SS Cedarville
The SS Cedarville was first launched in 1927. The ship was 604 feet in length with a triple expansion steam engine. The Cedarville was known for being a bulk hauler. The main cargo that the ship carried was limestone. Cedarville was one of the largest ships to be sailing the Great Lakes, behind the Fitzgerald and the Bradley.
On May 7th, 1965, carrying 14,411 tons of limestone, the Cedarville set out from Port Calcite, near Roger City heading to Gary, Indiana with a crew of 35 men. Of the 35 crewmen, 34 were from Roger City. Fog was settling in and was getting thicker throughout the morning. Given the low visibility, the Cedarville was going faster than the ship should have been. The Cedarville collided with the Norwegian vessel Topdalsfjord. When the vessels made contact, the Cedarville sustained a significant gash on the side between the seventh and eight hatch.
After the collision, the Cedarville dropped anchor to assess the situation. The ship was taking on water fast and the attempt to patch the gash was unsuccessful, due to its size. The Captain of the Cedarville, Martin E. Joppich, made an attempt to sail to Mackinaw City, even though the ship was miles from shore. The ship traveled approximately 2.3 miles after the collision. At 10:25 AM, 17,000 ft from the south tower of the Mackinac Bridge, the ship rolled over and sank in 105 feet of water. Of the 35 crewmen, twenty-five men survived, eight men went down with the ship, one man drowned in the water and one man passed from hypothermia and shock on a different vessel, the Weissenburg.
On May 7th, 1965, carrying 14,411 tons of limestone, the Cedarville set out from Port Calcite, near Roger City heading to Gary, Indiana with a crew of 35 men. Of the 35 crewmen, 34 were from Roger City. Fog was settling in and was getting thicker throughout the morning. Given the low visibility, the Cedarville was going faster than the ship should have been. The Cedarville collided with the Norwegian vessel Topdalsfjord. When the vessels made contact, the Cedarville sustained a significant gash on the side between the seventh and eight hatch.
After the collision, the Cedarville dropped anchor to assess the situation. The ship was taking on water fast and the attempt to patch the gash was unsuccessful, due to its size. The Captain of the Cedarville, Martin E. Joppich, made an attempt to sail to Mackinaw City, even though the ship was miles from shore. The ship traveled approximately 2.3 miles after the collision. At 10:25 AM, 17,000 ft from the south tower of the Mackinac Bridge, the ship rolled over and sank in 105 feet of water. Of the 35 crewmen, twenty-five men survived, eight men went down with the ship, one man drowned in the water and one man passed from hypothermia and shock on a different vessel, the Weissenburg.
Wilbert W. Bredow
Steward
Steward
Stanley Haske
Wheelman
Wheelman
Edmund H. Jungman
Watchman
Watchman
William B. Asam
Wheelman
Wheelman
Arthur J. Fuhrman
Deck watchman
Deck watchman
Frank Donald Lamp
Chief Engineer
Chief Engineer
Charles H. Cook
Third Mate
Third Mate
Reinhold F. Radtke
3rd Asst. Engineer
3rd Asst. Engineer
Hugo Wingo
Oiler
Oiler
Eugene F. Jones
Stokerman
Stokerman
