Site Description #
- Bulk Freighter
- 256ft 80m Lengths
- 150ffw 50m Depths
- Isle Royal, Lake Superior
- 47.857993°N
89.324282°W
HENRY CHISHOLM: A Tragic Tale of Storm and Stranded Fate
In the realm of Great Lakes shipping history, the name HENRY CHISHOLM evokes a story of resilience and tragedy. This wooden bulk freight propeller, built in 1880 by Thomas Quayle in Cleveland, Ohio, experienced both triumph and devastation during its brief existence. With dimensions measuring 256.5 feet in length, 39.3 feet in width, and 20.3 feet in depth, the vessel boasted a gross tonnage of 1,775.37 and a net tonnage of 1,332.18.
The early years of HENRY CHISHOLM’s service were marked by its enrollment for the grain and iron ore trade between Lake Erie and Lake Superior. Originally owned by Alva Bradley of Cleveland, the vessel became an integral part of the shipping operations conducted by the Bradley Transportation Company. It often towed various barges, including AHIRA COBB, CITY OF CLEVELAND, ALVAH BRADLEY, and others, playing a significant role in the transportation of goods across the Great Lakes.
Unfortunately, the fate of HENRY CHISHOLM took a tragic turn on October 20, 1898. The vessel fell victim to a violent storm that threw it onto the treacherous Rock of Ages Reef, situated near Isle Royale in Lake Superior. The impact caused irreparable damage, and by November 12, the vessel had broken apart. Miraculously, there were no reported casualties among the crew, who managed to escape to shore using the vessel’s lifeboats.
Adding to the tragedy, HENRY CHISHOLM was in search of its consort, the JOHN MARTIN, which had been lost just three days prior in the same storm. Both vessels were owned by M.A. Bradley of Cleveland, who faced a double blow as the ships succumbed to the wrath of Lake Superior.
HENRY CHISHOLM’s final resting place became the Rock of Ages Reef, serving as a poignant reminder of the power and unpredictability of the Great Lakes. The vessel’s wreckage lay scattered on the reef, a silent testament to the perils faced by mariners navigating these treacherous waters.
Throughout its history, HENRY CHISHOLM experienced other significant incidents. In August 1896, it suffered heavy damage in a collision with the propeller OCEANICA in the Detroit River. However, it managed to endure and continue its operations until that fateful day in 1898.
The legacy of HENRY CHISHOLM lives on in the annals of Great Lakes shipping history. It serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by mariners and the ever-changing conditions of the lakes. Today, the memory of this once-mighty vessel stands as a testament to the resilience and sacrifice of those who braved the waters in pursuit of trade and commerce, leaving an indelible mark on the maritime heritage of the Great Lakes region.
