View source for Plymouth (schooner-barge)

{{Short description|American Schooner barge that sank in Lake Michigan}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin |infobox caption=}} <!-- commercial vessels --><!---->
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=File:Plymouth - Lake Huron shipwrecks.jpg
|Ship caption=''Plymouth'' after her conversion into a schooner
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United States|civil}}
|Ship name={{flagicon|United States|1912}} ''Plymouth'' 
|Ship namesake=
|Ship owner=*Sternberg & Co. (1854-1856)
* Western Transportation Co. (1856-1882)
* Coatsworth (1882-1885)
* Baker William et al (1885-1888)
* Reid Wrecking Co. (1888-1890)
* Young W.D. (1890-1902)
* Gray Transportation Co. (1905-1909)
* McTigue Margaret (1909-1911)
* Hubel Co. (1911-1912)
* Scott Lumber Co. (1912-1913)
|Ship operator=
|Ship registry={{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Menominee, Michigan]], United States
|Ship route=
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=Stephenson & Lafrinier
|Ship original cost=
|Ship yard number=19621
|Ship way number=
|Ship laid down=
|Ship launched=7 March 1854
|Ship completed=8 May 1854
|Ship christened=
|Ship acquired=8 May 1854
|Ship maiden voyage=12 May 1854
|Ship in service=12 May 1854
|Ship out of service=11 November 1913
|Ship identification=
|Ship fate=Sunk in [[Great Lakes Storm of 1913]]
|Ship notes= 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class=[[Cargo ship|Cargo]] [[Steamship|Steamer]]/[[schooner|Schooner barge]]
|Ship tonnage={{GRT|846}}
|Ship length={{convert|64.8|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|9.9|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship height=
|Ship draught=
|Ship draft=
|Ship depth={{convert|3.7|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship Armament=
|Ship decks=1
|Ship deck clearance=
|Ship ramps=
|Ship ice class=
|Ship sail plan=
|Ship power=High pressure (including HPNC) engine (until 1884)
|Ship propulsion=Screw propeller and 1 mast (converted in 1884 to 3 mast schooner)
|Ship speed=
|Ship capacity=
|Ship crew=7
|Ship notes= Captain Alex Larson
}}
|}

'''''Plymouth''''' was an American [[schooner|Schooner barge]] that sank during the [[Great Lakes Storm of 1913]] in [[Lake Michigan]], near St. Martins Island at the mouth of [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]], while she was being towed by the tug ''James H. Martin'' from [[Menominee, Michigan]], [[United States]] to [[Lake Huron]].<ref name=WSM>{{cite web |url=https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?168081 |title=SS Plymouth (+1913) |publisher=Wrecksite.eu |date=27 July 2012 |accessdate=13 October 2020}}</ref>

== Construction and description ==
''Plymouth'' was built as a steamship in 1854 at the Stephenson & Lafrinier shipyard in [[Ohio City, Ohio]], United States and [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 7 March 1854. She was completed on 8 May 1854. The vessel served from 12 May 1854 until 1884 as a steamer before being converted into a 3 masted schooner. The ship was {{convert|64.8|m|ftin}} long, with a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|9.9|m|ftin}} and a [[Draft (hull)|draft]] of {{convert|3.7|m|ftin}}. The ship was assessed at {{GRT|846|disp=long}}. She had a high pressure (including HPNC) engine, driving a single screw propeller until 1884.<ref name=GSM>{{cite web |url=http://greatlakeships.org/2906342/data?n=3 |title=PLYMOUTH (1854, Propeller) |publisher=greatlakeships.org |date= |accessdate=13 October 2020}}</ref>

== Early career and incidents ==
''Plymouth'' started her career as a Cargo steamer on the great lakes on 12 May 1854, but the ship was quickly plagued by a series of accidents. The first of these occurred on 29 October 1855 when ''Plymouth'' ran on a reef near [[Racine, Wisconsin]] on [[Lake Michigan]], but she managed to be refloated and returned to service. A more serious accident occurred nearly a year later on 20 September 1856 when ''Plymouth'' collided with the [[Oswego, New York|Oswego (New York)]] bound 3 masted barge ''Colonel E. Camp'' near the Manitou Islands, [[North Manitou Island|North]] and [[South Manitou Island|South]], in [[Lake Michigan]]. The barge sank in a few minutes, but the number of casualties or survivors are unknown.<ref name=ASM>{{cite web |url=https://www.goderich.ca/en/my-goderich/shipwrecks.aspx# |title=Shipwreck List - Lake Huron Shoreline - Adjacent to the Port of Goderich |publisher=goderich.ca |date= 15 August 2019|accessdate=13 October 2020}}</ref> The first reported deadly incident occurred on 2 September 1859 when ''Plymouth'' was caught in a gale off Point Aux Barques in Lake Michigan, resulting in the death of one crewmate.<ref name=ASM/>

[[File:Plymouth.png|thumb|left|Plymouth in use as a steamer]]

During the [[American Civil War]] in November 1862, ''Plymouth'' ran ashore again, this time near [[Long Point, Ontario]] in [[Lake Erie]]. The ship was refloated on 27 December 1862 and returned to service. Following the Civil War, ''Plymouth'' managed to retain a better safety record, but the aging ship had to undergo numerous repairs including being refitted with a new engine in 1877. The ship entered the [[lumber]] trade in 1880 and was converted to a 3 masted schooner in 1884. After her conversion she was grounded two more times, first on 24 October 1887 near [[Presque Isle, Wisconsin]] in [[Lake Superior]], being refloated on 13 August. With the second time being on 12 November 1888 near [[Marquette, Michigan]] in Lake Superior. Her final incident occurred on 25 June 1898 when she collided with a railroad bridge over the [[Welland Canal]]. Surprisingly despite her old age, the ship gained a small bit of fame when she was photographed while carrying the largest load of seven foot [[Cedar wood|cedar]] posts (100,000 in total) on the [[Menominee River]] in 1912.<ref name=ZSM>{{cite web |url=https://www.regions.noaa.gov/great-lakes/index.php/highlights-archive/centennial_anniversary_storm_of_1913/shipwrecks-damages-casualties/ |title=Shipwrecks: Great Lake Regions |publisher=regions.noaa.gov |date=2020 |accessdate=13 October 2020}}</ref>

== Great Lakes Storm of 1913 and sinking ==
On 8 November 1913, ''Plymouth'', loaded with a cargo of cedar posts, was being towed by the tug ''James H. Martin'' from [[Menominee, Michigan]], [[United States]] to [[Lake Huron]]. While sailing through [[Lake Michigan]], both ships were unaware that they were heading straight into the path of the deadliest storm in the [[Great Lakes]] history. Captain Alex Larson was in command of the ''Plymouth'' at the time, and was joined by six more crewmen and a [[federal marshall]] named Christopher Keenan who was on board because the ship was the subject of [[litigation]].<ref name=PVB>{{cite web |url=https://www.odmp.org/officer/22863-special-deputy-marshal-christopher-keenan |title=Special Deputy Marshal Christopher Keenan |publisher=odmp.org |date=15 September 2017 |accessdate=13 October 2020}}</ref>

While underway, the storm began to grow in intensity and soon both ships were struggling in the worsening weather. Noticing that neither ship could make headway against the mounting waves, combined with the risk of both ships foundering if they stayed together, ''James H. Martin'''s captain decided to guide ''Plymouth'' to the safest waters he could find. This place appeared to be at [[Gull Island (Michigan)|Gull Island]] in St. Martin’s Passage near St. Martins Island at the mouth of [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]]. When both ships reached the location, the tug's captain cut the towing line and headed into open water to seek shelter at Point Detour {{convert|12|mi}} away. ''Plymouth'' stayed behind and dropped her anchor intending to sit out the storm along with everyone onboard until the tug returned.<ref name=PMA>{{cite web |url=https://eu.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/door-co/2018/11/05/door-county-archives-1913-great-lakes-storm-sunk-charles-s-price/1892855002/ |newspaper=[[Green Bay Press Gazette]]|title=Traveling Back: 1913 Great Lakes storm sunk Charles S. Price |publisher=absolutemichigan.com |date= |accessdate=13 October 2020}}</ref>

When the tug returned to the site two days after abandoning ''Plymouth'', they discovered that the ship had disappeared. Everyones worst fears came true when the body of marshall Keenan washed up ashore at [[Manistee, Michigan]] several days later.<ref>[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/86073668/christ%5Btopher%5D-keenan Christopher Keenan Find a grave]</ref> A note from Keenan was discovered in a bottle which had washed up 11 days after ''Plymouth'' had dropped anchor at Gull Island which confirmed that the ship had sunk with all hands after withstanding the full force of the storm for over 40 hours. The message read: "Dear wife and Children. We were left up here in Lake Michigan by McKinnon, captain James H. Martin tug, at anchor. He went away and never said goodbye or anything to us. Lost one man yesterday. We have been out in storm forty hours. Goodbye dear ones, I might see you in Heaven. Pray for me. / Chris K. / P.S. I felt so bad I had another man write for me. Goodbye forever."<ref name=ZSA>{{cite web |url=http://absolutemichigan.com/michigan/freshwater-fury-the-great-storm-of-1913/ |title=Freshwater Fury: The Great Storm Of 1913 |publisher=greenbaypressgazette.com |date=8 November 2012 |accessdate=13 October 2020}}</ref><ref name=NRA>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XJdKDgAAQBAJ&q=tug+james+h+martin&pg=PT108 |title=A Pocketful of History: Four Hundred Years of America-One State Quarter at a Time |date=26 May 2009 |isbn=9780786731978 |accessdate=13 October 2020|last1=Noles |first1=Jim }}</ref>

''Plymouth'' was one of twelve vessels lost during the [[Great Lakes Storm of 1913]]. A storm described in the book: ''Lore of the Lakes'', as  "The most disastrous that has ever swept our [[Great Lakes]], both from loss of life and property this unprecedented." The storm of heavy snow, bitter cold winds and frightening high waves took the lives of an estimated 235 mariners, with ''Plymouth'' being the only ship lost on Lake Michigan.<ref name=WSM/>

== Wreck ==
As of today, ''Plymouth'' is among the three ships that have never been found of the twelve that foundered during the [[Great Lakes Storm of 1913]]. A wreck, first believed to be that of ''Plymouth'', was found in {{convert|15|m|ftin}} of water, {{convert|460|m|ftin}} off [[Poverty Island]], [[Michigan]] on 21 April 1984. It has since been ruled out as the ''Plymouth'' and is most likely the ''Erastus Corning.''<ref name=PVB/>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{1913 shipwrecks}}

{{coord missing|Ohio}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Plymouth}}
[[Category:1854 ships]]
[[Category:Ships lost with all hands]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan]]
[[Category:Schooners of the United States]]
[[Category:Steamships of the United States]]
[[Category:Ships built in Ohio]]
[[Category:Ships built in the United States]]