson, chief engineer on the ill-fated barge Material Service, which sank July 29 off of 89th street in Indiana waters in Lake Michigan, was recovered by divers Monday [Oct 5], it was announced by Deputy Coroner Andrew A. Hofmann of Lake county. Johnson’s body was the 14th recovered of the 15 who drowned when the barge sank with a load of gravel and sand. Hofmann said only the body of Joseph Oberlin, another of the sailors, remains in the submerged barge.” (Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso, IN. “‘Round About.” 10-6-1936, p. 4, col. 5.)

Oct 9: “Cleveland, O., Oct. 9, (AP) – Captain A. A. Morrison of the U.S. Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation announced today that John M. Johnsen, Chicago, first mate of the motor vessel Material Service, has been found guilty of negligence, unskillfulness, and inattention to his duties as a result of the sinking of that ship last June [sic; July 29]. He has been cited for trial Oct. 21 at Chicago. Johnsen is 44 years old. Trial will be conducted under the rules of the Bureau before local inspectors.

“The Material Service, a sand and gravel carrier, while running from Lockport, Ill., to South Chicago foundered in rough seas as she was approaching the Chicago breakwall. Her captain and 13 [sic; 14] members of the crew perished.” (Alton Evening Telegraph, IL. “Mate Cited in Barge’s Sinking.” 10-9-1936, p. 1.)

Oct 22: “Chicago. – (AP) – A plea of guilty to charges of negligence, inattention to duty and unskillfulness was entered before the board of federal steamboat inspectors by John M. Johnson, former first mate on the Material Service motorship, which sank July 29 off Calumet Harbor with a loss of 15 lives. The pleas was under advisement today by Captains Edward J. Fitzgerald and William Nicholas, members of the board. Punishment for conviction, Capt. Fitzgerald said, would be suspension or revocation of Johnson’s license as captain or first mate.” (Sheboygan Press, WI. “Charged Admitted by First Mate.” 10-22-1936, p. 27, col. 2.)

Sources

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Associated Press, “Funeral Services for Lake Victims Held.” Manitowoc Herald-Times, WI, 8-3-1936, p. 2. Accessed 12-8-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/manitowoc-herald-times-aug-03-1936-p-2/

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