SS B.F. Jones

The steamer B.F. Jones on the ways in Ecorse, Michigan
History
 United States
Name:
  • B.F. Jones
Operator:
Port of registry:  United States,
Builder: Great Lakes Engineering Works, Ecorse, Michigan
Yard number: 15
Laid down: October 20, 1905
Launched: December 30, 1905
In service: April 20, 1906
Out of service: August 21, 1955
Identification: U.S. #202839
Fate: Scrapped in Duluth, Minnesota after a collision with the steamer Cason J. Callaway
Status: Scrapped
General characteristics
Class and type: Lake freighter
Tonnage: 6,939 gross register tonnage 5,492 net register tonnage
Length: 552 ft (168 m)
Beam: 56 ft (17 m)
Height: 31 ft (9.4 m)
Installed power: 2x Scotch marine boilers
Propulsion: 1,700 horsepower triple expansion steam engine
Speed: 10 knots

The B.F. Jones was a steel hulled Great Lakes freighter that was named after one of the founders of the Jones and Laughlin Steel Company. She was launched on December 30, 1905 as hull #15. She operated from April 1906 to August 21, 1955 she collided with the steamer Cason J. Callaway.[1] After inspection she was declared a constructive total loss, and scrapped in Duluth, Minnesota.[2]

History

The B.F. Jones (U.S. Registry #202839) was a product of the Great Lakes Engineering Works of Ecorse, Michigan for the Interstate Steamship Company (a subsidiary of Jones and Laughlin Steel Company) of Cleveland, Ohio. She was 552-feet in length, having a 56-foot beam and 31-foot height, with a gross register tonnage of 6,939 tons and a net register tonnage of 5,492 tons. She was powered by a 1,700 horsepower triple expansion steam engine and fueled by two coal-fired Scotch marine boilers. She entered service on April 20, 1906. The Jones had an identical sister ship named James Laughlin.

On October 26, 1924 the Jones rammed the steamer E.A.S. Clarke in heavy fog in the Detroit River near the Great Lakes Engineering Works. The Clarke sank almost immediately, luckily no lives were lost. In 1937 the Jones had her cargo hatches rebuilt with a hatch cover crane and 24-foot (7.3 m) centers in Detroit, Michigan, she was also extended from 552-feet in length to 560-feet in length.[3]

On October 23, 1941 the Jones grounded off the east end of Belle Isle in the Detroit River. The tugboats America and Oregon arrived to assist her soon after the grounding. Unfortunately the America got caught in the towline of the Oregon, capsized and sank in five second into 19-feet of water. Six of the America's crew members died.[4][5] In 1949 the Interstate Steamship Company's fleet merged with their parent company, the Jones and Laughlin Steel Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Her career with J.& L. lasted only three years. On November 15, 1952 J.& L.'s fleet was sold to the Wilson Transit Company of Cleveland, Ohio (she was re-registered to Wilmington, Delaware).

On August 21, 1955 the Jones was seriously damaged in a collision with the larger steamer Cason J. Callaway, they collided because of heavy fog near Lime Island in the St. Mary's River. After an inspection she was declared a constructive total loss.[6] She was sold for scrap to the Duluth Iron & Metal Company and scrapped in Duluth, Minnesota. The Jones's pilot house, one-piece steel hatch covers and deck crane was transferred to the steamer Sparkman D. Foster.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Historical Perspectives-Cason J. Callaway". BoatNerd. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  2. ↑ "Jones, B.F." Bowling State Green University. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  3. ↑ "Jones, B.F. 1". Great Lakes Vessel History. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  4. ↑ "America". Bowling State Green University. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  5. ↑ "AMERICA; 1897; Tug (Towboat); US107302". Great Lakes Maritime Database. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  6. ↑ "Shipwrecks on the Great Lakes since 1950". Geo.Msu. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  7. ↑ "Hoover and Mason". Bowling State Green University. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
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