The IOWA was built at Manitowoc, Wis., in 1896 on the hull of the burned wooden steamer MENOMINEE which had been built in 1872 and was owned by Goodrich. It was a total rebuild and the IOWA had accommodations of 52 state rooms for 108 passengers on the cabin deck and 24 state rooms for 48 passengers on the hurricane deck. The main saloon and other apartments were well supplied with electric light. She measured 215 feet in length and 30 feet in beam. Goodrich owned her from 1872 until her loss in 1915.
The IOWA had many adventures during her career including in March of 1912 being stuck in ice off Racine for five days along with the RACINE within half a mile of each other and about two miles from shore. The captain of the IOWA and two of the crew walked ashore so they could communicate with Goodrich’s main offices about their predicament. Both the IOWA and RACINE were able to move out of the ice to clear water after dynamite was used to open a channel several hundred feet long.
Today’s adventure is about sinking in the Chicago River on July 17, 1913.
IOWA and SHEBOYGAN
The IOWA, after arriving from Milwaukee and unloading her passengers, crew and part of her cargo, she was rammed by her sister ship the SHEBOYGAN in heavy fog in the Chicago River. The SHEBOYGAN crashed head on into the starboard side about 20 feet forward of the pilot house tearing a 30 foot hole. Water rushed into the IOWA’s hold and she began to sink. River tugs came to her aid, threw lines over her and tied her to the dock. The pumps were powerless again the rushing water. The lookout cried out an alarm and within a minute the IOWA broke her moorings and sank. Only her upper works was above the water. She went down with about $60,000 worth of cargo still on board.
IOWA in the Chicago River, July 17, 1913
The SHEBOYGAN only sustained minor damage.
No one was killed or injured during this collision.
Newspapers reported that Captain Cook of the IOWA was not permitted by the company officials to make any statement.
In September the investigation by the United States local inspectors at Chicago announced the suspension of the license of Capt. A. C. Voight for sixty days and Archie Galbraith, chief engineer, for ten days. Both were of the SHEBOYGAN. They were both dismissed from employment with Goodrich.
The end for the IOWA came two years later off Chicago. On February 4, 1915, she was crushed by ice off Chicago, sinking about three miles off the river mouth. Huge cakes of ice surged against the sides of the ship causing leaks and punctures. The crew tried to stop the leaks but it wasn’t to be. The order was given and the crew and passenger climbed over the side and walked to shore on the ice a distance of three to six miles depending on the route they chose. All made it safely.
Suzette Lopez
Photo Credit: Great Lakes Marine Collection of the Milwaukee Public Library and Wisconsin Marine Historical Society.
