 TheLakeland when she was namedCambria | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name |
|
| Operator | Tri-State Steamship Company |
| Builder | Globe Iron Works Company |
| Yard number | 12 |
| Launched | February 1, 1887 |
| In service | June 1, 1887 |
| Out of service | December 3, 1924 |
| Identification | U.S. Registry #126420[1] |
| Fate | Sank onLake Michigan |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Bulk Freighter |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 300.6 feet (91.6 m)[1] |
| Beam | 39 feet (12 m)[1] |
| Depth | 24 feet (7.3 m)[2] |
| Installed power | 2 ×Scotch marine boilers |
| Propulsion | 1,200 horsepowertriple expansion steam engine |
LAKELAND (steam screw) Shipwreck | |
   | |
| Location | Door County, Wisconsin |
| Nearest city | Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin |
| Coordinates | 44°47.34′N87°11.32′W / 44.78900°N 87.18867°W /44.78900; -87.18867 |
| Built | 1887 |
| Architect | Globe Iron Works Company |
| Architectural style | Freighter |
| MPS | Great Lakes Shipwreck Sites of Wisconsin MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 15000403[3][4] |
| Added to NRHP | July 7, 2015 |
TheSSLakeland was an early steel-hulledGreat Lakes freighter that sank on December 3, 1924, into 205 feet (62 m) of water onLake Michigan nearSturgeon Bay,Door County, Wisconsin, United States, after she sprang a leak. On July 7, 2015, the wreck of theLakeland was added to theNational Register of Historic Places.[5]
TheLakeland (official number 126420) was built in 1887 inCleveland, Ohio, by the Globe Iron Works Company as the first generation steelGreat Lakes freighterCambria.[6] She was originally built for the Mutual Transportation Company which was controlled by the Federal Steel Company that was owned byElbert H. Gary.[2] She had anoverall length of 300.6 feet (91.6 m), which made her the first 300-foot vessel on the lakes;[6] she also had a length of 280 feet (85 m)between her perpendiculars, her beam was 39 feet (12 m) wide and her cargo hold was 24 feet (7.3 m) deep.[2] She was powered by a 1,200 horsepowertriple expansion steam engine which was fueled by two coal burningScotch marine boilers. She had agross tonnage of 1878.10 tons and anet tonnage of 1377.33 tons.[2]
TheCambria was launched in Cleveland on February 1, 1887, as hull number #12.[2] At the time of her construction she was only the second lake freighter built by Globe Iron Works Company to have a steel hull. She was also the first lake freighter equipped with a triple expansion steam engine.[5] She was used to haulbulk cargoes such asiron ore,coal,grain,salt and laterautomobiles.[5]
In June 1888 theCambria ran aground two miles (3.2 km) southwest ofPeninsula Point Light onLake Michigan with a cargo of iron ore weighing 2,334 tons. The grounding tore a hole in her hull.[6]
In 1910 theCambria was taken to the Milwaukee Dry Dock Company to be converted to a passenger vessel, but the Milwaukee Dry Dock Company was unable to complete the conversion. Eventually the wrecking tugFavorite towed her to Cleveland for the conversion to be finished.[6]
In May 1910 she was renamedLakeland. In September 1910 theLakeland collided with the steam bargeJohn Smeaton in theSt. Marys River.[6] She ran aground after the collision. In early 1920 theLakeland was converted from a passenger ship to an automobile carrying vessel.[6]
TheLakeland did not sail for the 1923 season because she had a major overhaul.[6] She had her boiler room moved; she also had a brand newwatertight bulkhead installed. The other new things included two newScotch marine boilers, and a newpilothouse. She also had herballast pump repaired, and several cracked frames replaced.[6] In the fall of 1924 theLakeland went into a dry dock inDetroit, Michigan, to have a twisted rudder stock repaired; the inspectors also examined her entire hull and her rudder.[6]
On December 3, 1924, theLakeland was sailing in calm conditions across Lake Michigan fromChicago, Illinois, toDetroit, Michigan, with a cargo of 22Nash andKissel, and 1Rollin automobile in her hold. She had been experiencing some minor leakage, but it was manageable. At around 11:30A.M., theLakeland sprang a serious leak. When her crew discovered the leak, they tried to keep the water out of her hull by turning her pumps to their full speed; but eventually the leak got so bad that Captain John McNeely was forced to turn theLakeland around in an effort to reach shallow water.[7] When theLakeland was about 9 miles from shore it became obvious that the effort to keep her afloat was futile. Some of her crew abandoned ship via the lifeboats. Eventually theAnn Arbor No.6 came alongside theLakeland, but Captain McNeely allegedly refused a tow from her.[8] By the time the coast guard arrived, theLakeland was listing to port at a dangerous angle. Eventually Captain Robert Anderson ordered the remaining men on theLakeland to climb onto his cutter. Meanwhile, the steamerSignus stood by.[7] TheLakeland sank stern first and broke in two. Her lights flickered until her deck disappeared beneath the surface.[7]
As she sank, the radio operator on theAnn Arbor No.6, Elliot Jacobson took some photographs of her.[9]
In mid-1925 the insurance company that owed theLakeland's owners $450,000 started a search for her wreck to investigate the circumstances of her loss. Eventually the fishing tugsAlbert C. and theFour Brothers discovered her wreck. Technical divers using new helium and oxygen technology were the first people to dive the wreck; this was also the first time mixed gas diving suits were put to a practical test on the lakes. The divers made several dives from the deck of the steam bargeChittendon. They made the discovery that all of theLakeland'sseacocks had been opened prior to her sinking.[7]
The Thompson Transportation Company, the company that owned theLakeland was taken to court by sixteen insurance companies; the insurance companies tried to prove that theLakeland's captain scuttled her because of financial problems the Thompson Transportation Company was having. The case of her sinking went to court twice, but the insurance companies made a third attempt to take the case to court: eventually the findings went to theLakeland's owners. It is believed that eventually the insurance companies came to an out of court agreement with the owners of theLakeland.[7]
The wreck of theLakeland was rediscovered in 1960. She rests upright, in 205 feet (62 m) of water. Her steel hull is almost broken in two aft of the cargo elevator, and her wooden deckhouses are missing. This is because when she sank, the air that trapped in the upper deck structures pulled the wooden deck houses off her hull. The passenger deck on her bow has several cracks which allow divers to access her interior.[10] In the 1970s a 1924Rollin car was salvaged, but problems that occurred while salvaging led to the car being taken to a scrapyard. Another artifact that was retrieved was theLakeland's brass steam whistle which is on display in theDoor County Maritime Museum. Her anchor was also salvaged. There are stillNash andKissel automobiles in her hold.[10] Close by are the wrecks of several other ships including the large wooden bulk carriersAustralasia and theFrank O'Connor, the wooden steamerLouisiana which was lost during theGreat Lakes Storm of 1913, the schoonerChristina Nilsson and the steamboatJoys.
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1924 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents |
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