 TheCity of Everett under construction | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | City of Everett |
| Builder | Everett Shipyards |
| Launched | 1894 |
| Out of service | 1923 |
| Fate | foundered in Gulf of Mexico 1923 |
| General characteristics | |
| Length | 346 ft (105 m) |
| Beam | 42 ft (13 m) |
| Height | 13.58 ft (4.14 m) |
| Notes | only whaleback to travel in theSuez Canal[1] |
SSCity of Everett was an importantwhaleback steamship. She sailed from 1894 until 1923, and was the first U.S. steamship to pass through theSuez Canal, as well as the first to circumnavigate the globe.[2] Her radio call letters were GF and her signal letters KMCQ.
In the 1890s,Alexander McDougall, the originator of the whaleback ship design, wanted to build ships inWashington, on the Pacific Coast. His steamerSS Charles W. Wetmore (1891 – 265 ft) became the first lake vessel to leave theGreat Lakes when she took a load of grain from Duluth to Liverpool, England, shooting the St. Lawrence rapids in the process.Wetmore was sent aroundCape Horn with a load of supplies for the establishment of a shipbuilding colony nearEverett, Washington. From parts she carried, theCity of Everett was built, commissioned in 1894. Intended to be the first of a line of whaleback ships built out of the facility in Everett, changing fortunes resulted in her being the only ship produced there by McDougall's ill-fated company.
The unarmed steamer “captured” the City ofMalaga, Spain, when it entered the harbor seeking fresh water, which occasioned a surrender by the city’s inhabitants during theSpanish–American War.[1]
On 8 September 1902,City of Everett suffered an explosion while loading atPort Arthur, Texas. Her captain, a mate, and several crew members were seriously injured; the resulting fire engulfed not only the ship, but also destroyed the docks and wharves of the Texas Company (later known asTexaco).[3]
In January 1905,City of Everett collided with the Norwegian steam freighterLeif Eriksson north ofCharleston, South Carolina.Leif Eriksson took on water through a deep gash in her hull, and sank in less than 10 minutes with the loss of two lives.[4]
NearNantucket on 23 January 1909,City of Everett heard adistress signal from theRMSRepublic, which was taking on water following a collision. Captain Thomas Fenlon of theCity of Everett twice offered his ship's considerable pumping and towing abilities, but with assistance reportedly on the way from theWhite Star Line,Republic declined.[5] Fog delayed tugs of the White Star Line, and towing efforts by the smaller US Coast Guard cutterGresham failed.Republic sank the next day. Newspapers at the time reported that if the White Star Line had been successful in recovering theRepublic with company ships, instead of using a third-party salvor, it could have recouped some of its salvage expenses from the owners of the recovered cargo aboard theRepublic.[6] The inference was thatRepublic's captain had refused aid merely to prevent another company from sharing the salvage award if the ship were to be saved.Everett's Captain Fenlon maintained that, asRepublic had remained afloat until the day after the collision, she could have been saved if she had accepted a tow fromCity of Everett, stating that his boat was "built for ocean towing" and was equipped with "tremendously powerful machinery and towing cables seven inches (178 mm) in diameter", as well as pumps with a capacity of "two million gallons an hour".[5]
While carryingmolasses fromSantiago, Cuba toNew Orleans on11 October 1923,City of Everettfoundered in theGulf of Mexico. All 26 people on board died in the sinking.[2][7]
On September 11, 2010, divers from the Association of Underwater Explorers,Michael Barnette and Joe Citelli, believed they had identified the wreck of theCity of Everett resting in approximately 400 feet (120 m) of sea water 120 nautical miles (220 km) off Florida in the Gulf of Mexico.[8][9]
It was later discovered that this was in fact the steamerMunisla, identified by an engine plaque's serial number, found on a later dive by the team.[1]
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1923 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents |
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