On June 3, 1891, the wooden bulk carrier CITY OF LONDON was launched from James Davidson’s shipyard at West Bay City, Mich. She measured 297 feet in length, 41 feet in beam and 20.5 feet in depth.
Photo at top of page: CITY OF LONDON at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
The LONDON was the last of four sister ships known at the time as the “Big Four” – CITY OF BERLIN, CITY OF GLASGOW and CITY OF PARIS, which were all launched within a month. At that time, a new boat would be completed and away from her dock within a week or ten days from the time of launching. Davidson’s first “sister” was still at her dock when the LONDON was launched. It was rumored that the four were built for other parties who backed out in the end.
CITY OF LONDON
The LONDON sailed for Davidson her first two years and then for the Chicago Steamship Company until her loss.
On September 30, 1913, the wooden LONDON was sunk in heavy fog off Pelee Island by the steel steamer JOE S. MORROW. The LONDON, of Chicago, was bound down on the Canadian side of Lake Erie with a cargo of grain. The MORROW, of Duluth, also loaded with grain, was bound up.
JOE S. MORROW dated 1937
The CITY OF LONDON went down shortly after the collision and the MORROW had to be beached. The LONDON’s crew of 17 were rescued by the steamer BRITON. She was valued at about $25,000 and carried insurance of about $10,000. Her cargo of wheat was valued at $9,000
Submerged in the shipping lane, the LONDON was lying near the west side of the channel about a mile and half west of Pelee Island Middle ground light in 34 feet of water, her main deck under 9 feet of water, her forecastle deck awash and the top of the pilot house spars and stack above water. Great caution was urged in the vicinity to passing vessels. Her cargo of grain was salvaged and her boilers, engine, etc. were eventually removed. Her hull was dynamited in 1914.
Suzette Lopez
Photo Credit: Great Lakes Marine Collection of the Milwaukee Public Library and Wisconsin Marine Historical Society.
