1906                                  W. K. Bixby                                  1972

Steel Great Lakes bulk freighter

Built at Wyandotte MI by Detroit Shipbuilding Co., Hull 161
Launched Nov 15, 1905

500’ LOA, 480’ LBP, 52’ beam, 30’ depth
1 deck, arch cargo hold construction, hatches @ 24’, coal-fired boilers, triple expansion engine, 1650 IHP

Enrolled at Detroit MI April 16, 1906 (#55)
480.0 x 52.2 x 30.0, 5712 GT, 4407 NT     US 202875     to:
National Steamship Co., Detroit MI, M. B. McMillan, Mgr. (home port Detroit MI)

Entered service April 1906

Sold April 12, 1920 to Minnesota Transit Co., Sheboygan WI, C. Reiss Coal Co., Mgr.(home port to Duluth MN) and renamed J. L. Reiss.

Fleet transferred March 6, 1921 to Reiss Steamship Co.

Rebuilt 1923 at Manitowoc WI
Remeasured to 489.0 x 52.2 x 26.5, 5398 GT, 4102 NT

Home port to Wilmington DE 1928

Converted to self-unloader 1933 at Manitowoc WI by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co.

Fleet sold June 1969 to American Steamship Co., Buffalo NY (Fleet managed by Boland & Cornelius but continued as a subsidiary under its former name.)

Sold fall 1971 to Erie Sand Steamship Co., Erie PA (home port to Erie PA)

Boilers converted to oil firing winter 1971-1972 and vessel renamed Sidney E. Smith Jr.  (2) 1972

Sunk June 5, 1972 in collision with str. Parker Evans below the Blue Water Bridge, Port Huron MI, St. Clair River.  Upbound with coal, Evans downbound with grain.  Later cut in two to help clearing the congestion in the river.

IMO 5166770

See history in Great Lakes Ships We Remember  II p. 30

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