FRANK E VIGOR

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The Sir William Siemens, originally known as the William B. Pilkey and later renamed the Frank E. Vigor, was a bulk freighter that was built in 1896 at Cleveland, Ohio. Constructed by the Globe Iron Works, this vessel was made of steel and had a robust structure suitable for carrying bulk cargo across the Great Lakes.

The Sir William Siemens was initially owned by the Bessemer Steamship Co. and served as a reliable workhorse in their fleet. It was equipped with a powerful screw propulsion system, driven by a triple expansion engine with cylinders measuring 23 inches, 41 inches, and 66 inches in diameter. This impressive 2000 horsepower engine, built by the vessel’s constructor in 1896, propelled the ship through the water. The vessel was also equipped with four Scotch boilers measuring 11 feet 3 inches by 11 feet 3 inches.

With its dimensions of 412 feet in length, 48 feet in beam, and 28 feet in depth, the Sir William Siemens had a gross tonnage of 4344 and a net tonnage of 3293. These dimensions allowed the vessel to carry substantial amounts of cargo, making it an essential player in the transportation of bulk goods on the Great Lakes.

However, tragedy struck on April 27, 1944, when the Sir William Siemens met its final fate in Lake Erie. It sank as a result of a collision with the vessel Philip Minch, marking the end of its long and eventful journey.

Throughout its history, the Sir William Siemens underwent ownership changes and name modifications. In 1901, it came under the ownership of the Pittsburgh Steamship Co., a subsidiary of U.S. Steel, signifying its importance in the industrial transportation sector. In 1907, the vessel underwent an upgrade with the installation of two additional Scotch boilers, measuring 15 feet 4 1/2 inches by 11 feet 6 inches, built by the American Shipbuilding Co.

Further ownership changes occurred in subsequent years. In 1928, the Sir William Siemens was owned by the J.A. Paisley Steamship Co., and in 1929, it was renamed the William B. Pilkey. By 1934, it was under the ownership of Columbia Transportation, specifically Oglebay, Norton & Co., and was once again renamed, this time as the Frank E. Vigor.

The Sir William Siemens, throughout its various name changes and ownership transitions, played a crucial role in the transportation of bulk goods across the Great Lakes. Its sinking in 1944 marked the end of a vessel that had witnessed and contributed to the growth and development of the maritime industry in the region.