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{{Short description|American package freighter}}
#REDIRECT [[SS Ironsides]]
{{Other uses|Lac La Belle (disambiguation){{!}}Lac La Belle}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
{|{{ Infobox ship begin}}
{{ Infobox ship image
| Ship image = Lac La Belle.jpg
| Ship caption = ''Lac La Belle'' as she was owned by the Englemann Transportation Company
}}
{{ Infobox ship career
| Ship header =
| Ship name = ''Lac La Belle''
| Ship namesake =
| Ship country = [[United States]]
| Ship flag = [[File:Flag of the United States (1867–1877).svg|60px]]
| Ship owner = * Robert Hanna & Company (1864–1869)
* Nathan Englemann (1869–1872)
| Ship operator = Englemann Transportation Company (1870–1872)
| Ship ordered =
| Ship registry = * Cleveland, Ohio, United States
* later [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]]
| Ship builder = Ira Lafrinier of [[Cleveland, Ohio]]
| Ship yard number =
| Ship laid down =
| Ship launched = April 30, 1864
| Ship identification = US [[official number]] 15803
| Ship acquired =
| Ship in service = 1864
| Ship out of service = October 14, 1872
| Ship fate = Sank in a collision on [[Lake Michigan]]
| Ship notes = }}
{{ Infobox ship characteristics
| Ship header =
| Header caption =
| Ship class = [[Package freighter]]
| Ship tonnage = * {{GRT|872.5|1}}
* {{GRT|1187.19|1}} (after [[Builder's Old Measurement|re-measurement]])
| Ship length = {{convert|217.5|ft|m|1}}
| Ship beam = * {{convert|31.5|ft|m|1}}
| Ship depth = {{convert|13.25|ft|m|1}}
| Ship draught =
| Ship power = * ''Engine:''
* 2 × two cylinder [[Marine steam engine|high pressure condensing engines]]
* ''Boilers:''
* 2 × [[Firebox (steam engine)|firebox boilers]]
| Ship propulsion = * 2 × 4–bladed fixed pitch propellers
| Ship speed =
| Ship capacity =
| Ship crew =
| Ship notes =
}}
|}

'''SS ''Lac La Belle''''' was a wooden-hulled American [[package freighter]] in service between 1864 and 1872. She was built in 1864 in [[Cleveland, Ohio]], by Ira Lafrinier for Hanna & Garretson, also of Cleveland. She had an identical [[sister ship]] named [[SS Ironsides|''Ironsides'']]. ''Lac La Belle'' operated between Cleveland and [[Lake Superior]] for a number of years, and was sold several times. In 1869, she was sold to Nathan Englemann of [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]], and operated between Milwaukee and [[Grand Haven, Michigan]]. In 1871, she became part of the Englemann Transportation Company. Throughout her career, ''Lac La Belle'' was involved in several accidents.

On the night of October 13, 1872, ''Lac La Belle'' left Milwaukee for Grand Haven under the command of Captain W. H. Thompson, with about 19,000 [[bushel]]s of barley, 1,200 barrels of flour, 50 barrels of pork, 25 barrels of whiskey, 20 tons of [[animal feed]], sundries and 53 passengers and crew on board. There was a gale blowing across [[Lake Michigan]]. As she was travelling about {{convert|25|mi|km|1}} off [[Racine, Wisconsin]], she began leaking. At around midnight, the rising water in ''Lac La Belle''{{'}}s engine room extinguished the fire in her boilers. All attempts to save her failed. Next morning, the passengers and crew began abandoning ''Lac La Belle''. She sank about {{convert|20|mi|km|1}} off Racine. One of the lifeboats capsized, resulting in the deaths of eight people.

As of 2024, the wreck of ''Lac La Belle'' has not been located.

==History==
===Design and construction===
''Lac La Belle'' (US [[official number]]{{nbsp}}15803) was built in 1864 in [[Cleveland, Ohio]], by Ira Lafrinnier.{{sfnp|Swayze|2001}}{{sfnp|Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library|2021}}{{sfnp|Bowling Green State University|2021}}{{sfnp|Berry|2021}} She was launched on April 30, 1864, and had an identical [[sister ship]] named [[SS Ironsides|''Ironsides'']], built by either Lafrinnier, or Quayle & Martin.{{sfnp|Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library|2021}}{{sfnp|Berry|2021}}

''Lac La Belle''{{'}}s hull was {{convert|217.5|ft|m|1}} (some source states {{convert|218|ft|m|1}} long.{{sfnp|Swayze|2001}}{{sfnp|Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library|2021}}{{sfnp|Bowling Green State University|2021}} Her beam was {{convert|31.50|ft|m|1}} (some sources state {{convert|31.5|ft|m|1}} or wide, while her hull was {{convert|13.25|ft|m|1}} deep.{{sfnp|Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library|2021}}{{sfnp|Bowling Green State University|2021}}{{sfnp|Berry|2021}} She had a gross tonnage of 872.5 tons.{{sfnp|Bowling Green State University|2021}}{{sfnp|Berry|2021}}

She was powered by two dual-cylinder [[Marine steam engine|high pressure condensing engines]]; the cylinders of the engine were {{convert|34|in|cm|1}} in diameter, and had a [[Stroke (engine)|stroke]] of {{convert|44|in|cm}}.{{sfnp|Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library|2021}}{{sfnp|Berry|2021}}{{sfnp|Wisconsin Shipwrecks|2021}} Steam for the engine was provided by two [[Firebox (steam engine)|firebox boilers]].{{sfnp|Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library|2021}} ''Lac La Belle''{{'}}s engine and boilers were both built by the Cuyahoga Steam Furnace Company of Cleveland. She was propelled by two fixed-pitch propellers.{{sfnp|Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library|2021}}{{sfnp|Berry|2021}}{{sfnp|Wisconsin Shipwrecks|2021}} She was either the first, or one of the first propeller driven steamships on the [[Great Lakes]] with twin [[Funnel (ship)|funnels]].{{sfnp|Swayze|2001}}{{sfnp|Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library|2021}}{{sfnp|Wisconsin Shipwrecks|2021}}

===Service history===
''Lac La Belle'' was commissioned by Robert Hanna & Company of Cleveland, and operated between Cleveland and various [[Lake Superior]] ports.{{sfnp|Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library|2021}}{{sfnp|Maritime History of the Great Lakes (2)|1866}}{{sfnp|The Cleveland Leader|1864}}{{sfnp|Lee|1974|pp=27–34}} On July 8, 1864, she was [[ship registration|enrolled]] in Cleveland, which was also her home port.{{sfnp|Bowling Green State University|2021}}{{sfnp|Berry|2021}} Later, her home port was changed to [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]].{{sfnp|Warren, Johnson & Company|1871|p=78}} Throughout her career, ''Lac La Belle'' was involved in multiple accidents.{{sfnp|Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library|2021}}

She ran aground at [[Eagle River, Michigan]] in 1864.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Shipwrecks|2021}} After the [[Builder's Old Measurement|old measurement system]] was abolished, ''Lac La Belle'' was remeasured in Cleveland on July 20, 1865.{{sfnp|Bowling Green State University|2021}} Under the new system, she was {{convert|216|ft|m|1}} (or {{convert|216.1|ft|m|1}}) long, {{convert|37|ft|m|1}} (some sources state {{convert|37.15|ft|m|1}} or {{convert|37.48|ft|m|1}}) wide, {{convert|19.58|ft|m|1}} (or {{convert|19.75|ft|m|1}}) deep, and had a gross tonnage of 1187.19 tons.{{sfnp|Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library|2021}}{{sfnp|Bowling Green State University|2021}}{{sfnp|Berry|2021}} In that same year, she ran aground while [[Glossary of nautical terms (M-Z)#upbound|upbound]] on Lake Superior, sustaining $5,000 (equivalent to ${{formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|5000|1865|r=-3}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP|name-list-style=amp}}) worth of damage.{{sfnp|Swayze|2001}}{{sfnp|Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library|2021}} ''Lac La Belle'' sustained $400 (equivalent to ${{formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|400|1866|r=-3}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP|name-list-style=amp}}) worth of damage in September 1866, when one of her propellers broke on Lake Superior.{{sfnp|Maritime History of the Great Lakes (1)|1866}}

On November 23, 1866, ''Lac La Belle'' was downbound from [[Ontonagon, Michigan]], for Cleveland with a cargo of 385 tons of [[iron ore]], 125 tons of [[copper]] ingots, potatoes, [[Cedrus|cedar]] posts, about 210 [[keg]]s of fish and [[knee (construction)|ship's knees]].{{sfnp|Maritime History of the Great Lakes (2)|1866}}{{sfnp|Daily News|1866}} As she was near [[Algonac, Michigan]], about {{convert|2|mi|km|1}} above the [[St. Clair Flats]], her crew noticed the [[Navigation light|running lights]] of the [[paddle steamer]] ''Milwaukee''. ''Lac La Belle'' was travelling along the American shore of the [[St. Clair River]].{{sfnp|Maritime History of the Great Lakes (2)|1866}} After rounding the bend in the river, ''Lac La Belle'' blew her whistle once, signaling to ''Milwaukee'' that she should head along the Canadian shore of the river.{{sfnp|Maritime History of the Great Lakes (2)|1866}} ''Lac La Belle'' turned to [[Port and starboard|port]], in order to head closer to the shore.{{sfnp|Maritime History of the Great Lakes (2)|1866}} At about 6:00 or 6:30{{nbsp}}p.m., ''Milwaukee'' struck ''Lac La Belle'' on her port side, about {{convert|40|ft|m|1}} or {{convert|50|ft|m|1}} from her [[Stem (ship)|stem]].{{sfnp|Maritime History of the Great Lakes (2)|1866}}{{sfnp|Daily News|1866}} The force of the collision was so great that for a time, ''Milwaukee'' was unable to free herself from the gash. ''Lac La Belle'' sank into {{convert|25|ft|m|1}} of water in less than five minutes.{{sfnp|Maritime History of the Great Lakes (2)|1866}} Two crewmen from ''Lac La Belle'' died. Chief engineer James Evans drowned in the engine room, while steward Henry Rudd was crushed after falling between the two vessels as he was trying to jump over to ''Milwaukee''{{'}}s deck.{{sfnp|Maritime History of the Great Lakes (2)|1866}}

It was reported at the time that "a general unfamiliarity with the St. Clair River by one, if not both pilots probably contributed to the crash".{{sfnp|Maritime History of the Great Lakes (2)|1866}} On June 15, 1871, the ''[[Detroit Free Press]]'' reported that:

<blockquote>On Tuesday nearly five years from the date of the collision, the suit which resulted between the vessels was decided in the United States District Court by Judge Longyear. Assessment of the damage being abrogated and thus both vessels having been at fault. The night was light and the vessels saw each other many hundred feet away. To a landsman it seems a wonder that a collision should ensue under such circumstances, but to a navigator aware of the difficulties in determining the speed at which vessels are approaching, the uncertainty which often attends signals, and the confusion and panic which are apt to prevail when there becomes danger of a collision, the occurrence of these accidents seem less surprising. In the one in question, the officers of both boats undoubtedly believed they did their whole duty and held themselves blameless.{{sfnp|Maritime History of the Great Lakes (2)|1866}}</blockquote>

Operations to raise the wreck of ''Lac La Belle'' began on July 23, 1869, and were undertaken by the [[Merritt-Chapman & Scott|Coast Wrecking Company]] of [[New York City]].{{sfnp|Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library|2021}}{{sfnp|Maritime History of the Great Lakes|1868}} After she was raised, she was taken to Detroit for repairs, which cost $14,000 (equivalent to ${{formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|14000|1869|r=-3}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP|name-list-style=amp}}).{{sfnp|Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library|2021}}{{sfnp|Maritime History of the Great Lakes|1868}} On September 24, Nathan Englemann of Milwaukee purchased her at an auction in Detroit for $23,600 (equivalent to ${{formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|23600|1869|r=-3}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP|name-list-style=amp}}).{{sfnp|Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library|2021}}{{sfnp|Maritime History of the Great Lakes|1868}} Under Englemann's ownership, she operated between Milwaukee and [[Grand Haven, Michigan]], in conjunction with the [[Detroit, Grand Haven and Milwaukee Railway|Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwaukee Railway]].{{sfnp|Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library|2021}}{{sfnp|Maritime History of the Great Lakes|1868}}

In November 1869, ''Lac La Belle'' ran aground in [[Grand Traverse Bay]].{{sfnp|Maritime History of the Great Lakes|1869}} On December 28, 1870, she became part of the Englemann Transportation Company of Milwaukee.{{sfnp|Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library|2021}} The following year on July 4, ''Lac La Belle'' missed the Grand Haven harbour entrance and ran aground. After almost six hours, she was freed.{{sfnp|Maritime History of the Great Lakes|1871}}

===Final voyage===
At 9:00 or 9:30{{nbsp}}p.m. on October 13, 1872, ''Lac La Belle'' left Milwaukee for Grand Haven under the command of Captain W. H. Thompson, with about 19,000 [[bushel]]s of barley, 1,200 barrels of flour, 50 barrels of pork, 25 barrels of whiskey, 20 tons of [[animal feed]], sundries and 53 passengers and crew on board.{{sfnp|Maritime History of the Great Lakes|1872}} There was a gale blowing across [[Lake Michigan]].{{sfnp|Wisconsin Shipwrecks|2021}}{{sfnp|Maritime History of the Great Lakes|1872}}{{sfnp|Donahue|2021}} As she was travelling about {{convert|25|mi|km|1}} off [[Racine, Wisconsin]], she began leaking.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Shipwrecks|2021}}{{sfnp|Maritime History of the Great Lakes|1872}}{{sfnp|Donahue|2021}}{{sfnp|Baillod|2009}} At around midnight, the rising water in ''Lac La Belle''{{'}}s engine room extinguished the fire in her boilers. All attempts to save her failed.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Shipwrecks|2021}}{{sfnp|Maritime History of the Great Lakes|1872}}{{sfnp|Donahue|2021}} At around 5:00{{nbsp}}a.m., the passengers and crew began abandoning ''Lac La Belle''.{{sfnp|Baillod|2009}} She sank about {{convert|20|mi|km|1}} off Racine. One of the lifeboats capsized, resulting in the deaths of eight people, while the rest of the lifeboats drifted ashore, or were picked up by passing vessels.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Shipwrecks|2021}}{{sfnp|Maritime History of the Great Lakes|1872}}{{sfnp|Donahue|2021}}

''Ironsides'' sank under similar circumstances, eleven months later along the same route.{{sfnp|Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library|2021}} As of 2024, the wreck of ''Lac La Belle'' has not been located.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Shipwrecks|2021}}{{sfnp|Baillod|2009}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Sources==
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite web |author = Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library |year = 2021 |title = Lac La Belle (1864, Propeller) |url = https://greatlakeships.org/2903861/data?n=1 |access-date = September 3, 2021 |publisher = [[Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library]] |location = Alpena, Michigan }}
* {{cite web |last = Baillod |first = Brendon |year = 2009 |title = Fathoms Deep But Not Forgotten: Wisconsin's Historic Shipwrecks – Part II: Racine County |url = http://www.baillod.com/wuaa/Racine.html |access-date = September 3, 2021 |publisher = Brendon Baillod and Great Lakes Shipwreck Research }}
* {{cite web |last = Berry |first = Sterling |year = 2021 |title = Lac La Belle |url = https://www.greatlakesvesselhistory.com/histories-by-name/l/lac-la-belle |access-date = September 3, 2021 |publisher = Great Lakes Vessel Histories |location = Detroit, Michigan }}
* {{cite web |author = Bowling Green State University |year = 2021 |title = Lac La Belle |url = https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/item/436320 |access-date = September 3, 2021 |publisher = [[Bowling Green State University]] |location = Bowling Green, Ohio }}
* {{cite web |author = Daily News |year = 1866 |title = Daily News (Kingston, ON), Nov. 24, 1866 |url = https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/19226/data?n=9 |access-date = September 6, 2021 |work = Daily News |location = Kingston, Ontario }}
* {{cite web |last = Donahue |first = James L. |year = 2021 |title = Wreck of the Lac La Belle |url = https://www.perdurabo10.net/lac-la-belle.html |access-date = September 3, 2021 |publisher = James L. Donahue |location = United States }}
* {{cite web |last = Lee |first = Robert E. |year = 1974 |title = Telescope, v. 23, n. 2 (March – April 1974) |url = https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/122700/data?n= |access-date = September 3, 2021 |publisher = Great Lakes Maritime Institute |location = Detroit, Michigan }}
* {{cite web |author = Maritime History of the Great Lakes (1) |year = 1866 |title = Lac La Belle (Propeller), U15803, broke her wheel, 1 Sep 1866 |url = https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/50247/data?n=7 |access-date = September 6, 2021 |publisher = Maritime History of the Great Lakes |location = Ontario, Canada }}
* {{cite web |author = Maritime History of the Great Lakes (2) |year = 1866 |title = Lac La Belle (Propeller), U15803, sunk by collision, 23 Nov 1866 |url = https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/50494/data?n=8 |access-date = September 6, 2021 |publisher = Maritime History of the Great Lakes |location = Ontario, Canada }}
* {{cite web |author = Maritime History of the Great Lakes |year = 1868 |title = Lac La Belle (Propeller), U15803, sunk, 1 May 1868 |url = https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/53304/data?n=17 |access-date = September 6, 2021 |publisher = Maritime History of the Great Lakes |location = Ontario, Canada }}
* {{cite web |author = Maritime History of the Great Lakes |year = 1869 |title = Lac La Belle (Propeller), U15803, aground, 1 Nov 1869 |url = https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/46022/data?n=20 |access-date = September 8, 2021 |publisher = Maritime History of the Great Lakes |location = Ontario, Canada }}
* {{cite web |author = Maritime History of the Great Lakes |year = 1871 |title = Lac La Belle (Propeller), U15803, aground, 4 Jul 1871 |url = https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/43439/data?n=39 |access-date = September 8, 2021 |publisher = Maritime History of the Great Lakes |location = Ontario, Canada }}
* {{cite web |author = Maritime History of the Great Lakes |year = 1872 |title = Lac La Belle (Propeller), U15803, sunk, 4 Oct 1872 |url = https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/55590/data?n=40 |access-date = September 8, 2021 |publisher = Maritime History of the Great Lakes |location = Ontario, Canada }}
* {{cite web |last = Swayze |first = David |year = 2001 |title = Great Lakes Shipwrecks – L |url = http://www.boatnerd.com/swayze/shipwreck/l.htm |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20021003163827/http://www.boatnerd.com/swayze/shipwreck/l.htm |access-date = September 3, 2021 |archive-date = October 3, 2002 |publisher = [[Boatnerd]] |location = Port Huron, Michigan }}
* {{cite web |author = The Cleveland Leader |year = 1864 |title = For Lake Superior |url = https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/67140/data?n=4 |access-date = September 6, 2021 |publisher = [[The Cleveland Leader]] |location = Cleveland, Ohio }}
* {{cite web |author = Warren, Johnson & Company |year = 1871 |title = Classification of Lake Vessels and Barges: Adopted by a Board of Marine Inspectors, April 1, 1871 |url = https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/65698/data?n= |access-date = September 6, 2021 |publisher = Warren, Johnson & Company |location = Buffalo, New York }}
* {{cite web |author = Wisconsin Shipwrecks |year = 2021 |title = Lac La Belle (1864) |url = https://www.wisconsinshipwrecks.org/Vessel/Details/355?region=Index |access-date = September 3, 2021 |publisher = [[Wisconsin Historical Society]] |location = Madison, Wisconsin }}
{{refend}}

{{coord missing|Wisconsin}}

{{1864 shipwrecks}}
{{1865 shipwrecks}}
{{1866 shipwrecks}}
{{1869 shipwrecks}}
{{1870 shipwrecks}}
{{1872 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lac La Belle}}
[[Category:1864 ships]]
[[Category:Great Lakes freighters]]
[[Category:Ships built in Cleveland]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in June 1864]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1865]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1866]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1869]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1870]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in October 1872]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks of the Wisconsin coast]]
[[Category:Missing ships]]
[[Category:Package freighters]]
[[Category:Ships sunk in storms]]

Latest revision as of 09:37, 2 April 2024

For other uses, see Lac La Belle.

Lac La Belle as she was owned by the Englemann Transportation Company
History
United States
NameLac La Belle
Owner
  • Robert Hanna & Company (1864–1869)
  • Nathan Englemann (1869–1872)
OperatorEnglemann Transportation Company (1870–1872)
Port of registry
BuilderIra Lafrinier of Cleveland, Ohio
LaunchedApril 30, 1864
In service1864
Out of serviceOctober 14, 1872
IdentificationUS official number 15803
FateSank in a collision on Lake Michigan
General characteristics
Class and typePackage freighter
Tonnage
Length217.5 feet (66.3 m)
Beam31.5 feet (9.6 m)
Depth13.25 feet (4.0 m)
Installed power
Propulsion2 × 4–bladed fixed pitch propellers

SS Lac La Belle was a wooden-hulled American package freighter in service between 1864 and 1872. She was built in 1864 in Cleveland, Ohio, by Ira Lafrinier for Hanna & Garretson, also of Cleveland. She had an identical sister ship named Ironsides. Lac La Belle operated between Cleveland and Lake Superior for a number of years, and was sold several times. In 1869, she was sold to Nathan Englemann of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and operated between Milwaukee and Grand Haven, Michigan. In 1871, she became part of the Englemann Transportation Company. Throughout her career, Lac La Belle was involved in several accidents.

On the night of October 13, 1872, Lac La Belle left Milwaukee for Grand Haven under the command of Captain W. H. Thompson, with about 19,000 bushels of barley, 1,200 barrels of flour, 50 barrels of pork, 25 barrels of whiskey, 20 tons of animal feed, sundries and 53 passengers and crew on board. There was a gale blowing across Lake Michigan. As she was travelling about 25 miles (40.2 km) off Racine, Wisconsin, she began leaking. At around midnight, the rising water in Lac La Belle's engine room extinguished the fire in her boilers. All attempts to save her failed. Next morning, the passengers and crew began abandoning Lac La Belle. She sank about 20 miles (32.2 km) off Racine. One of the lifeboats capsized, resulting in the deaths of eight people.

As of 2024, the wreck of Lac La Belle has not been located.

History

[edit]

Design and construction

[edit]

Lac La Belle (US official number 15803) was built in 1864 in Cleveland, Ohio, by Ira Lafrinnier.[1][2][3][4] She was launched on April 30, 1864, and had an identical sister ship named Ironsides, built by either Lafrinnier, or Quayle & Martin.[2][4]

Lac La Belle's hull was 217.5 feet (66.3 m) (some source states 218 feet (66.4 m) long.[1][2][3] Her beam was 31.50 feet (9.6 m) (some sources state 31.5 feet (9.6 m) or wide, while her hull was 13.25 feet (4.0 m) deep.[2][3][4] She had a gross tonnage of 872.5 tons.[3][4]

She was powered by two dual-cylinder high pressure condensing engines; the cylinders of the engine were 34 inches (86.4 cm) in diameter, and had a stroke of 44 inches (110 cm).[2][4][5] Steam for the engine was provided by two firebox boilers.[2] Lac La Belle's engine and boilers were both built by the Cuyahoga Steam Furnace Company of Cleveland. She was propelled by two fixed-pitch propellers.[2][4][5] She was either the first, or one of the first propeller driven steamships on the Great Lakes with twin funnels.[1][2][5]

Service history

[edit]

Lac La Belle was commissioned by Robert Hanna & Company of Cleveland, and operated between Cleveland and various Lake Superior ports.[2][6][7][8] On July 8, 1864, she was enrolled in Cleveland, which was also her home port.[3][4] Later, her home port was changed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[9] Throughout her career, Lac La Belle was involved in multiple accidents.[2]

She ran aground at Eagle River, Michigan in 1864.[5] After the old measurement system was abolished, Lac La Belle was remeasured in Cleveland on July 20, 1865.[3] Under the new system, she was 216 feet (65.8 m) (or 216.1 feet (65.9 m)) long, 37 feet (11.3 m) (some sources state 37.15 feet (11.3 m) or 37.48 feet (11.4 m)) wide, 19.58 feet (6.0 m) (or 19.75 feet (6.0 m)) deep, and had a gross tonnage of 1187.19 tons.[2][3][4] In that same year, she ran aground while upbound on Lake Superior, sustaining $5,000 (equivalent to $78,000 in 2023[10]) worth of damage.[1][2] Lac La Belle sustained $400 (equivalent to $7,000 in 2023[10]) worth of damage in September 1866, when one of her propellers broke on Lake Superior.[11]

On November 23, 1866, Lac La Belle was downbound from Ontonagon, Michigan, for Cleveland with a cargo of 385 tons of iron ore, 125 tons of copper ingots, potatoes, cedar posts, about 210 kegs of fish and ship's knees.[6][12] As she was near Algonac, Michigan, about 2 miles (3.2 km) above the St. Clair Flats, her crew noticed the running lights of the paddle steamer Milwaukee. Lac La Belle was travelling along the American shore of the St. Clair River.[6] After rounding the bend in the river, Lac La Belle blew her whistle once, signaling to Milwaukee that she should head along the Canadian shore of the river.[6] Lac La Belle turned to port, in order to head closer to the shore.[6] At about 6:00 or 6:30 p.m., Milwaukee struck Lac La Belle on her port side, about 40 feet (12.2 m) or 50 feet (15.2 m) from her stem.[6][12] The force of the collision was so great that for a time, Milwaukee was unable to free herself from the gash. Lac La Belle sank into 25 feet (7.6 m) of water in less than five minutes.[6] Two crewmen from Lac La Belle died. Chief engineer James Evans drowned in the engine room, while steward Henry Rudd was crushed after falling between the two vessels as he was trying to jump over to Milwaukee's deck.[6]

It was reported at the time that "a general unfamiliarity with the St. Clair River by one, if not both pilots probably contributed to the crash".[6] On June 15, 1871, the Detroit Free Press reported that:

On Tuesday nearly five years from the date of the collision, the suit which resulted between the vessels was decided in the United States District Court by Judge Longyear. Assessment of the damage being abrogated and thus both vessels having been at fault. The night was light and the vessels saw each other many hundred feet away. To a landsman it seems a wonder that a collision should ensue under such circumstances, but to a navigator aware of the difficulties in determining the speed at which vessels are approaching, the uncertainty which often attends signals, and the confusion and panic which are apt to prevail when there becomes danger of a collision, the occurrence of these accidents seem less surprising. In the one in question, the officers of both boats undoubtedly believed they did their whole duty and held themselves blameless.[6]

Operations to raise the wreck of Lac La Belle began on July 23, 1869, and were undertaken by the Coast Wrecking Company of New York City.[2][13] After she was raised, she was taken to Detroit for repairs, which cost $14,000 (equivalent to $285,000 in 2023[10]).[2][13] On September 24, Nathan Englemann of Milwaukee purchased her at an auction in Detroit for $23,600 (equivalent to $480,000 in 2023[10]).[2][13] Under Englemann's ownership, she operated between Milwaukee and Grand Haven, Michigan, in conjunction with the Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwaukee Railway.[2][13]

In November 1869, Lac La Belle ran aground in Grand Traverse Bay.[14] On December 28, 1870, she became part of the Englemann Transportation Company of Milwaukee.[2] The following year on July 4, Lac La Belle missed the Grand Haven harbour entrance and ran aground. After almost six hours, she was freed.[15]

Final voyage

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At 9:00 or 9:30 p.m. on October 13, 1872, Lac La Belle left Milwaukee for Grand Haven under the command of Captain W. H. Thompson, with about 19,000 bushels of barley, 1,200 barrels of flour, 50 barrels of pork, 25 barrels of whiskey, 20 tons of animal feed, sundries and 53 passengers and crew on board.[16] There was a gale blowing across Lake Michigan.[5][16][17] As she was travelling about 25 miles (40.2 km) off Racine, Wisconsin, she began leaking.[5][16][17][18] At around midnight, the rising water in Lac La Belle's engine room extinguished the fire in her boilers. All attempts to save her failed.[5][16][17] At around 5:00 a.m., the passengers and crew began abandoning Lac La Belle.[18] She sank about 20 miles (32.2 km) off Racine. One of the lifeboats capsized, resulting in the deaths of eight people, while the rest of the lifeboats drifted ashore, or were picked up by passing vessels.[5][16][17]

Ironsides sank under similar circumstances, eleven months later along the same route.[2] As of 2024, the wreck of Lac La Belle has not been located.[5][18]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Swayze (2001).
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library (2021).
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Bowling Green State University (2021).
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Berry (2021).
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wisconsin Shipwrecks (2021).
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Maritime History of the Great Lakes (2) (1866).
  7. ^ The Cleveland Leader (1864).
  8. ^ Lee (1974), pp. 27–34.
  9. ^ Warren, Johnson & Company (1871), p. 78.
  10. ^ a b c d Johnston, Louis & Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved November 30, 2023. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
  11. ^ Maritime History of the Great Lakes (1) (1866).
  12. ^ a b Daily News (1866).
  13. ^ a b c d Maritime History of the Great Lakes (1868).
  14. ^ Maritime History of the Great Lakes (1869).
  15. ^ Maritime History of the Great Lakes (1871).
  16. ^ a b c d e Maritime History of the Great Lakes (1872).
  17. ^ a b c d Donahue (2021).
  18. ^ a b c Baillod (2009).

Sources

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