On August 30, 1892, the steel steamer WESTERN RESERVE broke in two and sunk.  She was only two years old.   She took with her the owner and several of his family members as well as 21 of her crew.

The WESTERN RESERVE was launched on August 20, 1890 at Cleveland.  She was a steel steamer built by the Cleveland Ship Building Co. for Peter G. Minch and was one of the largest carriers at the time measuring 300.7 feet in length, 41.2 feet in beam and 21 feet in depth.

Capt. Peter Minch was a well-known master and vessel owner who had retired about five years earlier.  This was to be a pleasure trip for him, his wife and two young children, his wife’s sister and her daughter.  

On this fateful night, a gale wind was blowing but all seemed well until about 9 o’clock when a loud crash was heard by all.   The vessel was breaking in two half way up the rigging and took on water fast.  The yawl boats, one wooden, one metallic, were lowered.   Capt. Minch and his family along with eleven of the crew got into the wooden yawl and the rest got into the metallic one.  The steamer sank in 10 minutes.

Moments after the steamer went under, the metallic life boat capsized.  The wooden one went to their assistance but could only rescue two.  Now with 19 in the wooden life boat, they started for Whitefish. The wind was causing a considerable sea.  When about 10 miles from the lifesaving station and about a mile from shore, the lifeboat capsized.  All were lost except wheelsman Harry Stewart.  It took Stewart about two hours to make the shore and then a twelve mile walk before reaching the station for help.

As imagined, there was much disbelief that this fine vessel would have snapped in two.  Many theories were discussed.  Much fear for the other steel steamers on the Lakes including the W. H. GILCHER, an exact duplicate of the WESTERN RESERVE which was launched in December 1890.   Shipbuilders stood by their work. 

The GILCHER sank two months later in a storm on October 28, 1892, taking all on board with her.

The Buffalo Enquirer of November 2, 1892 published this regarding the sinking of both vessels:

“President Henry D. Coffinberry, of the Cleveland Shipbuilding Association, which built the GILCHER, as well as the WESTERN RESERVE is, of course, very much disturbed over the result of the disaster, especially since the GILCHER was an exact duplicate of the WESTERN RESERVE, excepting that the latter had more power. He holds with others here that the accident must have been due to striking the reef referred to, or to collision, and still maintains that both boats were constructed after the best practice known to lake shipbuilding.”

Suzette Lopez

PHOTOS:

Painting of WESTERN RESERVE by R. D. Wilcox

WESTERN RESERVE

Painting of WESTERN RESERVE by Fr. Dowling

PHOTO CREDIT:  Great Lakes Marine Collection of the Milwaukee Public Library and Wisconsin Marine Historical Society.