129 (barge)

47°05′10″N 85°43′17″W / 47.086167°N 85.721500°W / 47.086167; -85.721500

129 loading coal c. 1895[1]
History
United States
Name	129
Namesake	Her hull number
Owner	American Steel Barge Company of Buffalo, New York (1893–1900) Bessemer Steamship Company of Cleveland, Ohio (1900–1901) Pittsburgh Steamship Company of Duluth, Minnesota (managed by Augustus B. Wolvin) (1901–1902)
Port of registry	Duluth, Minnesota, United States
Builder	American Steel Barge Company of Superior, Wisconsin
Yard number	129
Laid down	December 5, 1892
Launched	May 13, 1893
In service	May 22, 1893
Out of service	October 13, 1902
Identification	Registry number US  53276
Fate	Sank on Lake Superior after a collision
General characteristics
Type	Whaleback barge
Tonnage	1,310 gross tons 1,265 net tons
Length	306 feet (93.3 m) LOA 292 feet (89.0 m) LBP
Beam	36 feet (11.0 m)
Depth	22 feet (6.7 m)
Propulsion	Towed by a steamship

129 (also known as Barge 129, or No.129) was an American whaleback barge in service between 1893 and 1902. She was built between December 1892 and May 1893, in Superior, Wisconsin, (or West Superior, Wisconsin), by Alexander McDougall's American Steel Barge Company, for McDougall's fleet of the same name, based in Buffalo, New York. She was one of a class of distinctive and experimental ships designed and built by McDougall. The whalebacks were designed to be more stable in high seas. They had rounded decks, and lacked the normal straight sides seen on traditional lake freighters. 129 entered service on May 22, hauling wheat from Superior. She was sold to the Bessemer Steamship Company of Cleveland, Ohio, in 1900. In 1901, she became owned by the Pittsburgh Steamship Company of Duluth, Minnesota, when the Bessemer fleet merged into it.

On October 13, 1902, 129 was downbound, loaded with iron ore, in tow of the bulk freighter Maunaloa. The two vessels encountered rough seas while about 30 miles (48.3 km) northwest of Vermilion Point. 129 broke away, Maunaloa turned around, and attempted to retrieve 129. However, the heavy seas pushed Maunaloa against 129; her port anchor sliced into 129's starboard side. 129 took on water and sank fast. All of her crew were rescued by Maunaloa.

In October 2022, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society announced the discovery of 129's wreck, which was found in 35 miles (56.3 km) off Vermilion Point in 650 feet (198.1 m) of water.