The USSB Steamship KENOSHA
The Night Launching
KENOSHA was the second wooden Ferris style 1001 steamship built in the Sanderson & Porter Shipyard, Redmond WA. Her hull was number #90 and she was launched with great patriotic fanfare on the night of July 21, 1918. Not only was it unusual to hold a ship christening at night, 11pm (to take advantage of the tide), but the christening platform was not normal. Most of the launching party, including the band, were actually on a special platform built on hull #91 (PEZUTA) next to KENOSHA. Sponsor, Mrs. E. E. Carpenter (wife of the executive engineer/shipyard manager) stood on KENOSHA’s deck, broke the champagne bottle on the bow and rode the hull into the Willapa River, bow first.
Triple Expansion Steam Engines
Later KENOSHA was towed to Eagle Harbor for machinery installation at the Winslow Marine Railway & Shipbuilding Co. The installment of her triple expansion steam engine took far less time than it did for the FONDUCO. This was partly due to experience of installing machinery in previous ships but also additional hands were hired to get it accomplished. Another factor was an earlier outbreak of Spanish influenza had temporarily incapacitated many workers. A round of vaccines prevented further outbreaks, especially in Winslow. KENOSHA was officially registered as number “217190” and assigned visual signal letters “LNQW”, She also received radio equipment. Her call letters were “KPIA”.
First Load
KENOSHA was delivered to the Emergency Fleet Corp (EFC) of the United State Shipping Board (USSB) July 22, 1919, Then on August 11, 1919 for dock trials at Hanford street terminal (pier 25 today) in Seattle. On August 19, 1919, with Captain William E. Fulton (a Nova Scotia native) in command, she arrived in Aberdeen WA., for the first part of her cargo. It took many port visits to fill the holds with railroad ties. Next port was Astoria OR., then back to Aberdeen Wa., then again to Astoria before finally steaming off at 2pm on September 6, 1919, to Liverpool U.K. with 1,044,183 board feet of railroad ties in the hold and another 203,125 board feet lashed to the deck.
Excessive Leaking
September 8, 1919, excessive leaking made her put in at San Francisco for repairs. Poor quality oakum used in caulking was a common problem with the wooden Ferris ships. It took 4 days in San Francisco before repairs were completed. KENOSHA steamed off again September 13, 1919.
Transit Panama Canal
KENOSHA arrived at Balboa, Canal Zone (CZ) September 30, 1919. After passing through the Panama Canal she stopped at “Steamship Row” in Cristobal CZ, for minor “marine work” before steaming out into the Atlantic October 5, 1919. Her next stop was Horta, Faial, Azores for coal and fresh provisions.
Arrive Liverpool
KENOSHA arrived in Liverpool November 18, 1919, and her railroad ties were off-loaded. There the Captain received orders to proceed to Cardiff, Wales, to pick up coal for Flushing, Holland. While at Cardiff, Wales, KENOSHA received a new Master: Captain Thomas C Enos (a native of Wales) relieved Captain Fulton.
S.O.S. from ROCK ISLAND BRIDGE
December 28, 1919, KENOSHA arrived in Flushing, Holland. The next trip was transporting coal from Newcastle-on-Tyne U.K. to Rotterdam, Holland. Then from Swansea, Wales, to Antwerp, Belgium. On a return trip from Antwerp to Port Talbot, Wales, they had a little excitement. March 22, 1920, “KPIA” received an S.O.S. from the steamship ROCK ISLAND BRIDGE (USSB steel cargo steamship design 1023 built by Submarine Boat Corp in Newark NJ). They had been rammed in the side by the tanker “IROQUOIS” three times and were taking on water.
ROCK ISLAND BRIDGE Sinks
ROCK ISLAND BRIDGE had just discharged her cargo at Flushing, Holland and was headed for Falmouth, U.K., when heavy fog was encountered. A heavy laden tanker IROQUOIS (U.K. Belfast) rammed her bow into the ROCK ISLAND BRIDGE amidships, port side. The first hit caused some stove in plates but the damage was not very great. Unfortunately the IROQUOIS rammed her 2 more times in the stern, cutting a gaping hole below the waterline. Forward bulkheads managed to keep her afloat. She was 8 nautical miles south-southwest of Lizard Point, Cornwall when she put out a distress call. KENOSHA answered and took ROCK ISLAND BRIDGE in tow heading for Falmouth Harbor. As they approached Helford River, ROCK ISLAND BRIDGE started listing to one side. The KENOSHA had to stop the tow near Dennis Head, Cornwall, and retrieve the remaining hands on ROCK ISLAND BRIDGE. (wreck is still there today)
Last Load
KENOSHA continued to Port Talbot, Wales, where she loaded coal for Antwerp, Belgium. After delivering the coal they returned to Port Talbot only to sit idle from May 1920, through late August 1920. Final received orders were for Barry Docks, Wales, to load U.S. Army cargo heading back to the United States. Captain William G. Gilray relieved Captain Enos as master at Barry Docks. September 8, 1920, KENOSHA headed to the U.S. Army “New York Port of Embarkation (NYPOE) arriving there September 23, 1920. KENOSHA was then ordered to Claremont, Virginia to be put into the EFC “laid up” fleet on October 16, 1920.
Dismantled and Abandoned
January 1922 the EFC had developed a contract contest that involved 6 companies. One of those companies was the William J. Breen & Company of Boston. The idea was each company would get 2 wooden Ferris 1001 ships to dismantle (12 total), pay the EFC $2,000 plus 50% of the net profits over $2,000 dollars. The firm showing the best financial return would be given first option for future contacts. William J. Breen & Co., were given KENOSHA and WAKANNA February 22, 1922. Their first attempt in making some profit was to fill both ships with cargo and have KENOSHA tow WAKANNA to Boston. They stopped in Newport News, each taking on 800 tons of coal. Once they arrived in Boston in April, 1922 they discharged their cargo and proceed to South Boston April 25, 1922, to be dismantled. On May 23, 1922 the registration papers for both KENOSHA and WAKANNA were surrendered to the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Navigation, as “dismantled and abandoned.”
Notes:
IROQUOIS at the time of the maritime incident was the largest “Horse and Cart” style oil tanker ever built. At 467 ft long, 60 ft wide, and partnered with a “bald-headed”, six-masted, oil barge, NAVAHOE which was 450 feet long, 58 feet wide. Together carrying 20,000 tons of oil. They were built in Belfast, Ireland, in 1907.