Frank H. Goodyear
Frank H. Goodyear 1902 - From Robert McGreevy's Lost Legends of the Lakes
The Frank H. Goodyear was built in 1902 in Lorain, Ohio, an(l aptly named after her owner, the railroad tycoon who had developed the Pullman railroad car. Measuring 416' in length, with a breadth or 50' and a depth of 28', the Goodyear was recognizable by the Pullman railway passenger coach used as a deckhouse. Though the Goodyear was a workhorse, Frank Goodyear used his freighter as a private yacht whenever possible and made sure his ship was in pristine condition. As the Goodyear sailed from port to port, often hauling iron ore, pennants flew bearing Frank Goodyear's name whenever he was aboard.
On Monday, May 23, 1910, the Goodyear was traveling downbound with a load of iron ore in her holds. Disaster struck around 6 a.m. off Pointe aux Barques in heavy fog on Lake Huron when the 514-foot-long James B. Wood rammed the Goodyear amidships.
On the Goodyear, the cook had breakfast underway when the deckwatch's hoarse warning yell gave the first indication of trouble. Those down below rushed on deck and watched in horror as the steel hull of the Goodyear began to rip apart. The deafening sound was described by a crewmember aboard the Wood: "It made a crash and a ripping sound that sounded a lot louder than the shrieking of the Wood's whistle."
A sailor aboard the Wood shared his account with the Columbus News: "I was standing on deck, having just came (sic) from my quarters, when I heard the alarm whistle, a moment more and the two boats came together. I ran forward and found that our boat had not been damaged to any great extent. I could see that the Goodyear was sinking. Standing amidships were (sic) the entire crew huddled closely together, and I could see first one and then another jump overboard."
Contemporary newspapers reported the Goodyear's passengers and crew numbered twenty-three men, women, and children. With no time to launch the lifeboats, many donned life jackets but only a few had time enough to jump into the water. Concern for his family prompted Frank H. Bassett, the ship's cook, to act by fastening life jackets on his wife, Lillian, also a cook, and their three-year-old son, John. Frank's mother, Emma Bassett, who worked as a porter aboard the Goodyear, left her task of scrubbing the cabin floors when she heard the warning whistle. Grabbing a life preserver, Emma Bassett jumped over the side of the ship into Lake Huron's waters.
The Goodyear sank almost instantly, and one Wood sailor's eyewitness testimony painted a grim picture: "Suddenly the Goodyear made a lurch to one side and went out of sight, leaving only a big hole in the water, and the suction carried the crew down with it."
Those survivors who were able to get away from the ship's suction likely still held onto the hope of being rescued by crewmembers from the Wood. Captain Gibson of the Wood ordered his men to lower the lifeboats and make every possible effort to save those in the water.
To add to the mayhem, the force of the water filling the Goodyear was so great that hatches were ripped from their frames and then shot into the air in every direction. Frank Bassett, with his child in his arms, had almost made it to one of the lifeboats when a hatch flying toward him ripped his son from his grasp. The young boy drowned despite his father's efforts to save him.
On Monday, May 23, 1910, the Goodyear was traveling downbound with a load of iron ore in her holds. Disaster struck around 6 a.m. off Pointe aux Barques in heavy fog on Lake Huron when the 514-foot-long James B. Wood rammed the Goodyear amidships.
On the Goodyear, the cook had breakfast underway when the deckwatch's hoarse warning yell gave the first indication of trouble. Those down below rushed on deck and watched in horror as the steel hull of the Goodyear began to rip apart. The deafening sound was described by a crewmember aboard the Wood: "It made a crash and a ripping sound that sounded a lot louder than the shrieking of the Wood's whistle."
A sailor aboard the Wood shared his account with the Columbus News: "I was standing on deck, having just came (sic) from my quarters, when I heard the alarm whistle, a moment more and the two boats came together. I ran forward and found that our boat had not been damaged to any great extent. I could see that the Goodyear was sinking. Standing amidships were (sic) the entire crew huddled closely together, and I could see first one and then another jump overboard."
Contemporary newspapers reported the Goodyear's passengers and crew numbered twenty-three men, women, and children. With no time to launch the lifeboats, many donned life jackets but only a few had time enough to jump into the water. Concern for his family prompted Frank H. Bassett, the ship's cook, to act by fastening life jackets on his wife, Lillian, also a cook, and their three-year-old son, John. Frank's mother, Emma Bassett, who worked as a porter aboard the Goodyear, left her task of scrubbing the cabin floors when she heard the warning whistle. Grabbing a life preserver, Emma Bassett jumped over the side of the ship into Lake Huron's waters.
The Goodyear sank almost instantly, and one Wood sailor's eyewitness testimony painted a grim picture: "Suddenly the Goodyear made a lurch to one side and went out of sight, leaving only a big hole in the water, and the suction carried the crew down with it."
Those survivors who were able to get away from the ship's suction likely still held onto the hope of being rescued by crewmembers from the Wood. Captain Gibson of the Wood ordered his men to lower the lifeboats and make every possible effort to save those in the water.
To add to the mayhem, the force of the water filling the Goodyear was so great that hatches were ripped from their frames and then shot into the air in every direction. Frank Bassett, with his child in his arms, had almost made it to one of the lifeboats when a hatch flying toward him ripped his son from his grasp. The young boy drowned despite his father's efforts to save him.
The collision claimed eighteen lives: sixteen men, one woman, and one baby. The crew of the Wood picked up only five survivors: Frank H. Bassett; his mother, Mrs. Emma Bassett; George Grant, engineer; Frank Mollock, fireman; and Captain I lemenger. To their credit, Captain Gibson and the Wood's crew remained at anchor near the collision scene for over seven hours in hopes of rescuing more. When the fog lifted, however, it was evident there was no one left to save. Gibson then sailed his damaged ship bearing a six-foot hole in her port bow to the Grand Trunk Railway dock.
Captain F. R. Hemenger notified the Goodyear's owners, Buffalo & Susquehanna Transportation, of the loss of ship and life. The Frank H. Goodyear was operated by Mitchell & Company and was fully insured.
In the year, 2000, shipwreck hunter David Trotter discovered the Frank Goodyear at the bottom of Lake Huron resting in 160' of water as many as 30 miles north of Pointe aux Barques. The Goodyear's bow is almost twisted off and pointing to the surface of the lake, and under her wheel house is a large, gaping hole. A huge trench, 6' deep, stretches over behind the Goodyear, which is a telling sign of the dynamics that were in play and the stunning impact when she hit the bottom. The trench contradicts contemporary reports that stated the stern section sank first. However, other similar wreck sites have a trench gouged out by the prevailing current over the years.
On the bottom of Lake Huron, the Goodyear's railroad car mounted on the hull is intact, and inside is the fully stocked bar, a turn-of-the-century version of a copper hot tub, and a grand piano. Divers first on the scene noted the buckled plates and missing hatch covers, and high up in the fantail of the stern were the skeletal remains of at one crewman, if not more, tangled in lines and rigging. "
Captain F. R. Hemenger notified the Goodyear's owners, Buffalo & Susquehanna Transportation, of the loss of ship and life. The Frank H. Goodyear was operated by Mitchell & Company and was fully insured.
In the year, 2000, shipwreck hunter David Trotter discovered the Frank Goodyear at the bottom of Lake Huron resting in 160' of water as many as 30 miles north of Pointe aux Barques. The Goodyear's bow is almost twisted off and pointing to the surface of the lake, and under her wheel house is a large, gaping hole. A huge trench, 6' deep, stretches over behind the Goodyear, which is a telling sign of the dynamics that were in play and the stunning impact when she hit the bottom. The trench contradicts contemporary reports that stated the stern section sank first. However, other similar wreck sites have a trench gouged out by the prevailing current over the years.
On the bottom of Lake Huron, the Goodyear's railroad car mounted on the hull is intact, and inside is the fully stocked bar, a turn-of-the-century version of a copper hot tub, and a grand piano. Divers first on the scene noted the buckled plates and missing hatch covers, and high up in the fantail of the stern were the skeletal remains of at one crewman, if not more, tangled in lines and rigging. "
Frank H. Goodyear (Propeller), U121240, sunk by collision, 23 May 1910
In September 2003, URA announced the discovery of the big steamer Frank H. Goodyear in Lake Huron. Lost in 1910, the Goodyear took 19 lives when she went down. She lies in deep water and her location has not yet been released. Detail : She collided with the steamer JAMES B. WOOD and sank in less than 4 minutes. WOOD was heavily damaged as well. She was one of the largest vessels in operation when lost. Had a luxury rail car installed athwart her deck for the private use of her owner. STEAMER GOODYEAR SUNK, MANY OF THE CREW DROWNED. Struck Head On In Fog By Steamer WOOD, Went To The Bottom in Few Minutes. WATER POURS IN AND HATCHES FORCED OFF. Port Huron, Mich. - May 24. - In a collision between two big steel ships on Lake Huron, North of Point Aux Barques, in a dense fog yesterday morning, 17 men are believed to have been drowned. The steamer FRANK H. GOODYEAR of Cleveland was sunk in 47 fathoms of water. The steamer JAMES B. WOOD of Cleveland, which struck the GOODYEAR bow on, came into Port Huron harbor today with a big hole in her bow, carrying half a dozen survivors from the GOODYEAR. The latter carried a crew of 23 men and several passengers. Capt. F.R. Nemenger of Algonas, Mich., who commanded the GOODYEAR, Chief Engineer Gibson, Steward David Bassett, one wheelsman and two passengers, Mrs. Thomas H. Bassett and her daughter of Marine City, Mich., were saved and brought to Port Huron on the steamer WOOD. STRUCK AMIDSHIPS. The only hope of the survival of the others who were on board the GOODYEAR lies in the possibility of their having been rescued by the steamer SIR WILLIAM SIEMENS, which was near the scene of the wreck, and is due to Detour and Sault Ste Marie later today. The GOODYEAR was struck amidships on the starboard side, while both of the bows of the WOOD were punctured. In a moment it was seen that the GOODYEAR was doomed, as she began rapidly to fill with water. Everyone on board was supplied with a life preserver, and every effort was made to man and launch the small boats. But the water poured into the hold so fast that the heavy hatches were forced from their frames by the pressure from underneath and shot into the air in every direction. The falling hatches spread injury and death among the terrified crew and passengers of the sinking vessel. BABY IS DROWNED. With his infant in his arms, Steward Bassett had almost reached safety in one of the life boat, when one of the tumbling hatches snatched the baby from his arms. The little one fell into the lake, and was drowned, despite the frantic efforts of its father to recover it. When the GOODYEAR settled beneath the surface of the water it was evident that she was practically broken in two, the action of the water having completed the destruction began by the blow received in the collision. Following the accident, Capt. Gibson of the WOOD ordered the life-boats lowered and gave the crew instructions to make every possible effort to save any of the sailors of the sinking steamer. FIVE ARE RESCUED. Within a short time the yawl boat was brought alongside the WOOD and five people, Capt. Hemenger, Steward Frank Bassett, Mrs. Emma Bassett, Frank Mollick and George Grant were taken aboard, all in an exhausted condition, caused by their exertions to save themselves and the length of time they were in the water. ALSO HEAD-ON IN FOG. Cleveland, May 24. - The steel steamer FRANK H. GOODYEAR was owned by the Buffalo & Susquehanna Transportation Company of Buffalo but was operated by Mitchell & Co, of this city. The boat was fully insured. The GOODYEAR was 436 feet over all and of 3438 Net tonnage. She was built in 1902 at Lorain, O. The JAMES B. WOOD is owned by the Gilchrist Transportation Company of this city. She is a steel steamer of 5744 Net tons and 514 feet long. The WOOD was bound down the lakes, light. The GOODYEAR was going up. The boats met head-on in the fog. Buffalo Evening News Tuesday, May 24, 1910 . . . . . EIGHTEEN LOST IN GOODYEAR. Friends Of Those Missing From Steamer Which Went Down, Have Given Up Hope. Port Huron, Mich., May 25. - Families and friends of the missing 18 members of the crew of the steamer FRANK H. GOODYEAR, which sank Monday morning off Point Aux Barques, Lake Huron, after being rammed amidships by the steamer JAMES B. WOOD, have practically given up all hope of any of the missing party having been rescued. The steamer SIR WILLIAM SELMANS, which was said to have picked up some of the missing crew, passed Detour yesterday and made no report of having any survivors aboard. A partial list of the missing follows:
Wednesday, May 25, 1910 . . . . . NO WHITEWASH IN GOODYEAR CASE. Evidence Relative To Collision Will Be Heard And Serious Charges May Follow. Detroit, Mich.¼ May 28. - Instead of being completed, it was announced last night, the government has but begun its investigation of the circumstances leading to the ramming of the steamer FRANK H. GOODYEAR by the JAMES B. WOOD and the loss of 19 lives in Lake Huron Monday. Capt. C.H. Westcott, supervisor of the eighth district, yesterday instructed inspectors W.W. Stewart and Frank Van Liew of Port Huron to continue with the investigations until the testimony of the entire crew of the WOOD and all the survivors of the GOODYEAR is secured. The question of filing charges against individuals will depend upon the findings of the Port Huron inspectors, who will exercise the functions of complainant, prosecutor and judge. ALSO DID EVERYTHING POSSIBLE. Port Huron, Mich.- May 28. - The statement of Frank Bassett, steward of the sunken steamer GOODYEAR, that Captain William McElroy of the steamer SIEMENS ran his steamer over some of the crew of the GOODYEAR who were clinging to floating hatches, and that he had refused to render any assistance to the men in the water, is declared to be untrue by Capt. Gibson of the steamer WOOD. Capt. Gibson says that Capt. McElroy of the SIEMENS was a short distance behind him and was alongside of him about ten minutes after the collision, that he did all any man could do and asked if he could be of service to him. The SIEMANS had a barge in tow and Capt. McElroy rounded to see if he could be of any service. In a letter to his wife, Capt. McElroy says that he did all he could do to save some of the crew. It was so foggy that he could not see the men in the water, but could hear them, and that he threw over a number of life preservers, hoping that the unfortunate men would be able to pick them up. He then rounded his steamer when he was informed by Capt. Gibson that his ship was not sinking and was able to go back to Port Huron. Buffalo Evening News Saturday, May 28, 1910 . . . . . FREIGHTER TO REPLACE GOODYEAR Detroit, July 16. -- To replace the loss of the steamer FRANK H. GOODYEAR, which was sunk in Lake Huron in collision with the steamer JAMES B. WOOD this year, Capt. John Mitchell of Cleveland has closed a contract with the American Shipbuilding Co. for the construction of a new bulk freighter. The steamer will be 552 feet overall, 532 feet keel, 58 feet beam and 31 feet deep. She will have triple expansion engines and two scotch boilers. The new boat, which will be built at Lorain, will be completed and ready for business April 1. Buffalo Evening News July 16, 1910 Steam screw FRANK H. GOODYEAR. U. S. No. 121240. Of 4,815 tons gross. Built 1902. On May 23, 1910 vessel collided with steam screw JAMES D. WOOD on Lake Huron; with 22 persons on board, 17 lives were lost Reported Loss of American Vessels Merchant Vessel List, U. S., 1910 Steam screw FRANK H. GOODYEAR. U. S. No. 121240. Of 4,815 tons gross; 3,438 tons net. Built Lorain, O., 1902. Home port, Cleveland, O. 416.0 x 50.0 x 28.0 Of 1,450 indicated horse power. Crew of 21. Merchant Vessel List, U. S., 1909 |
Registry and Rig Information
Goodyear, Frank H. 1 1902 Frank H. Goodyear 1 1910
Steel Great Lakes bulk freighter Built at Lorain OH by American Ship Building Co., Hull 31 Launched Aug 23, 1902 436’ LOA, 416’ LBP, 50’ beam, 28’ depth 1 deck, hold beams, hatches @ 24’, coal-fired boilers, triple expansion engine, 1450 IHP Enrolled at Cleveland OH Sept 16, 1902 (#18) 416.0 50.0 x28.0, 4815 GT, 3438 NT US 121240 to: American Ship Building Co., Cleveland OH (home port Cleveland OH) Entered service 1902 Reenrolled at Buffalo NY Sept 23, 1902 (# ) to Frank H. Goodyear Carried a railroad passenger car named #110 “Sinnemahoning” built into her spar deck at the request of Frank H. Goodyear. Sold 1904 to Buffalo & Susquehanna Steamship Co., Cleveland OH, John Mitchell, Mgr. Sunk May 23, 1910 in collison with str. James B. Wood in fog off Point aux Barques MI. Downbound from Duluth MN to Cleveland with iron ore. 17 of 22 lost. Enrollment surrendered May 23, 1910. #110 “Sinnemahoning”
Below are some of the images diving the Frank H. Goodyear showing the #110, "Sinnemahoning" custom rail car welded to the deck with its plush interior for the owner of the Goodyear to travel in when aboard. (See diving the Goodyear in 2018 activity for more diving photos)
The Wreck of the Goodyear
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