History
On October 20, 1916, Lake Erie bore witness to one of its most devastating maritime tragedies, an event forever etched in history as “Black Friday.” Among the victims of this ferocious storm was the JAMES B. COLGATE, a whaleback steamer with a storied past. This is the comprehensive history of the vessel and its tragic sinking.
Built in West Superior, Wisconsin, by the American Steel Barge Company, the JAMES B. COLGATE was launched on September 21, 1892. This steel whaleback freighter was a remarkable feat of engineering, measuring 308 feet in length, with a beam of 38 feet, and a depth of 24 feet. It had a tonnage of 1,713 tons and could carry a substantial cargo.
The JAMES B. COLGATE spent most of its operational life under various fleets, including the American Steel Barge Company, Bessemer Steamship Company, Pittsburgh Steamship Company, and Standard Transit. Its impressive design, characterized by a long, narrow hull, rounded sides, a blunt bow, and a flat bottom, was intended to allow waves to wash over the deck with minimal resistance to wind and water. It was the first of its kind, known as a “whaleback,” to navigate the Great Lakes.
On the morning of October 20, 1916, the JAMES B. COLGATE set sail from Buffalo, New York, carrying a cargo of hard coal destined for Fort William, Ontario (now Thunder Bay). The vessel embarked on what would tragically become its final voyage, oblivious to the impending catastrophe. A stiff breeze and choppy waters marked the early stages of the journey. The weather bureau predicted a 60-mile gale before sundown, but the ship pressed on, confident in its capacity to withstand the elements.
As the JAMES B. COLGATE crossed Lake Erie, the gale-force winds intensified, and the vessel was relentlessly pounded by towering waves. The ship’s cargo hold began to take on water, and the pumps struggled to keep up with the relentless inflow. Without radio communications and with no means to launch lifeboats, the crew faced a dire situation. The vessel developed a list, and within hours, it met its tragic fate, sliding bow-first to the bottom of Lake Erie.
Amid the chaos and frigid waters, only one member of the 26-man crew survived: Captain Walter Grashaw. He had been aboard the JAMES B. COLGATE for a decade, serving as the first mate until a week before the voyage when he was promoted to captain. With only one lifeboat on board, the crew had to rely on life preservers, which proved ineffective in the violent storm. Clinging to a small life raft with two others, Captain Grashaw endured a harrowing night as the waves tossed their fragile craft. By morning, he was the sole survivor.
The sinking of the JAMES B. COLGATE was just one tragic chapter of “Black Friday.” Three other ships—the D.L. FILER, MARSHALL F. BUTTERS, and MERIDA—also succumbed to the storm, resulting in a total loss of 49 lives. It was one of the worst disasters Lake Erie had ever witnessed, a day forever etched in maritime history.
In 1991, divers located the remains of the JAMES B. COLGATE resting upside down, some 12 miles southwest of Erieau, Ontario. The vessel that had sailed for nearly 24 years met its final resting place on that fateful “Black Friday,” a day of tragedy and remembrance.
Sources and References
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- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
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- Stone, Dave. Long Point: Last Port of Call. Ontario: The Boston Mills Press, 1988
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- Stonehouse, Frederick, and Daniel R. Fountain. Dangerous Coast: Pictured Rocks Shipwrecks. Michigan: Avery Color Studios, 1997.
- Great Lakes Vessel History Website
- Bowling Green State University Historical Collections of the Great Lakes Website
- Swayze, David D. Shipwreck!: A Comprehensive Directory of Over 3,700 Shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. Michigan: Harbor House, 1992.
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- Thompson, Mark L. Graveyard of the Lakes. Michigan: Wayne State University Press, 2000.
- YouTube Video Ric Mixter
