1891                                  W. H. Gilcher                                  1892

Steel Great Lakes bulk freighter

Built at Cleveland OH by Cleveland Ship Building Co., Hull 10
Launched Dec 18, 1890

318’ LOA, 41’ beam, 25’ depth
2 decks, coal-fired boilers, triple expansion engine

Enrolled at Cleveland OH May 12, 1891 (Temp #110)
301.5 x 41.2 x 21.1, 2414.64 GT, 1986.64 NT     US 81326    to:
J. C. Gilchrist et al, Vermilion OH (home port to Vermilion OH)

Entered service 1891

Permanent enrollment at Sandusky OH June 18, 1891 (#24)

Lost (probably foundered) October 28-29, 1892 in northern Lake Michigan.  All 18 lost.  Upbound from Buffalo NY with coal for Milwaukee WI.  Never seen again after passing the Straits of Mackinac in a gale.  Enrollment surrendered March 27, 1893.  (Her sister ship Western Reserve had broken in two in a heavy sea – but not a severe gale – eight weeks before and it was determined that the steel used in their construction was too brittle for large vessel construction.)

See history in Great Lakes Ships We Remember III p. 148

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