The Mysterious Sinking of SS Pere Marquette 18

Big Old Boats14 minutes read

The Paer Marquette 18, a large and powerful car ferry, sank in Lake Michigan in 1910, resulting in the loss of 27 lives and leaving the cause of the sinking a mystery due to the ship's wreck being deeply buried in the mud. Despite efforts to stabilize and lighten the vessel, the flooding intensified, leading to a distress call from Captain Kilty as the ship went down.

Insights

  • The sinking of the Paer Marquette 18 on September 8th, 1910, led to the tragic loss of 27 lives, with investigations suggesting potential causes such as undetected damage or mechanical failures.
  • Despite being a renowned and well-equipped vessel, the Paer Marquette 18 faced a critical situation due to rapid flooding, highlighting the unpredictable and dangerous nature of maritime operations, even for advanced ships like her.

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Recent questions

  • What happened to the Paer Marquette 18?

    Sank due to rapid flooding, resulting in 27 deaths.

  • Who discovered the wreck of the Paer Marquette 18?

    Discovered in the summer of 2020.

  • How many passengers could the Paer Marquette 18 carry?

    Up to 250 passengers and 30 train cars.

  • What were the advanced features of the Paer Marquette 18?

    Equipped for year-round operation.

  • Who were the key crew members on the Paer Marquette 18?

    Captain Kilty, wheelsman Burke, engineer Leam, and mate Brazinski.

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Summary

00:00

Tragic sinking of Paer Marquette 18

  • Late on September 8th, 1910, Captain Peter Kilty of the car ferry Paer Marquette 18 observed the wind picking up over Lake Michigan.
  • The ship faced a mechanical issue with the wheel responding slowly, noticed by wheelsman Simon Burke.
  • Chief engineer Ross Leam was alerted to water filling the ship's stern by a panicked oiler, leading to a growing concern.
  • First mate Joseph Brazinski and Leam discovered a horrifying amount of water in the ship's lower spaces, prompting immediate action.
  • The Paer Marquette 18 was designed to be the largest and most powerful car ferry, equipped with advanced features for year-round operation.
  • The ship could carry up to 250 passengers and 30 train cars, offering superior passenger accommodations compared to other vessels.
  • The ship entered service in 1902, gaining a reputation for reliability and successful rescue missions.
  • The crew faced a critical situation as the ship began flooding rapidly, leading to efforts to stabilize and lighten the vessel.
  • Despite initial attempts to save the ship, the flooding intensified, forcing Captain Kilty to send a distress call as the ship sank.
  • The sinking of the Paer Marquette 18 resulted in the loss of 27 lives, with investigations pointing to potential causes like undetected damage or mechanical failures.

16:35

Mystery of sunken Param Marquet 18 revealed

  • The wreck of the first param marquet 18 was discovered in the summer of 2020, located about 25 miles off the coast of shuen. Her stern is deeply buried in the mud, preventing investigation into the source of her initial flooding, leaving the cause of her demise a mystery of the Great Lakes.
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