City of Erie (sidewheeler)
Encyclopedia
The PS
City of Erie was a sidewheeler
steamboat
on Lake Erie
. It was famous for being one of the fastest ships on the Great Lakes, at the time. It also won a race against a newer, rival ship.
for the Cleveland Buffalo Transit Company (C&B). It was designed by Frank E. Kirby
. The ship was launched on February 26, 1898 and made its maiden voyage
on June 19, 1898.
and Erie, Pennsylvania
to Buffalo, New York
. It was nicknamed the "Honeymoon Special" from the number of newlyweds who travelled to Buffalo, bound for Niagara Falls
, on the City of Erie. Starting in 1929, the City of Erie operated between Cleveland and Port Stanley, Ontario
.
subsequently listed nine other vessels (including the City of Erie) that could have easily beat the City of Chicago. The list failed to mention the newest ship built for Detroit's White Star Line, the Tashmoo
. The Tashmoo, also designed by Kirby, was built in 1900 and was built specifically for speed. The president of Detroit's White Star Line offered $1,000 to any ship that could beat the Tashmoo in a race. J. W. Wescott, president of the C&B, accepted the challenge. The set course was 82 nautical miles (151.9 km) long, going along the City of Eries regular route from Cleveland to Erie.
The City of Erie was initially ahead but was soon overtaken by the Tashmoo. The Tashmoo eventually slowed and was passed as soon as it was out of sight of the shore because the "wheelman [of the Tashmoo] was not used to steering [only] by compass." The Tashmoo was later forced to slow again due to an overheating condenser. The City of Erie beat the Tashmoo by 45 seconds, with the Tashmoo still gaining ground. The owners of the City of Erie refused to have a rematch, although it was admitted that the Tashmoo was the faster ship.
The City of Erie was taken out of service in 1938 and was scrapped in Cleveland in 1941.
Paddle steamer
A paddle steamer is a steamship or riverboat, powered by a steam engine, using paddle wheels to propel it through the water. In antiquity, Paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses were wheelers driven by animals or humans...
City of Erie was a sidewheeler
Paddle steamer
A paddle steamer is a steamship or riverboat, powered by a steam engine, using paddle wheels to propel it through the water. In antiquity, Paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses were wheelers driven by animals or humans...
steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
on Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
. It was famous for being one of the fastest ships on the Great Lakes, at the time. It also won a race against a newer, rival ship.
Construction
The City of Erie was built in 1898 by the Detroit Dry Dock Company in Wyandotte, MichiganWyandotte, Michigan
Wyandotte is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 25,883 at the 2010 census, a decrease of 7.6% from 2000. Wyandotte is located in southeastern Michigan, approximately south of Detroit on the Detroit River, and is part of the collection of communities known as...
for the Cleveland Buffalo Transit Company (C&B). It was designed by Frank E. Kirby
Frank E. Kirby
Frank E. Kirby was a naval architect in the Detroit area in the early 20th century. Kirby was best known for his five huge Lake Erie night boats....
. The ship was launched on February 26, 1898 and made its maiden voyage
Maiden voyage
The maiden voyage of a ship, aircraft or other craft is the first journey made by the craft after shakedown. A number of traditions and superstitions are associated with it....
on June 19, 1898.
Operations
The City of Eries route was from Cleveland, OhioCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
and Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
to Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. It was nicknamed the "Honeymoon Special" from the number of newlyweds who travelled to Buffalo, bound for Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, is the collective name for the Horseshoe Falls and the adjacent American Falls along with the comparatively small Bridal Veil Falls, which combined form the highest flow rate of any waterfalls in the world and has...
, on the City of Erie. Starting in 1929, the City of Erie operated between Cleveland and Port Stanley, Ontario
Port Stanley, Ontario
Port Stanley is a community in the Municipality of Central Elgin, Ontario, Elgin County, located on the north shore of Lake Erie at the mouth of Kettle Creek.-History:...
.
Steamboat race
After a friendly race between the City of Chicago and the City of Milwaukee in September 1900, a Chicago–newspaper boasted the winner (the City of Chicago) was the "fastest on the lakes". A paper in Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
subsequently listed nine other vessels (including the City of Erie) that could have easily beat the City of Chicago. The list failed to mention the newest ship built for Detroit's White Star Line, the Tashmoo
Tashmoo (sidewheeler)
The Tashmoo was a sidewheeler steamboat on Lake St. Clair and Lake Huron. It was famous for being one of the fastest ships, at the time, on the Great Lakes.- Construction :...
. The Tashmoo, also designed by Kirby, was built in 1900 and was built specifically for speed. The president of Detroit's White Star Line offered $1,000 to any ship that could beat the Tashmoo in a race. J. W. Wescott, president of the C&B, accepted the challenge. The set course was 82 nautical miles (151.9 km) long, going along the City of Eries regular route from Cleveland to Erie.
The City of Erie was initially ahead but was soon overtaken by the Tashmoo. The Tashmoo eventually slowed and was passed as soon as it was out of sight of the shore because the "wheelman [of the Tashmoo] was not used to steering [only] by compass." The Tashmoo was later forced to slow again due to an overheating condenser. The City of Erie beat the Tashmoo by 45 seconds, with the Tashmoo still gaining ground. The owners of the City of Erie refused to have a rematch, although it was admitted that the Tashmoo was the faster ship.
End of service
On September 27, 1909, the City of Erie collided with the schooner, T. Vance Straubenstein. The schooner was sunk, drowning three people.The City of Erie was taken out of service in 1938 and was scrapped in Cleveland in 1941.