SS City of Everett
Encyclopedia
The SS City of Everett was an important whaleback
steamship. She sailed from 1894 until 1923, and was the first U.S. Steamship to pass through the Suez Canal
, as well as the first to circumnavigate the globe. Her radio call letters were GF and her signal letters KMCQ.
(1891 – 265 ft) became the first lake vessel to leave the Great Lakes
when she took a load of grain from Duluth to Liverpool, England, shooting the St. Lawrence rapids in the process. Wetmore was sent around Cape Horn
with a load of supplies for the establishment of a shipbuilding colony near Everett, Washington
. From parts she carried, the City of Everett was built, commissioned in 1894. Intended to be the first of a line of whaleback ships built out of the facility in Everett, changing fortunes resulted in her being the only ship produced there by McDougall's ill-fated company.
. Her captain, a mate, and several crew members were seriously injured; the resulting fire engulfed not only the ship, but also destroyed the docks and wharves of the Texas Company (later known as Texaco
).
In January 1905, City of Everett collided with the Norwegian steam freighter Leif Eriksson north of Charleston, South Carolina
. Leif Eriksson took on water through a deep gash in her hull, and sank in less than 10 minutes with the loss of two lives.
Near Nantucket on 23 January 1909, City of Everett heard a distress signal
from the RMS Republic, which was taking on water following a collision. Captain Thomas Fenlon of the City of Everett twice offered his ship's considerable pumping and towing abilities, but with assistance reportedly on the way from the White Star Line
, Republic declined. Fog delayed tugs of the White Star Line, and towing efforts by the smaller US Coast Guard cutter Gresham
failed. Republic sank the next day. Newspapers at the time reported that if the White Star Line had been successful in recovering the Republic with company ships, instead of using a third-party salvor, it could have recouped some of its salvage expenses from the owners of the recovered cargo aboard the Republic. The inference was that Republic's captain had refused aid merely to prevent another company from sharing the salvage award if the ship were to be saved. Everett's Captain Fenlon maintained that, as Republic had remained afloat until the day after the collision, she could have been saved if she had accepted a tow from City of Everett, stating that his boat was "built for ocean towing" and was equipped with "tremendously powerful machinery and towing cables seven inches (178 mm) in diameter", as well as pumps with a capacity of "two million gallons an hour".
While carrying molasses
from Santiago, Cuba to New Orleans on 11 October 1923, City of Everett foundered
in the Gulf of Mexico
. The ship and all twenty-six aboard were lost.
and Joe Citelli, identified the wreck of the City of Everett resting in approximately 400 feet (121.9 m) of sea water 120 nautical miles (222.2 km) off Florida in the Gulf of Mexico.
Whaleback
A cargo steamship of unique design, with a hull that continuously curved above the waterline from vertical to horizontal leaving, when fully loaded, only the rounded portion of the hull above the waterline, was unofficially called a "whaleback". With sides curved in towards the ends, it had a...
steamship. She sailed from 1894 until 1923, and was the first U.S. Steamship to pass through the Suez Canal
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
, as well as the first to circumnavigate the globe. Her radio call letters were GF and her signal letters KMCQ.
Origin
In the 1890s, Alexander McDougall, the originator of the whaleback ship design, wanted to build ships in Washington, on the Pacific Coast. His steamer SS Charles W. WetmoreSS Charles W. Wetmore
The SS Charles W. Wetmore was a whaleback freighter built in 1891 by Alexander McDougall's American Steel Barge Company shipyard in Superior, Wisconsin, USA. She was named in honor of Charles W. Wetmore, a business associate of Alexander McDougall, officer of the shipyard, and associate of the...
(1891 – 265 ft) became the first lake vessel to leave the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
when she took a load of grain from Duluth to Liverpool, England, shooting the St. Lawrence rapids in the process. Wetmore was sent around Cape Horn
Cape Horn
Cape Horn is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island...
with a load of supplies for the establishment of a shipbuilding colony near Everett, Washington
Everett, Washington
Everett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
. From parts she carried, the City of Everett was built, commissioned in 1894. Intended to be the first of a line of whaleback ships built out of the facility in Everett, changing fortunes resulted in her being the only ship produced there by McDougall's ill-fated company.
Her career
On 8 September 1902, City of Everett suffered an explosion while loading at Port Arthur, TexasPort Arthur, Texas
-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 57,755 people, 21,839 households, and 14,675 families residing in the city. The population density was 696.5 people per square mile . There were 24,713 housing units at an average density of 298.0 per square mile...
. Her captain, a mate, and several crew members were seriously injured; the resulting fire engulfed not only the ship, but also destroyed the docks and wharves of the Texas Company (later known as Texaco
Texaco
Texaco is the name of an American oil retail brand. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owns the Havoline motor oil brand....
).
In January 1905, City of Everett collided with the Norwegian steam freighter Leif Eriksson north of Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. Leif Eriksson took on water through a deep gash in her hull, and sank in less than 10 minutes with the loss of two lives.
Near Nantucket on 23 January 1909, City of Everett heard a distress signal
CQD
CQD, transmitted in Morse code as — · — · — — · — — · · is one of the first distress signals adopted for radio use...
from the RMS Republic, which was taking on water following a collision. Captain Thomas Fenlon of the City of Everett twice offered his ship's considerable pumping and towing abilities, but with assistance reportedly on the way from the White Star Line
White Star Line
The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company or White Star Line of Boston Packets, more commonly known as the White Star Line, was a prominent British shipping company, today most famous for its ill-fated vessel, the RMS Titanic, and the World War I loss of Titanics sister ship Britannic...
, Republic declined. Fog delayed tugs of the White Star Line, and towing efforts by the smaller US Coast Guard cutter Gresham
USCGC Gresham
USCGC Gresham has been the name of more than one cutter of the United States Revenue Cutter Service or United States Coast Guard:*USCGC Gresham , in commission in the United States Revenue Cutter Service 1897-1915 and with the United States Coast Guard 1915-1917, 1919-1935, and 1943-1944*USCGC...
failed. Republic sank the next day. Newspapers at the time reported that if the White Star Line had been successful in recovering the Republic with company ships, instead of using a third-party salvor, it could have recouped some of its salvage expenses from the owners of the recovered cargo aboard the Republic. The inference was that Republic's captain had refused aid merely to prevent another company from sharing the salvage award if the ship were to be saved. Everett's Captain Fenlon maintained that, as Republic had remained afloat until the day after the collision, she could have been saved if she had accepted a tow from City of Everett, stating that his boat was "built for ocean towing" and was equipped with "tremendously powerful machinery and towing cables seven inches (178 mm) in diameter", as well as pumps with a capacity of "two million gallons an hour".
While carrying molasses
Molasses
Molasses is a viscous by-product of the processing of sugar cane, grapes or sugar beets into sugar. The word molasses comes from the Portuguese word melaço, which ultimately comes from mel, the Latin word for "honey". The quality of molasses depends on the maturity of the sugar cane or sugar beet,...
from Santiago, Cuba to New Orleans on 11 October 1923, City of Everett foundered
Shipwreck
A shipwreck is what remains of a ship that has wrecked, either sunk or beached. Whatever the cause, a sunken ship or a wrecked ship is a physical example of the event: this explains why the two concepts are often overlapping in English....
in the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
. The ship and all twenty-six aboard were lost.
Discovery of the shipwreck City of Everett
On September 11, 2010, divers from the Association of Underwater Explorers, Michael BarnetteMichael C. Barnette
Michael C. Barnette is an accomplished diver, author, photographer founder of the Association of Underwater Explorers.-Background:Barnette was born on September 7, 1971 in Fredericksburg, VA. He attended Stafford Senior High School where he graduated in 1989...
and Joe Citelli, identified the wreck of the City of Everett resting in approximately 400 feet (121.9 m) of sea water 120 nautical miles (222.2 km) off Florida in the Gulf of Mexico.