Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2017 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= NOTICE TO USERS - These files are protected by the The Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998. Information contained herein is provided for research purposes and may be freely linked to. Copying for redistribution or presentation by any person, persons or organization is not allowed without the written permission of the author/submitter. Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== VESSEL NAME: Henry Cort OTHER NAME(s): Pillsbury, given new name 1896 OFFICIAL NO: 150587 DATE OF LOSS: 30 November 1934 CAUSE OF LOSS: Storm LOCATION: Lake Michigan, Muskegon RIG TYPE: Propeller, whaleback, "pigboat" HULL TYPE: Steel BUILDER: American Barge Co., Superior, WI - 1892 OWNER(S): Lake Ports Shipping & Navigation Co., Detroit MASTER: Capt. Charles Cox TONNAGE: 2,234.49 gt - 1,671.65 nt DIMENSIONS: 320 x 42 x 25 CASUALTIES: 1 (John Dipart, Coast Guard) The HENRY CORT was on her final run of the season. She would stop at Muskegon, South Haven, Chicago, Holland and Gary before sailing back down the lakes to Detroit. After clearing Holland the CORT ran into gale force winds and heavy seas. Unable to make any headway she was turned about to run before the storm and try to make port at Muskegon. As the HENRY CORT began lining up to enter between the two arms at Muskegon she was lifted by heavy seas and hurled against the outside the north arm. Breakers caught her stern and shoved it around to the north. Lake Michigan rushed into her hold and engine room through a gash in her port side and the CORT settled to the bottom. In true heroic fashion the Muskegon Coast Guard, accompanied by the crews from the White River and Grand Haven stations, brought all 23 of the CORT'S crew to safety along the ice coated breakwater while the USCGC ESCANABA (WPG-77) illuminated the scene. The men were tethered together in a line for the icy walk along the breakwater with storm driven waves crashing over their heads. The only loss of life was coast guard surfman, John Dipart, who was washed out of the surfboat. This was not the first sinking for the HENRY CORT. In 1917, while crushing ice at the western end of Lake Erie, she backed into the path of the ore carrier MIDVALE and went to the bottom. She spent the winter on the bottom and was located six miles away from the site the following spring. It took several attempts and a great deal of money to raise and repair her. In 1927 she stranded on Colchester Reef and was abandoned to the underwriters. Sold and repaired she returned to the lakes. In 1933 she settled to the bottom at Ecorse, MI., after being holed by ice. ========================================================================= Sources: Popular Science - February, 1919 Merchant Vessel List - 1896 Buffalo Daily Courier - 25 May 1918 Ludington Daily News - 1 December 1934 USGenNet Great Lakes Maritime - Escanaba (WPG-77) http://us-data.org/mi/glm/shipwrecks/uscg-escanaba/index.html