IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #
VESSEL DESCRIPTION #
The Lincoln, later renamed Ralph T. Holcomb, was a wooden steambarge built in 1898 at Marine City, Michigan. The vessel was originally constructed for use in the lumber trade on rivers, a common role for steambarges of this era. Here are some key specifications of the vessel:
- Length: 134 feet (later recorded as 133.42 feet)
- Beam: 30 feet (later recorded as 30.16 feet)
- Depth: 9.2 feet (later recorded as 9.16 feet)
- Gross Tonnage: 376.77 tons
- Net Tonnage: 250.33 tons
- Official Number: 106653 (later C116400 after re-registration)
The Lincoln was equipped with a two-mast rig and was powered by a screw-driven, fore-and-aft compound engine. The engine, built by Samuel F. Hodge of Detroit, was a robust piece of machinery with two cylinders (16″ and 32″ in diameter) and a stroke of 26 inches, generating 420 horsepower at 115 revolutions per minute. The vessel also featured a 130 psi firebox boiler, also built by Samuel F. Hodge, which powered its steam engine.
HISTORY & FINAL DISPOSITION: #
The Lincoln was initially owned by A.F. Price et al of Fremont, Ohio. The vessel was enrolled in Sandusky, Ohio, on June 3, 1898, and was primarily used in the lumber trade, where it performed towing operations for other vessels, including the GEBHART, A. MOSHER, and EVA S. ROBINSON.
In 1905, the vessel was sold to F.E. Hall of L’Original, Ontario, who renamed it Ralph T. Holcomb. The vessel was re-registered in Canada with the official number C116400 and continued its operations, including towing duties for vessels like the G.H. WARMINGTON.
By 1911, the steambarge was acquired by Edwardsburg Starch of Cardinal, Ontario. In 1921, the vessel underwent a significant rebuilding process to extend its operational life. However, by 1930, the vessel was abandoned near a mill in Cardinal, Ontario. The remains of the Lincoln, or Ralph T. Holcomb, were eventually buried at this location, marking the end of its service.
FINAL DISPOSITION: #
The Lincoln (Ralph T. Holcomb) was ultimately abandoned near a mill in Cardinal, Ontario, in 1930, where its remains were buried. The vessel, once a key player in the lumber trade and towing operations, now rests as a relic of a bygone era of maritime commerce on the Great Lakes.
RESOURCES & LINKS: #
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes: A comprehensive resource detailing shipwrecks and maritime events in the Great Lakes and surrounding waterways.
- David Swayze Shipwreck File: Provides detailed records of shipwrecks in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.
KEYWORDS: #
Lincoln, Ralph T. Holcomb, Steambarge, St. Lawrence River, Shipwreck, Cardinal Ontario, Maritime History.
ANALYSIS: #
The Lincoln, later known as the Ralph T. Holcomb, represents a significant piece of maritime history, reflecting the importance of steambarges in the transportation and towing industries of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The vessel’s multiple ownership changes, operational roles, and eventual abandonment are indicative of the economic shifts and technological advancements that characterized this period in Great Lakes shipping.
