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: Material Service (M/V) OTHER NAME(s): - OFFICIAL NO: 228371 DATE OF LOSS: 29 July 1936 CAUSE OF LOSS: Storm LOCATION: Lake Michigan, off S. Chicago breakwater light RIG TYPE: Propeller, self-unloading bulk freighter, HULL TYPE: Steel BUILDER: Smith & Leathem Shipbuilding, Sturgeon Bay, WI - 1929 OWNER(S): Smith-Putnam Navigation Co., Sturgeon Bay, WI MASTER: Capt. Charles D. Brown, Port Huron, MI TONNAGE: 1,077 gt, 736 nt DIMENSIONS: 239.58 x 40 x 13.75 CASUALTIES: 15 of 22 At 12:59 a.m. the MATERIAL SERVICE was approaching the South Chicago light and all was well. Within 30 minutes the large motorship was resting on the bottom of Lake Michigan. Bound Lockport to the Material Service corporation yards at Calumet Harbor with 2,400 tons of sand when she suddenly began taking on water. A huge wave swept over her and caused her to lurch suddenly to port; sinking about a minute later. The subsequent investigation showed that tarpaulins had not been used to make her hold covers watertight and that the A-frame had been kept erect during the trip. Over the next decade several attempts at salvage were made, each prooving unsuccessful and, eventually, the wreck was abandoned. Casualties: Capt. Charles D. Brown, Port Huron Melvin Tufts, age 34, second mate, Lockport Harry Meyers, age 29, oiler, Lockport Leif Olson, age 32, sand scraper, Lockport Anthony Casity, age 45, steward, Lockport Elmer Bergland, age 28, boom man, Lockport Marshall Oberlin, age 28, cook. Lockport Elmer Bergran, deckhand, Chicago John Melby, Wheelman, Chicago Fred Samuelson, deckhand, Chicago Michael McEvoy, age 27, deckhand, Chicago Charles Bergstead, age 30, oiler, Chicago Odin Johnson, chief engineer, Lemont C. Brown, deckhand, MI. Dan Hanson, oiler, Sturgeon Bay, WI ======================================================================== Sources: Chicago Daily Tribune, 30 July - 3 August 1936 Buffalo Courier-Express, 30 July 1936 Green's Marine Directory of the Great Lakes, 1936 Great Lakes Vessels Online Index - BGSU