The car ferry PERE MARQUETTE 18 sank in Lake Michigan under mysterious circumstances on September 9, 1910. This telegram was sent to officials in the Pere Marquette railroad’s head office by Superintendent of Steamships W.L. MERCEREAU two hours after the sinking. MERCEREAU was unaware of the true scope of the disaster and loss of 27 souls aboard the PM 18.
Photo at top of page: Telegram – courtesy of the Douglas S. Goodhue collection
PERE MARQUETTE 18 was built in 1902 at Cleveland by the American Ship Building Co. She was a steel car ferry built for the Pere Marquette Railway Co. to run between Ludington, Kewaunee, Manitowoc and Milwaukee, and measured 338 feet in length, 56 feet in beam and 19.5 in depth. She was later known as the PERE MARQUETTE 18 (1st) as a second was built in 1911 at Chicago by the Chicago Ship Building Co (338 x 57.6 x 21.7) which was sold for scrap in 1957.
PERE MARQUETTE 18 (150972) dated 1910 – Great Lakes Marine Collection of the Milwaukee Public Library and Wisconsin Marine Historical Society
The PM 18 had 62 passengers and crew on board when she foundered off the Port Washington/Sheboygan area. As stated 27 were lost including all the crew and 35 people were rescued by the PERE MARQUETTE 17. Her loss is still a mystery as no officers survived to explain it.
