Frank L. Vance (Propeller), U120697, 24 Sep 1887

The new steamer KALIYUGA was launched at St. Clair Saturday. The steamer F.L. VANCE was launched at Cleveland Saturday.
      Port Huron daily Times
      Wednesday, September 28, 1887

      . . . . .

      LAUNCH OF THE STEAMER FRANK L. VANCE
      The finest modeled steamboat ever turned out by Mr. Radcliffe was launched on Saturday, with many spectators present. The new boat is named FRANK L.VANCE, and she will go into the line of the Milwaukee Steamship Co., which has headquarters at that port. Quite a number of people witnessed the launch, among whom were the owners. She combines in her construction all the fine points of the other vessels of the line, launched during the summer, the ROSWELL P. FLOWER, built at Milwaukee; the WILEY M. EAGAN, built at this port (Cleveland); and the R.P. FITZGERALD, built at Detroit. The addition of the FRANK L.VANCE to the others gives to the Milwaukee Steamship Co., four of the finest steamers on the lakes.
The contract for her construction was made with Captain George Berriman, but the purchase of the steamer WILEY M. EAGAN, and the satisfaction she gave to the Milwaukee Company, led them to make overtures to Captain Berriman for the second boat, and their proposition being accepted by Captain Berriman, she was named the FRANK L. VANCE, after one of the owners of the line, and launched in that interest.
The dimensions of the FRANK L. VANCE are as follows:- Keel 255 feet, over all 272 feet, beam 39 feet, hold 22 feet. She has three steel arches, two on the outside 12 x threequarter inch. Her machinery is a fore and aft compound engine, cylinders 28 and 50 inches, with a 45 inch stroke, built by H.G. Trout of Buffalo, and two fire box boilers 9 x 15 feet, built by the same firm. She carries three masts, and is fitted out with all the modern improvements, steam steerer, and Providence steam windlass, and capstan from the American Ship Windlass Co., Providence R.I., and an iron boiler house, built by A.T. Van Tassel & Co. These gentlemen are making a specialty now of iron boiler houses, having built one on the ROBERT R. RHODES, SAMUEL MATHER, HORACE A. TUTTLE, and FRANK L. VANCE. The house on the VANCE is 24 x 25 and 18 feet high, of No.10 plate, built on T and angle iron, and the owners of the above mentioned boats are well pleased with them. The Van Tasel & Co., also did the tanks, plumbing and general outfit.
      It is said that the FRANK L. VANCE has as fine a fitout as any freight boat on the lakes, which has been done under the supervision of captain Marion Tinney, who brought out the R.P. FLOWER, this season. Captain Tinney will command the VANCE, Joseph Schumacher, chief engineer; John Gilbert, first mate; E. Harrison, second mate. The cost of the VANCE is $130,000. She will be ready for sea next week
      The Marine record
      Thurs. Sept. 29, 1887 p. 4
     
     
Steam screw FRANK L. VANCE. U. S. No. 120697. Of 1,731.38 gross tons; 1,444.10 tons net. Built Cleveland, O., 1887. Home port, Milwaukee, Wis. 257.6 x 39.5 x 20.2 Of 700 nominal horsepower.
      Merchant Vessel List, U. S., 1895