SS Ironsides

Ironsides while she was owned by the Englemann Transportation Company
History
United States
Name	Ironsides
Owner	John E. Turner (1864–1867) Dwight Scott (1867–1869) Thomas A. Howe (April 30, 1869 – May 10, 1869) Nathan Englemann (May 10, 1869–1873)
Operator	Cleveland & Lake Superior Line (1864–1867) Englemann Transportation Company (1871–1873)
Port of registry	Cleveland, Ohio, United States later Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Builder	Ira Lafrinier or Quayle & Martin of Cleveland, Ohio
Launched	July 23, 1864
In service	1864
Out of service	September 15, 1873
Identification	US official number 12091
Fate	Sank in a storm on Lake Michigan 43°2′53.88″N 86°19′8.76″W / 43.0483000°N 86.3191000°W / 43.0483000; -86.3191000
General characteristics
Class and type	Package freighter
Tonnage	973 GRT 1,123.75 GRT (after re–measurement)
Length	231 feet (70.4 m) LOA 218.66 feet (66.6 m) LBP
Beam	30.75 feet (9.4 m) 38 feet (11.6 m) (with overhanging guards)
Depth	12.75 feet (3.9 m)
Installed power	Engine: 2 × two cylinder 1,284 hp (957 kW) low pressure direct acting engines Boilers: 2 × firebox boilers
Propulsion	2 × 9 feet (2.7 m) 4–bladed fixed pitch propellers

SS Ironsides was a wooden-hulled American package freighter in service between 1864 and 1873. She was built in 1864 in Cleveland, Ohio, by either Ira Lafrinier or Quayle & Martin. She was built for John E. Turner, also of Cleveland, and operated as part of the Cleveland & Lake Superior Line. She had an identical sister ship named Lac La Belle. Ironsides operated between Cleveland and Lake Superior for a number of years, and was sold several times. In 1869, she was sold to Nathan Englemann of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and operated between Milwaukee and Grand Haven, Michigan. In 1871, she became part of the Englemann Transportation Company.

On the night of September 14, 1873, Ironsides left Milwaukee for Grand Haven with 13,000 bushels of wheat, 500 barrels of flour, 125 barrels of pork, general merchandise, 19 passengers and about 30 crewmen on board. Later that evening, the light breeze that had been blowing became a powerful gale. At 4:00 a.m. the next day, Ironsides began to take on water quickly. After failing to navigate Ironsides into Grand Haven harbour twice, Captain Harry Sweetman decided instead to anchor, and ride out the storm offshore. Later that morning, the water extinguished the fire in Ironsides' boilers. By 11:00 a.m., all people onboard had escaped in five lifeboats. Ironsides sank at 12:10 p.m. Three of the five lifeboats capsized, killing roughly 18 to 28 people.

In 1878, pieces of Ironsides' wreck were brought up by fishermen in their nets. In 1887, the Englemann Transportation Company claimed they would raise Ironsides' wreck, however, the salvage never occurred. The wreck was discovered in about 1966 by shipwreck hunter Gene Turner. The wreck lies partially collapsed in between 109 feet (33.2 m) and 122 feet (37.2 m) of water.