43°13′38″N86°20′44″W / 43.227167°N 86.345617°W /43.227167; -86.345617
 Henry Cort underway | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Pillsbury (1892-1896)[1]Henry Cort (1896-1934)[2] |
| Namesake | Henry Cort |
| Operator |
|
| Port of registry |  United States |
| Builder | American Steel Barge Company, Superior, Wisconsin |
| Yard number | 125 |
| Completed | 1892 |
| In service | 1892 |
| Identification | U.S. Registry #150587[2] |
| Fate | Ran aground after hitting theMuskegon breakwall on 30 November 1934 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Whaleback Freighter |
| Tonnage |
|
| Length | 320 ft (98 m)[2] |
| Beam | 38 ft (12 m)[2] |
| Height | 24 ft (7.3 m)[2] |
| Draft | 7.3 m |
| Installed power | 2 xScotch marine boilers |
| Propulsion | Triple expansion steam engine |
| Speed | 15 knots |
| Crew | 25 |
SSHenry Cort was a 320-foot (98 m) longwhalebackfreighter. It sank four times during its career;[3] finally running aground at Muskegon, Michigan in November, 1934. The ship broke apart over the winter and was scrapped in 1935.
TheHenry Cort was built by theAmerican Steel Barge Company. Her first frames were laid down on January 4, 1892 and, on June 25, 1892, she was launched as hull number #125. She had anoverall length of 335 feet (102 m), and she was 320 feet (98 m)between her perpendiculars, she had a beam of 42 feet (13 m) and her cargo hold was 25 feet (7.6 m) deep.[4] She had agross register tonnage of 2234.49 tons and she had anet register tonnage of 1571.65 tons.[4] She was powered by a 1,400 horsepowertriple expansion engine which was fueled by two coal-firedScotch marine boilers.[4]
Designed byCaptain Alexander McDougall to carrybulk cargoes likeiron ore orgrain economically around the Great Lakes. Whalebacks had a rather unique design. They had an unusual cylindrical, cigar shaped hull that when fully loaded resembled a whale's back.[5] Their hulls were built of heavy steel plates double-riveted to steel angle frames. They were the predecessors of the Doxfordturret deck ships of the late 19th and early 20th century, just like whalebacks they had a rounded hull, but unlike whalebacks they had a conventional bow, stern and superstructure.[6] A total of 44 whaleback vessels were constructed from 1888 to 1898, with most operating in the Great Lakes.[A]
ThePillsbury entered service on August 17, 1892. She was commissioned by the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Buffalo Steamship Company which was a subsidiary of the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railway or the Soo Line. Her homeport wasMarquette, Michigan. In 1896 thePillsbury was renamedHenry Cort[4]
On December 17, 1917, theCort was breaking ice near Colchester Reef onLake Erie when she was rammed by the larger steel freighterMidvale. She sank into thirty feet of water approximately 4½ miles from Colchester Reef. Her crew walked across the ice to theMidvale.[2] Her wreck was located on April 24, 1918 four miles from where she sank in seven feet of water. She was raised on September 22, 1918, the fourth attempt at raising her was successful, she was then towed toToledo, Ohio where she was to be rebuilt by theToledo Shipbuilding Company.[2] Later she was taken toConneaut, Ohio where she was rebuilt by the Pittsburgh & Conneaut Dock Company; her superstructure was rebuilt and flattened[3] so that a trunk deck could be added. On April 8, 1927, theCort was sold to the Lake Ports Shipping & Navigation Company ofDetroit, Michigan, she also had two new deck cranes installed by theAmerican Ship Building Company ofLorain, Ohio.[4] In March 1927 theCort stranded in Colchester Reef. She was abandoned to the underwriters as a constructive total loss, she was later sold and repaired.[2] In 1933 theCort's hull was punctured by ice in theDetroit River; she sank while she was tied up at theNicholson Transit Company's dock inEcorse, Michigan.[2]
On 30 November 1934,Henry Cort ran aground, hitting the north side of theMuskegon channel breakwater inMuskegon[9] after encountering a gale with up to 45 mph winds. TheUS Coast GuardcutterEscanaba that went to investigate the stricken steamer helped all 25 crew members to safety. One of the Coast Guard crew members died after being washed overboard. Many people on shore watched as the Coast Guard shot a line to theCort and all members of the crew climbed down from the ship. The ship was broken in two by December storms, and was declared a total loss. The vessel was scrapped in 1935.[10]
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Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1933 | |
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Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1934 | |
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