PS City of Erie
The SS "City of Erie" was a sidewheeler steamboat on Lake Erie. It was famous for being one of the fastest ships on the Great Lakes, at the time. It also won a race against a newer, rival ship. Construction. The "City of Erie" was built in 1898 by the Detroit Dry Dock Company in Wyandotte, Michigan, for the Cleveland Buffalo Transit Company (C&B). It was designed by Frank E. Kirby. The ship was launched on February 26, 1898, and made its maiden voyage on June 19, 1898. Operations. The "City of Erie"'s route was  from Cleveland, Ohio, and Erie, Pennsylvania, to Buffalo, New York. It was nicknamed the "Honeymoon Special" from the number of newlyweds who travelled to Buffalo, bound for Niagara Falls, on the "City of Erie". Starting in 1929, the "City of Erie" operated between Cleveland and Port Stanley, Ontario. Steamboat race. After a friendly race between the "City of Chicago" and the "City of Milwaukee" in September 1900, a Chicago newspaper boasted the winner (the "City of Chicago") was the "fastest on the lakes". A paper in Detroit, Michigan, subsequently listed nine other vessels (including the "City of Erie") that could  have easily beat the "City of Chicago". The list failed to mention the newest ship built for Detroit's White Star Line, the "Tashmoo". The "Tashmoo", also designed by Kirby, was built in 1900 and was built specifically for speed. The president of Detroit's White Star Line offered $1,000 to any ship that could beat the "Tashmoo" in a race. J. W. Wescott, president of the C&B, accepted the challenge. The set course was long, going along the "City of Erie"'s regular route from Cleveland to Erie. The "City of Erie" was initially ahead but was soon  overtaken by the "Tashmoo". The "Tashmoo" eventually slowed and was passed as soon as it was out of sight of the shore because the "wheelman [of the "Tashmoo"] was not used to steering [only] by compass." The "Tashmoo" was later forced to slow again due to an overheating condenser. The "City of Erie" beat the "Tashmoo" by 45 seconds, with the "Tashmoo" still gaining ground. The owners of the "City of Erie" refused to have a rematch, although it was admitted that the "Tashmoo" was the faster ship. End of service. On September 27, 1909, the "City of Erie" collided  with the schooner, "T. Vance Straubenstein". The schooner was sunk, drowning three people. The "City of Erie" was retired from service in 1938 and was scrapped in Cleveland in 1941.