Vessel Name: Lloyd S. Porter #
Official Number: 141264
Year of Build: 1893
Built at: Port Huron, Michigan
Vessel Type: Steambarge
Builder: Jenks Shipbuilding Co.
Master Carpenter: A.M. Carpenter
Construction and Specifications #
The Lloyd S. Porter was a wooden steambarge built in 1893 by the Jenks Shipbuilding Co. in Port Huron, Michigan. This vessel was notable for its diagonal steel straps and steam pumps, which were considered advanced for its time. The steambarge was powered by a steeple compound engine built by Phoenix Iron Works of Port Huron. The engine produced 400 horsepower at 129 rpm, and the firebox boiler, also built by Phoenix Iron Works, operated at 128 poundsof steam pressure.
- Dimensions:
- Length: 159 feet
- Beam: 30.6 feet
- Depth: 10.7 feet
- Gross Tonnage: 536.08 tons
- Net Tonnage: 412.21 tons
- Cargo Capacity: 450,000 board feet of lumber or 650 tons
The vessel was equipped with two masts and one screw propeller, making it ideal for use in the Great Lakes lumber trade.
Operational History #
1893–1917: Great Lakes and Beyond #
The Lloyd S. Porter was launched on March 11, 1893, and immediately entered the lumber trade on the Great Lakes. The ship had a substantial carrying capacity, transporting 450,000 board feet of lumber or 650 tons of cargo.
- 1898–1902: The vessel was transferred to service on the Atlantic Coast during this period, marking a temporary departure from its Great Lakes operations.
- October 23, 1898: While navigating the St. Lawrence River near St. Croix, Quebec, the Lloyd S. Porter collided with the steamer Turret Age and was sunk. The vessel was later raised by the Donnelly Wrecking & Salvage Co., saving the steambarge from permanent loss.
Ownership of the Lloyd S. Porter changed several times over its operational life:
- 1900: Owned by John Hannan, based in Ogdensburg, New York.
- 1901: Purchased by Arthur Hepburn of Picton, Ontario.
- 1905: The ship came under the ownership of Bernard & James Hepburn, followed by the Ontario & Quebec Navigation Co..
- 1914: The vessel was sold to Alphonse A. Larscque of Montreal, Quebec.
Final Years and Disposition #
Fire and Scuttling (1917) #
By 1917, the Lloyd S. Porter was owned by the Sincennes-McNaughton Co. During this time, the vessel was actively transporting coal. However, disaster struck on May 10–11, 1917, when the ship caught fire while loading coal at North Fairhaven, New York. Despite efforts to save the vessel, it became engulfed in flames.
In an attempt to prevent further damage, the Lloyd S. Porter was towed into Little Sodus Bay, a nearby inlet on Lake Ontario, where it was scuttled to extinguish the flames. The ship settled to the bottom of the bay, marking the end of its nearly 25 years of service on the Great Lakes and Atlantic Coast.
Significant Events in the Life of Lloyd S. Porter: #
- 1893: Launched in Port Huron, Michigan.
- 1898: Collided with the steamer Turret Age and sank near St. Croix, Quebec, but later raised by salvage.
- 1900–1914: Passed through several owners, including John Hannan, Arthur Hepburn, and the Ontario & Quebec Navigation Co..
- 1917: Caught fire while loading coal at North Fairhaven, New York, towed into Little Sodus Bay, and scuttled.
Final Location: #
The wreck of the Lloyd S. Porter remains at the bottom of Little Sodus Bay, Lake Ontario, where it was scuttled after catching fire on May 11, 1917.