- Steam Barge
- 20ffw
- 141ft Length
- Button Bay, Wolfe Island, St. Lawrence River
- N44 08 524 W76 21 971
Built in the shipyards of Marine City, Michigan, in 1892, the HARVEY J. KENDALL was a wooden steamer with unconventional looks. Her dimensions measured 141.7 feet in length, 30.9 feet in width, and 9.2 feet in depth. She had a gross tonnage of 398 and a net weight of 264 tons. By the time Captain Augustus R. Hinckley acquired her in 1930 (or 1929), the vessel had seen better days, her hull showing signs of significant deterioration.
As Captain Hinckley prepared the KENDALL for her final voyage, he faced several challenges. Some of his crew had deserted him, leaving him short of hands for the demanding journey. In this dire situation, he hired replacements: George Cody, Earl Snyder, and his nephew, Theodore Hinckley, who would go on to recount this voyage.
The vessel was equipped with a high steeple compressed steam boiler that, despite numerous leaks, continued to function. The engineer, a portly man named Woods, oversaw the engine’s operation. Cody, tall and lean, served as the fireman. Additionally, there was ‘Pipe Boiler’ Paddy, a coal passer from Oswego, who donned oversized overalls to protect against coal dust.
Setting sail from Cape Vincent around mid-December, the KENDALL embarked on her mission to retrieve Coast Guard buoys as far as Waddington, the last in American waters. After successfully collecting buoys along the way and unloading them at Ogdensburg NY. Afterward, they journeyed down the river to Waddington, where they retrieved the last buoys before turning back.
The return journey took a harrowing turn as they encountered thick ice in the canal. With a damaged draft damper in the stack, they struggled against the current. Despite Captain Hinckley’s best efforts to catch an eddy along the shore, the KENDALL ultimately ran aground, leaving them stuck.
Efforts to free the vessel proved fruitless. The crew contemplated using the hatch cover as a makeshift anchor, but safety concerns led to the idea’s abandonment.
Rescue by the SALVAGE QUEEN: Help came in the form of the tugboat SALVAGE QUEEN, which arrived the next morning. Using its winches, the SALVAGE QUEEN managed to pull the KENDALL off the rocks. Although both vessels dropped back and entered the canal below Cardinal, they continued their journey.
Engineer Woods discovered that the draft damper issue had been resolved, allowing them to proceed. However, the SALVAGE QUEEN soon encountered difficulties navigating the ice, prompting a call for the more powerful SALVAGE PRINCE.
Captain Hinckley, unwilling to wait, attempted to forge ahead with the KENDALL, despite her limited icebreaking capabilities. They battled the ice, making repeated lunges, but progress was slow.
Approximately a quarter-mile outside of Cardinal, a shocking discovery halted their progress. Deckhand Theodore Hinckley, responsible for coal delivery, stepped into icy water in the bunker. The vessel had been taking on water.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Captain Hinckley ordered the fire to be extinguished to prevent boiler damage from the cold water. As the water continued to rise, the crew prepared for the worst.
With the bilge pumps and generator straining, Captain Hinckley decided to make a final attempt to reach Cardinal. They lunged at the ice four more times, ultimately reaching Dodge’s coal dock outside Cardinal.
The vessel’s condition worsened, and the crew worked tirelessly to keep the pumps and generator running. As the lights dimmed and the steam siphons ceased operation, the crew heard the approach of help.
Captain Hinckley, with remarkable resourcefulness, returned with a farmer and a wagon loaded with horse and cow manure mixed with straw. This mixture was known for its ability to seal leaks in wooden vessels, a technique used in the days of wooden ships when caulking needed to be temporarily reinforced underwater.
Tragically, despite their efforts, the water continued to rise. The KENDALL groaned and settled into the icy waters. All that remained visible were the tops of the buoys sticking out of the hatches.
With the KENDALL submerged, the crew took refuge on the dock, awaiting rescue. They called for assistance, and soon cars arrived to transport them to safety.
The buoyant spar and nun buoys remained on deck, supported by the fareboard just above the waterline. Their lights continued to flash, a poignant reminder of the vessel’s final moments.
In the aftermath of the sinking, the Lighthouse Service took possession of the buoys. The following spring, Captain Hinckley, along with his crew, sealed the vessel’s leaks with canvas and lumber. They managed to pump the KENDALL until she was refloated and beached for repairs.
However, the vessel’s fate was sealed. Despite attempts to restore her, she was never cleared by the hull and boiler inspectors for sailing the lake. Her useful components were salvaged, and she was towed to Button Bay. There, in the icy waters of Lake Ontario, she found her final resting place, sinking near Perch Cove, in about fifteen feet of water.
The story of the HARVEY J. KENDALL’s final voyage is a testament to the indomitable spirit of mariners who faced the harshest of conditions. Captain Augustus R. Hinckley and his crew battled freezing waters, mechanical challenges, and the icy grip of Lake Ontario. Their resourcefulness, determination, and unwavering teamwork shine through in this tale of a vessel’s valiant struggle and ultimate demise.
YouTube video CC Dan Gildea #
Sources and External Links #
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes Website
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Great Lakes Ships Database
- Merchant Vessels List, U.S., 1894
- Thousand Island Life Website Volume 14, Issue 4, April 2019
- The Great Lakes Red Book, 1923
- American Bureau of Shipping, Great Lakes Department, 1920
- Great Lakes Register 1912
- “The Final Voyage of the HARVEY J. KENDALL: A Tale of Endurance and Resilience” by Theodore Hinckley, recounted in 1973.
- Wikipedia Waddington
- Port Huron Daily Time
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