| 15′ to 60′ | 47 57.178’N? 88 44.824’W |
The William H. Gratwick, later renamed Minnekahtha and Glenlyon, was a package freighter built in 1893 at West Bay City, Michigan. It had a steel hull, two decks, and three masts. The vessel was initially owned by William H. Gratwick of Buffalo, New York.
Powered by a triple expansion engine with three cylinders, the William H. Gratwick had dimensions of 20, 32, and 54 inches. The engine, manufactured by F.W. Wheeler Works, generated 1200 horsepower at 90 rpm. The ship was equipped with two 12-foot by 3-foot scotch boilers, weighing 164 pounds per square inch, built by Wickes Brothers of Saginaw, Michigan.
With a length of 328 feet, a beam of 42.5 feet, and a depth of 20.5 feet, the William H. Gratwick had a gross tonnage of 2818.27 and a net tonnage of 2202.9.
In 1912, the vessel was renamed Minnekahtha when it was under U.S. ownership. It was later renamed Glenlyon in 1914 when it came under Canadian ownership with the official number C126660.
On November 1, 1924, the ship met its final fate when it stranded and broke up in Siskiwit Bay, Isle Royale, on Lake Superior. The vessel sought shelter during a storm but grounded on a reef and was subsequently wrecked by subsequent storms. It was carrying a cargo of wheat at the time.
Throughout its history, the William H. Gratwick had undergone ownership changes and charter arrangements. It was chartered by various companies, including Western Transit Co, Lake Carriers Association, U.S. Transportation Co, and Chicago & Duluth Transportation Co. In 1914, it came under the ownership of Great Lakes Transportation Co, Ltd. The vessel underwent refitting and was equipped with cargo elevators.
The wreck of the William H. Gratwick, also known as Glenlyon, remains in Siskiwit Bay, Isle Royale, at a depth of 50 feet.
3D Models
