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THE INDEPENDENT STEAMSHIP COMPANY 1 Rev. Edward J. Dowling, S. J. In 1920 the Independent Steamship Company was incorporated as a subsidiary of the American Shipbuilding Co. The latter company had erin material on hand, whic! was surplus from its "Laker" construction in the first war. This material was used to build, on speculation, ten canal-sized three-island ocean freighters, similar to the "Lakers" of World War I. At the same time the shipbuilding company built four standard Great Lakes 600-foot bulk freighters, which were sold before completion. Had they been completed before sale they would have been part of the Independent SS. Co. fleet. In the Thirties a large steel tug, built for private owners was returned to the company due to default of payment, and was technically owned by the Independent Steamship Company. In all there were fifteen units in the fleet. The ocean vessels were slow in being sold, finally going to private owners in the mid-Twenties. The four bulk freighters, as mentioned above were bought by Great Lakes owners before completion. The repossessed tug was not disposed of until 1940. With this sale the Independent Steamship Company * wound up its business. Here follows a detailed list of the ships. They are grouped according to types. I) The ten ocean freigh had di 251x 43x 22, 2,300 gross tons, six were named for American Indian tribes, and four for World War I battlefields in France. All were built in 1920. BACCARAT (US.220071), built at Cleveland (ASB, Hull #493). Sold in 1927 to the Hammond Lumber Co., San Francisco. Later Japanese DIAGEN MARU (Japanese #32739). Wrecked in heavy weather at Muroran, Hokkaido, Japan, 1-4-1961. CAYUGA (US.220781), built at Wyandotte (#284). Sold in 1927 to O.W. Blodgett of Bay City, but reverted to Independent SS. Co. 1930. Finally sold Panamanian in 1937. Wrecked in storm at St. Ives, Cornwall, Great Britain, 1-31-1938 CHIPPEWA (US.220783), built at Wyandotte pees des (#282). Sold in 1927 to Pioneer SS. Co. (Hutchinson). Later owned in New York and still later Chinese HAI NGU and HAI ER. Scrapped at Hong Kong in 1952 or 1953. Last owner was China Merchants Steam Navigation Co., of Shanghai. KIOWA (US.220780), built at Wyandotte #286.) Sold in 1927 to Blodgett of Bay City, Stranded and totally wrecked at Point au Sable on Lake Superior, 11-30-1929. JUVIGNY (US.219951), built at Wyandotte (#280). e e Collection of the Late Wm. A. McDonald Sold in 1926 to Edward P, Farley & Co., New York. Sunk in collision with British S.S. VALEMORE on Delaware River, 1-31-1927. aye