History of the George J. Whelan (1910-1930)

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Photo of Erwin J. Fisher. Source: Great Lakes Vessels Database, Historical Collections of the Great lakes, Bowling Green State University.

The Whelan Originally Sailed Under the Name, "Erwin L. Fisher"

History
As ERWIN L. FISHER: Sunk in collision with steamer S.L. (or S.M.) CLEMENT [later Peavey Pioneer]., May 4, 1911, between Grassy Island and Mamajuda Light, Detroit River. Raised by Great Lakes Towing Co. and placed back in service.
Sunk again on lakes in 1915, raised and soon after went to salt for World War I effort. Mined or torpedoed in 1918. Raised, rebuilt, and eventually returned to service on the East Coast, USA before returning to the Great Lakes in 1922 as BAYERSHER.
In 1930, purchased by Kelley Island Lime & Transport Co., Sandusky, Ohio and rebuilt to a sandsucker and renamed the GEORGE J. WHELAN. On first her trip, her stone cargo shifted during a squall causing her to capsize and sink on 7/29/1930, 6 miles off Dunkirk, New York. Six crew members were rescued by the steamer AMASA STONE. Fifteen crew members died. Many of which were reported to have been in the holds attempting to redistribute the stone cargo in an attempt to right the ship. 
After being lost for over 75 years, with the assistance of the latest side scan sonar equipment, her wreckage was discovered, on October 12, 2005 by Gary Kozak and Jim Herbert. Photos from the first dives on the site are posted at: http://www.n2junkie.com/whelan.htm.

 

Registry & Rig Information
Vessel Name: ERWIN L. FISHER Nationality: U.S.
Official Number: 207617 Rig: Propeller

 

Dimensions & Tonnage
  Gross Tonnage: 1184 US [1074 Metric]
Vessel Width: 40 ft [12.2m] Net Tonnage: 805 US [731 Metric]
Vessel Height: 15.25 ft [4.6m] Hull Material: Steel
Masts: Hull Number: 00117

 
Builder Information
Place of Build: Toledo, OH
Builder: Toledo Shipbuilding Co. (Craig Shipbuilding Co)
Date of Build: 1910
Notes: Designed for the lumber trade.

 
Name Changes
Vessel Name: Date: Registry Official #
BAYERSHER 1916 - 1921 U.K. 140270
PORT DE CAEN 1921 - 1921 FRANCE  
BAYERSHER 1921 - 1923 CANADA 140270
CLAREMONT 1923 - 1930 CANADA 140270
WHELAN, GEORGE J. 1930 - 1930 U.S. 207617

 
Ownership Changes
Owner Name Date Registry Official #
Argo Steamship Co. (E.L. Fisher, Mgr.)
Cleveland, OH U.S.
1910 - 1916 U.S. 207617
Lake Transportation Co.
Cleveland, OH U.S.
1916 - 1916 U.S. 207617
Bay Steamship Co., Ltd.
London, Great Britain
1916 - 1921 U.K. 140270
French Government
Havre, France
1921 - 1921 FRANCE  
Interlake Steam Navigation Co., Ltd.
Montreal, Quebec Canada
1921 - 1923 CANADA 140270
Robert S. Misener
Sarnia, Ont. Canada
1923 - 1930 CANADA 140270
Kelley Island Lime & Transportation Co.
Sandusky, OH U.S.
1930 - 1930 U.S. 207617

 
Rebuild History
Tonnage change, 1916 (1320 gross - 855 net). Tonnage change, 1921 (1430 gross - 830 net). Converted to sand dredge, 1930 (1293 gross - 795 net).

 
Disposition
On first trip as sand dredge, foundered six miles north of Dunkirk, NY, Lake Erie, on July 29, 1930; fifteen lives lost. Six crew members rescued by AMASA STONE.

 
References
Great Lakes Vessels Database, Historical Collections of the Great lakes, Bowling Green State University

Catalog of Public Libraries in Milwaukee County, Milwaukee Public Library: Milwaukee, WI

"Ship of the Month No. 13: Overland, Simon Langell, and Claremont -- The early Days of the Minster Fleet", The Scanner (Feb. 1970), Monthly News Bulletin of the Toronto Marine Historical Society

"Sand Boat Founders in Midnight Storm", The Buffalo Evening News, July 29, 1930.

http://www.alcheminc.com/east.html

http://www.boatnerd.com/swayze/shipwreck/w.htm