Object Details
- built ship, Edward Smith
- F. W. Wheeler & Co.
- Description
- The three-masted wooden propeller Edward Smith was built in 1890 by F.W. Wheeler & Co. at West Bay City, Michigan. The 201-foot bulk freighter is best known for rescuing crew from the old wooden steamer Annie Young on 20 October 1890 in Lake Huron. The Young was transporting a cargo of coal from Buffalo to Gladstone, MI when a fire began somewhere in the vicinity of the boiler.
- Upbound from Marine City, Smith’s Captain Mitchell saw the Young on fire, dropped the two barges he was towing and began circling the burning ship, rescuing 13 crew and the captain. Nine men were lost when their lifeboat swamped and sank. Capt. Mitchell was awarded a lifesaving medal for his efforts; Annie Young had been insured for $55,000.
- In 1900, the Smith was renamed Zillah, when transferred at Port Huron, MI to new owners. On 29 August 1926, Zillah was transporting a cargo of heavy limestone when it sailed into a summer storm in Whitefish Bay, Lake Superior. The old steamer began to take on water, and the crew removed their belongings while Zillah coasted in a circle. The crew was rescued without loss by the steamer William B. Schiller, with assistance from the Coast Guard. Shortly afterwards, the ship rolled over and sank. The Zillah’s wreck was located in 1975.
- 1966
- ship transferred to Michigan
- 1900
- ship sank
- 1926-08-29
- ship wreckage located
- 1975
- ID Number
- TR.326655
- catalog number
- 326655
- accession number
- 265603
- Object Name
- ship, barge
- ship model, barge
- model, ship
- Other Terms
- ship, barge; Maritime; Steam
- Physical Description
- wood (overall material)
- textile (overall material)
- plastic (overall material)
- metals (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 18 in x 29 1/2 in x 4 1/2 in; 45.72 cm x 74.93 cm x 11.43 cm
- location of F. W. Wheeler & Co.
- United States: Michigan, West Bay
- Associated Place
- Huron, Lake
- United States: Michigan, Port Huron
- Superior, Lake
- Related Publication
- On the Water online exhibition
- Related Web Publication
- http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthewater
- See more items in
- Work and Industry: Maritime
- Work
- Energy & Power
- Industry & Manufacturing
- Transportation
- On the Water exhibit
- Exhibition
- On the Water
- Exhibition Location
- National Museum of American History
- National Museum of American History
- related event
- The Development of the Industrial United States
- The Emergence of Modern America
- Record ID
- nmah_844263
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a6-852d-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
