PM 18 Found

Anything pertaining to railfanning in Michigan.
chapmaja
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 1261
Joined: Sat Nov 22, 2008 2:02 pm

PM 18 Found

Unread post by chapmaja »

This summer, PM 18, at the time the largest car ferry on the Great Lakes sank while crossing Lake Michigan. The wreck was finally found in July after almost 110 years since it sank. The crew famously tried pushing cars out of the ship to lessen the weight, but it was futile. Despite cutting loose 5 cars from the ship, it sank. What was interesting about the position of the ship is that it apparently hit very fast and the stern sank into the lake bottom. The bow is close to 100 feet above the bottom of the lake, meaning the ship sank going fast to the bottom.

The position of the ship also makes it very difficult to determine the cause of the wreck. It was noted by survivors that it appeared to be taking on water near the stern of the ship, where the crew quarters were located. One of the likely theories is that it was a broken hatch cover or a failure of the propeller tunnel seals which let water enter the ship. Supposedly they had steering control as they attempted to deviate their course to Sheboygan, Wisconsin. This would appear to rule out a rudder problem.

The theory I think is most likely is a problem with the stern plate of the ship. This would have allowed substantial water into the ship and would have been more difficult to detect than a issue with the propeller tunnel.

joeyuboats
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 256
Joined: Sun Jun 16, 2019 10:25 am

Re: PM 18 Found

Unread post by joeyuboats »

I do not think the very early car ferries had sea gates to protect the stern of the boats, either.

User avatar
GDLK FAN
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 19
Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2020 6:39 pm
Location: Allegan Mi

Re: PM 18 Found

Unread post by GDLK FAN »

This is the ship that had a boxcar full of gold bullion stolen from the confederacy at the end of the Civil War from down south that was brought up to Michigan. Its also said that it was one of the five cars pushed off the ship. The guy that stole it was Benjamin Pritchard from Allegan Michigan and was the one that started the First National Back of Allegan. Link to the site for more information https://k1025.com/benjamin-pritchard-cu ... -war-gold/
Grand Elk Railroad Fan and Freighter Geekhttps://youtube.com/channel/UCTgZyj4xYETURakWg0YNK2w

Steve B
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 1255
Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2007 8:03 pm
Location: East Lansing

Re: PM 18 Found

Unread post by Steve B »

Robert King wrote:
Tue Sep 15, 2020 5:25 pm
This is the ship that had a boxcar full of gold bullion stolen from the confederacy at the end of the Civil War from down south that was brought up to Michigan. Its also said that it was one of the five cars pushed off the ship. The guy that stole it was Benjamin Pritchard from Allegan Michigan and was the one that started the First National Back of Allegan. Link to the site for more information https://k1025.com/benjamin-pritchard-cu ... -war-gold/
Where did you hear about that theory? It doesn't make any sense. What would a boxcar loaded with Confederate gold be doing running around 45 years after the war ended, 40 years after Pritchard founded the First National Bank of Allegan, and three years after he died? Why would it be in a boxcar anyway-- hardly the most secure mode of transport?

User avatar
kd_1014
Mike
Posts: 1043
Joined: Sat Feb 24, 2018 3:29 pm
Location: Creston, Grand Rapids

Re: PM 18 Found

Unread post by kd_1014 »

Steve B wrote:
Tue Sep 15, 2020 8:46 pm
Robert King wrote:
Tue Sep 15, 2020 5:25 pm
This is the ship that had a boxcar full of gold bullion stolen from the confederacy at the end of the Civil War from down south that was brought up to Michigan. Its also said that it was one of the five cars pushed off the ship. The guy that stole it was Benjamin Pritchard from Allegan Michigan and was the one that started the First National Back of Allegan. Link to the site for more information https://k1025.com/benjamin-pritchard-cu ... -war-gold/
Where did you hear about that theory? It doesn't make any sense. What would a boxcar loaded with Confederate gold be doing running around 45 years after the war ended, 40 years after Pritchard founded the First National Bank of Allegan, and three years after he died? Why would it be in a boxcar anyway-- hardly the most secure mode of transport?
If its true, you know what i'll be doing next summer

User avatar
GDLK FAN
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 19
Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2020 6:39 pm
Location: Allegan Mi

Re: PM 18 Found

Unread post by GDLK FAN »

Steve B wrote:
Tue Sep 15, 2020 8:46 pm
Robert King wrote:
Tue Sep 15, 2020 5:25 pm
This is the ship that had a boxcar full of gold bullion stolen from the confederacy at the end of the Civil War from down south that was brought up to Michigan. Its also said that it was one of the five cars pushed off the ship. The guy that stole it was Benjamin Pritchard from Allegan Michigan and was the one that started the First National Back of Allegan. Link to the site for more information https://k1025.com/benjamin-pritchard-cu ... -war-gold/
Where did you hear about that theory? It doesn't make any sense. What would a boxcar loaded with Confederate gold be doing running around 45 years after the war ended, 40 years after Pritchard founded the First National Bank of Allegan, and three years after he died? Why would it be in a boxcar anyway-- hardly the most secure mode of transport?
I watch a lot of history shows, read lots of history articles, and did some research on this. The house that Mr. Pritchard lived in is only a mile from my house and history of what he did easy to find here in Allegan. (my house was owned by a Pritchard family member). Also, there is an entire show looking for the gold on the History channel. Feel free to check the link for more information. But as the story goes, a boxcar was full of stolen gold bullion (nobody knew about it accept him and whoever checked it) and was pushed off the ship into the lake (the people on the ship did not know what it was) and people have been trying to find it but no success.
Grand Elk Railroad Fan and Freighter Geekhttps://youtube.com/channel/UCTgZyj4xYETURakWg0YNK2w

User avatar
GDLK FAN
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 19
Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2020 6:39 pm
Location: Allegan Mi

Re: PM 18 Found

Unread post by GDLK FAN »

kd_1014 wrote:
Tue Sep 15, 2020 9:42 pm
Steve B wrote:
Tue Sep 15, 2020 8:46 pm
Robert King wrote:
Tue Sep 15, 2020 5:25 pm
This is the ship that had a boxcar full of gold bullion stolen from the confederacy at the end of the Civil War from down south that was brought up to Michigan. Its also said that it was one of the five cars pushed off the ship. The guy that stole it was Benjamin Pritchard from Allegan Michigan and was the one that started the First National Back of Allegan. Link to the site for more information https://k1025.com/benjamin-pritchard-cu ... -war-gold/
Where did you hear about that theory? It doesn't make any sense. What would a boxcar loaded with Confederate gold be doing running around 45 years after the war ended, 40 years after Pritchard founded the First National Bank of Allegan, and three years after he died? Why would it be in a boxcar anyway-- hardly the most secure mode of transport?
If its true, you know what i'll be doing next summer
Not sure but i think you need permission from the state government to look for it, seeing its stolen gold bullion
Grand Elk Railroad Fan and Freighter Geekhttps://youtube.com/channel/UCTgZyj4xYETURakWg0YNK2w

CAT345C
RedNeck Train Chaser
Posts: 4141
Joined: Sat Jul 30, 2005 8:42 pm
Location: Buffalo Location
Contact:

Re: PM 18 Found

Unread post by CAT345C »

I thought the boat with the gold sank earlier and sailed out of Frankfort so wouldn't it have been a Ann Arbor boat that sank with it? Either way for the naysayers there is a tv show on the History Channel about it. Its fascinating.
Making the railroad all Catywompus since 2008

https://www.flickr.com/gp/66353741@N07/02EZ1e

User avatar
James Sofonia
Grand Traverse Dinner Train 1996
Posts: 1701
Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2014 7:56 pm
Location: Traverse City, Michigan

Re: PM 18 Found

Unread post by James Sofonia »

CAT345C wrote:
Wed Sep 16, 2020 5:50 pm
I thought the boat with the gold sank earlier and sailed out of Frankfort so wouldn't it have been a Ann Arbor boat that sank with it? Either way for the naysayers there is a tv show on the History Channel about it. Its fascinating.
Yes it was an interesting story. They had found a bar of gold, but had to wait for a permit from the State of Michigan to bring it up. The following season they went down and found it was a brick painted gold. They got scammed by someone and the series abruptly ended.

User avatar
GDLK FAN
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 19
Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2020 6:39 pm
Location: Allegan Mi

Re: PM 18 Found

Unread post by GDLK FAN »

Pixl wrote:
Thu Sep 17, 2020 11:59 am
CAT345C wrote:
Wed Sep 16, 2020 5:50 pm
I thought the boat with the gold sank earlier and sailed out of Frankfort so wouldn't it have been a Ann Arbor boat that sank with it? Either way for the naysayers there is a tv show on the History Channel about it. Its fascinating.
Yes it was an interesting story. They had found a bar of gold, but had to wait for a permit from the State of Michigan to bring it up. The following season they went down and found it was a brick painted gold. They got scammed by someone and the series abruptly ended.
It was a good series because you actually learned a bit about the stolen gold bullion and how it got to Michigan and for me the show was from Michigan. Like nothing is from Michigan (tv shows). Be cool if someone would find that gold but I bet its under a lot of sand because of the lake moving things around.
Grand Elk Railroad Fan and Freighter Geekhttps://youtube.com/channel/UCTgZyj4xYETURakWg0YNK2w

hoborich
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 2992
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2008 1:05 am
Location: Northern Michigan

Re: PM 18 Found

Unread post by hoborich »

"Ask your doctor if medical advice from a TV commercial is right for you".

User avatar
DaveO
Read more, think more, post less
Posts: 1453
Joined: Thu Dec 14, 2017 12:57 pm
Location: Between here and there

Re: PM 18 Found

Unread post by DaveO »

The History Channel produces shows for entertainment purposes.
There are at least 2 variations of the confederate gold story out there. That should give a clue as to how valid either one is.

Steve B
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 1255
Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2007 8:03 pm
Location: East Lansing

Re: PM 18 Found

Unread post by Steve B »

If someone came up with actual evidence that a car of gold was loaded onto the PM 18, I'd love to read about it. As it stands now, there's nothing but fevered dreaming. "You can't prove it didn't happen" isn't a sufficient argument. I also can't prove that aliens didn't land 1,000 years ago where my house stands.

PatAzo
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 1368
Joined: Tue Feb 26, 2013 9:20 pm

Re: PM 18 Found

Unread post by PatAzo »

A brief video of the wreck



DaveO wrote:
Fri Sep 18, 2020 7:40 am
There are at least 2 variations of the confederate gold story out there. That should give a clue as to how valid either one is.
One account is a Frankfort lighthouse keeper who witnessed cars being pushed off the ferry. The other is a death bed confession of a banker (not Pritchard) who said he was involved in the theft. The ships differ too. One is the car ferry and another account is silver bars locked in the safe of an 1800's tug.

Post Reply