Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2016 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: George J. Whelan OTHER NAME(s): Erwin L. Fisher (1910-1916), Bayersher (1916-1921 & 1923), Port de Caen (1921), Claremont (1923-1930), last named in 1930 OFFICIAL NO: US (orig.) 207617, CA 140270, US (final) 207617 DATE OF LOSS: 29 July 1930 CAUSE OF LOSS: Storm LOCATION: Lake Erie, off Dunkirk, N.Y. RIG TYPE: Propeller, sandsucker, sand, rock and limestone carrier HULL TYPE: Steel BUILDER: Toledo Shipbuilding Co., 1910 OWNER(S): Kelley Isl. Lime & Trans. Co., Cleveland MASTER: Capt. Thomas J. Wage/Waage/Wagge, Cleveland (lost) TONNAGE: 1,293 gt, 805 nt DIMENSIONS: 220 x 40 x 15.25 CASUALTIES: 15 of 21 Was on her first trip as a sand dredge and was bound was bound from Sandusky to Mayer Brothers Construction Co. at Tonawanda with limestone when she was overtaken by a squall, turned turtle and sank in 190 feet of water. The six survivors were picked up by the bulk freighter AMASA STONE, of the Pickands-Mather fleet, and taken into Erie. They would later testify before federal inspectors that the captain did not order life jackets donned or life boats launched when the WHELAN began to ship water, but did summon all of them on deck when water began pouring over the side. First mate Irving Ohlemacher of Sandusky was the only officer to survive the disaster. Victims: (newspaper accounts vary on names.) Thomas J. Wage/Waage/Wagge, captain, Cleveland Michael/Matt Emline, Cleveland Arthur Wilten/Willets, chief engineer, Sandusky William Seuseler, 2nd asst. engineer, Sandusky Carl Diechele/Beechele, 1st asst. engineer, Sandusky Ralph Weis/Weiss, watchman, Sandusky Ned Dumar/DeMar, derrick operator, Bay City, MI W. T./A. P. Longnecker, deckhand, Sandusky Harry Brooks, oiler, Huron, MI Arthur Zeck, oiler, 515 McEwan st., Sandusky Thomas Pierce, fireman, Sandusky Jack Stally, fireman, Sandusky Ed _______, fireman Mr. & Mrs. Charles Godfrey, cooks, Cleveland Originally built as lumber carrier and named ERWIN L. FISHER. Sunk in the Detroit river on her maiden voyage following a collision. During the war she was one of the few vessels of American registry small enough to be taken through the canal so she could cross the Atlantic and be used as a coal carrier for English owners. Afterwards she came back to the Great Lakes as a grain carrier under Canadian registry with the name CLAREMONT. ======================================================================== Sources: Marine Review, Vol. 61, March 1931, p. 43 Kingston (N.Y.) Daily Freeman, 30 July 1930 Syracuse Journal, 29 July 1930 Union-Sun and Journal, Lockport, NY, 29 July 1930 Buffalo Courier-Express, 30 July 1930 Buffalo Courier-Express, 6 March 1931 Merchant Vessel List, 1931