Shotline Diving

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John Plankinton US 76798

Explore the wreck of the John Plankinton, a wooden freighter that sank in 1917 after a collision in the Detroit River.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: John Plankinton
  • Type: Wooden propeller-driven bulk freighter
  • Year Built: 1889
  • Builder: F. Wheeler, West Bay City, Michigan
  • Dimensions: 267 ft × 41 ft × 21 ft; 1,822 GRT / 1,461 NRT
  • Registered Tonnage: 1,822 GRT / 1,461 NRT
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 12.19 m / 40 ft
  • Location: Detroit River, off 5th Street, Detroit
  • Official Number: 76798

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The John Plankinton was a wooden propeller-driven bulk freighter, primarily used for transporting coal.

Description

Built in 1889, the John Plankinton measured 267 feet in length, 41 feet in beam, and had a depth of 21 feet. It had a registered tonnage of 1,822 gross tons and 1,461 net tons.

History

The John Plankinton was involved in routine transit when it collided with the Grand Trunk Railway river car ferry Detroit on May 9, 1917. The collision occurred amidships, leading to a rapid sinking in approximately 40 feet of water.

Significant Incidents

  • Date & Location: May 9, 1917 — collided with the Grand Trunk Railway river car ferry Detroit in the Detroit River, off 5th Street, Detroit.
  • Circumstances: The collision occurred amidst routine transit; John Plankinton was struck amidships by the ferry Detroit. Sank rapidly in approximately 40 feet of water.
  • Casualties: No crew fatalities; one crew member was unaccounted for and later presumed drowned.
  • Crew Rescue: 19 crew members were rescued by the U.S. mail boat C. F. Bielman, Jr. and other nearby vessels.

Final Disposition

After the collision, salvaged machinery was removed from the wreck. The hull was demolished and leveled to eliminate navigation hazards. The vessel was subsequently withdrawn from service and officially struck from registries.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the John Plankinton is no longer intact, as the hull was demolished to prevent navigation hazards. The site may still be of interest for historical and archaeological research.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”john-plankinton-us-76798″ title=”References & Links”]

Further research into maritime casualty files, Coast Guard logs, salvage documentation, and liability filings would provide a fuller account of the John Plankinton‘s final hours and their aftermath.

Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record

This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.

(wooden propeller bulk freighter, built 1889)

Vessel Details

  • Name: John Plankinton
  • **Official No. **: 76798
  • Built: 1889 by F. Wheeler, West Bay City, Michigan
  • Type: Wooden propeller-driven bulk freighter
  • Dimensions: 267 ft × 41 ft × 21 ft; 1,822 GRT / 1,461 NRT
  • Cargo: Coal at the time of sinking

Final Incident – May 9, 1917

  • Date & Location: May 9, 1917 — collided with the Grand Trunk Railway river car ferry Detroit in the Detroit River, off 5th Street, Detroit
  • Circumstances:
    • The collision occurred amidst routine transit; John Plankinton was struck amidships by the ferry Detroit
    • Sank rapidly in approximately 40 ft of water ([turn0search1], [turn0search0])
  • Casualties: No crew fatalities; one crew member was unaccounted for and later presumed drowned ([turn0search0], [turn0search1])
  • Crew Rescue:
    • 19 crew members were rescued by the U.S. mail boat C. F. Bielman, Jr. and other nearby vessels ([turn0search0])

Post-Collision Actions

  • Wreck Management:
    • Salvaged machinery was removed from the wreck
    • The hull was demolished and leveled (likely via explosives or dismantling) to eliminate navigation hazards
  • Registry: Subsequently withdrawn from service and officially struck from registries

Source References

  • Contemporary press (Atlanta Georgian, May 10, 1917): “nineteen members of the crew … rescued… one man is missing and is thought to have gone down…” ([turn0search0])
  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files: Provides official record of collision, sinking depth, machinery salvage, and hull leveling ([turn0search1])

Gaps & Research Opportunities

  • Crew Identity & Manifests: The name and role of the missing crewman need identification—port logs or U.S. Coast Guard reports may detail this.
  • Collision Analysis: The official investigation into the collision’s cause—navigation error, visibility, signal failure—is yet to be sourced.
  • Salvage Records: Detailed documentation of machinery retrieval, as well as hull dismantling, may exist in marine salvage contractor or Port Detroit files.
  • Insurance & Liability: Records of claims or litigation between the ferry’s operator (Grand Trunk Railway) and the steamer’s owner could clarify liability.

Summary

The John Plankinton, a large wooden coal freighter built in 1889, collided mid‑river with the Grand Trunk car ferry Detroit on May 9, 1917. The collision caused fatal hull breach, sinking in 40 ft of water. Nineteen of the crew were rescued; one went missing and was presumed lost. Following the salvage of machinery, the hull was leveled to clear navigation routes. The vessel was officially decommissioned. Further research into maritime casualty files, Coast Guard logs, salvage documentation, and liability filings would provide a fuller account of those final hours and their aftermath.

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