Boca Grande Steamship Company
Boca Grande Steamship amd Lawrence Steamship Co had the same address.
80 Broad Street New York (photo from New York Times - 1916)
Lawrence Steamship 80 Broad Street (American Bureau of Shipping)
In 1915, Merchants and Miners sold the New Orleans to its final owner,
Boca Grande Steamship Company.
Boca Grande, which took possession of the New Orleans on May 4, 1915, wanted her
for coastal freight service from Florida.
At that time Boca Grande Steamship was a smaller freight line running between Florida and Gulf
ports with two steamships, the New Orleans and the Dorothy.
Very little information about Boca Grande is still on record, other than its
existence briefly in the early 1900's.
Capt Charles H Lawrence was the President of the Boca Grande Steamship Company and
he was also the captain of the New Orleans at the time of it's sinking.
Capt. Lawrence was from Birmingham, Alabama and had been previously connected with
the Philadelphia and Gulf Steamship Company.
Before placing her on the route, however, the new owners sent her to the
Philadelphia Ship Repair Company for extensive repairs.
The afterhouse was removed and steam winches, steam steering gear and booms were
installed for her new service.
While she was there, she also had a complete overhaul. It is not entirely clear
if the New Orleans had new boilers installed in that 1915 overhaul.
The last time the boilers were replaced on the New Orleans was 1891.
Neither the American Bureau of Shipping, or Lloyd's of London, show new boilers
were installed during the 1915 refit.
It should be noted that it had been 24 years since the last boilers were installed.
| The Louisiana Oil Refining Co has bought the old steamship New Orleans
and will have her repaired and establish a freight service out of Shreveport on
the Red River. (3/6/15) |
| The Merchants and Miners Trans Co steamer New Orleans has been sold to
Southern purchasers for future delivery. The steamer is now under charter with
the Baltimore and Carolina Steamship Co., on the route from Baltimore to Wilmington,
Georgetown & Charlestown, the charter expiring May1. The New Orleans is an iron,
three-masted steamer built by Pusey & Jones, Wilmington, Del in 1872. She registers
1564 tons gross and is 249 feet long. (4/20/15) |
| The Merchants and Miners Transportation Co.’s steamship New Orleans with
for years has been trading between Philadelphia and southern ports, has been sold
to John Lawrence, Birmingham, Ala. She is now under charter to the Baltimore and
Carolina Steamship Co., but will be released in May. The New Orleans was built at
Wilmington, Del., in 1872. (x/x/x) |
| The Merchants and Miners steamship New Orleans recently acquired by the Boca Grande Steamship Co., was delivered in this city May 4 to captain Charles H Lawrence, president of the line. Captian Lawrence, formerly connected with the defunct Philadelphia and Gulf SS Co, now runs a freight line between Florida and Gulf ports, with the steamships New Orleans and Dorothy. The New Orleans is now in drydock. Her after-house is to be removed, and steam winches, steam steering
gear and booms installed. After a general overhauling she is to load a cargo
anthracite for New Orleans. (x/x/15) |
|
|
| New Orleans in Philadelphia for overhaul |
Before placing New Orleans on the route, however, the new owner sent her to the
Philadelphia Ship Repair Company for extensive repairs. The after house was removed
and steam winches, steam steering gear and booms were installed for her new service.
(from Joan Charles –Elwin Eldredge Collection - Mariners Museum)
… The New Orleans is now in drydock. Her after-house is to be removed, and steam winches, steam steering
gear and booms installed. After a general overhauling she is to load a cargo anthracite for New Orleans. (x/x/15)
 |
 |
New Orleans arrived Philadelphia on November 25, 1915 (above)
New Orleans cleared Philadelphia on January 15th, 1916 (below)
 |
The steamer New Orleans has been extensively repaired by the Philadelphia Ship
Repair Co. She is owned by the Boca Grande Steamship Co. (2/1916)
Philadelphia Ship Repairs / H. P. Dilkes & Co.?? (50 days)
Chester Arrived Thursday 11/25/1915
Str New Orleans/Lawrence/Boston/ballast/H. P. Dilkes & Co
Departed Saturday 1/15/1916
Str New Orleans/Lawrence/Cienfuegos/coal/H. P. Dilkes & Co.
From Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia, PA
1039 |Str New Orleans | Lawrence | arrived | November 25,1915
1042 |Str New Orleans | Lawrence | cleared | Saturday Jan 15, 1916 | Cienfuegos | coal | H P Dilkes & Co
Boca Grande owned two ships in 1915 -1916…. New Orleans and Dorothy
(information from Elwin Eldredge news clippings)
(information from Port Records of Philadelphia)
While in Philadelphia, New Orleans had a complete overhaul.
(from Joan Charles –Elwin Eldredge Collection Mariners Museum)
The Merchants and Miners steamship New Orleans recently acquired by the Boca Grande Steamship Co.,
was delivered in this city May 4 to captain Charles H Lawrence, president of the line. Captian Lawrence, formerly
connected with the defunct Philadelphia and Gulf SS Co, now runs a freight line between Florida and Gulf ports,
with the steamships New Orleans and Dorothy. The New Orleans is now in drydock. Her after-house is to be removed,
and steam winches, steam steering gear and booms installed. After a general overhauling she is to load a cargo
anthracite for New Orleans. (x/x/15)
From Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia, PA
1092 |Str Dorothy | Thompson | arrived - Thursday Jan 20, 1916 | from Pensicola | ballast | Jonathan May & Son
1095 |Str Dorothy | Farnsworth | cleared - Saturday Jan 22, 1916 | to Sewell’s Point | ballast | Jonathan May & Son
1097 |Str Dorothy | Farnsworth | arrived - Sunday February 27, 1916 | Boca Grande | phosphate rock | Jonathan May & Son
1096 |Str Dorothy | Farnsworth | cleared -Thursday March 2, 1916 | ballast | Jonathan May & Son
Boca Grande amd Lawrence Steamship Co had the same address
80 Broad Street (photo from Elwin Eldredge news clipping)
“New Orleans painted with Rexx Paint”
Lawrence Steamship 80 Broad Street (listed in ABS – Mariners Museum)
Listed in 1925. 1926, and 1927 ABS
1925 - 1 ship (Santuree)
1926 - 2 ships (Santuree, Justin)
1927 - 4 ships (CH Lawrence, HJ Lawrence)
Listed in 1927 Merchant Vessels Index to Managing Owners
(first year this section appears in MVof US)
only internet hit on Boca Grande Steamship:
Patrick Joseph Williams. Born on 9 Jul 1879 in Pensacola, Fl.
Patrick Joseph died in Pensacola, Fl on 25 Sep 1915, he was 36. Williams was buried in St Johns section 26.
He was a member of the Elks Lodge # 497. He served in several positions during his life, but at all times
was connected with some firm associated with the port's shipping. For years he was with the firm Hyer Brothers
exporters, and later entered in the employ of the late Capt E.E. Saunders as private secretary, having charge
of the tugs and barges owned by Capt. Saunders, and held this position until the death of the owner. Later he
became connected with the firm of E.E. Saunders & Co., and also was local agent of the Boca Grande Steamship Co.
He served two term as a member of the board of public safety, being one of the officials to retire with the
adoption of the commission form of government. Buried at St John's Cemetery in Pensacola
Boca Grande owned two ships in 1915 -1916…. New Orleans and Dorothy
(information from Elwin Eldredge news clippings)
(information from Port Records of Philadelphia)
Boca Grande amd Lawrence Steamship Co had the same address.
80 Broad Street (photo from Elwin Eldredge news clipping)
“New Orleans painted with Rexx Paint”
Lawrence Steamship 80 Broad Street (listed in ABS – Mariners Museum)
- listed in 1925. 1926, and 1927 ABS
1925 - 1 ship (Santuree)
1926 - 2 ships (Santuree, Justin)
1927 - 4 ships (CH Lawrence, CT Lawrence, HJ Lawrence, GM Lawrence)
1927 - Record of American and Foreign Shipping (ABS) Mariners
Lawrence S.S. Co
80 Broad St.,
New York, NY
Str. – C H Lawrence 1225
Str. – C T Lawrence 1123 (was Str Justin?)
Str. – G M Lawrence 1779 (was Str Santuree?)
Str. – H J Lawrence 1223 (formerly Lake Meelford)
- listed in 1927 Merchant Vessels Index to Managing Owners
(first year this section appears in MVof US)
Manta (ID 2036)
... the New York & Porto Rico Steamship Co., New York, NY;
Sold four times in 1929, first
sold at US Marshal's sale, 21 March 1929 to Charles H. Lawrence, New York ...
www.navsource.org/archives/12/172036.htm
NavSource Online:
Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive
Cargo Ship:
Built in 1916 by the Chicago Ship Building Co, South Chicago, IL;
Launched in 1916;
acquired by the Navy, 8 December 1917 and commissioned the same day as Manta (ID 2036);
Decommissioned, 13 March 1919 at Norfolk, VA and returned to her owner, the Clyde Steamship Company;
Sold in 1925 to the New York & Porto Rico Steamship Co., New York, NY; Sold four times in 1929,
first sold at U.S. Marshal's sale, 21 March 1929 to Charles H. Lawrence, New York, NY,
then to the Manta Steamship Co., New York, NY, then to John McCambridge, New York, NY,
and finally to Rederi A/S Ring (Hans Hansen, Mgr.), Oslo, Norway and renamed Ring;
Renamed Trym in 1931; Abandoned and lost on North Sea, 18 January 1937 on a voyage from Kirkenes,
Norway to Middlesborough, England.
Specifications: Displacement 3,800 t.; Length 251'; Beam 43' 6"; Draft 17' 9"; Speed 9 kts.;
Complement 64; Armament one 5" and one 3".
[The first] Manta (No. 2036), originally built for the Clyde Steamship Co., was launched in 1916 by the
Chicago Ship Building Co., South Chicago, Ill.; and acquired and commissioned by the Navy 8 December 1917.
Manta, a NOTS cargo ship, plied the waters of the eastern Atlantic and the Caribbean until mid-July 1918.
She then conducted two round-trip voyages to Europe as a mine carrier. On 30 October 1918 during the
second return voyage, she was damaged in a storm and was towed to Norfolk. After extensive repairs
she was decommissioned 13 March 1919 and returned to her owner.
NavSource Online:
Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive
Manta (ID 2036)
www.navsource.org/archives/12/172036.htm
Cargo Ship: Built in 1916 by the Chicago Ship Building Co., South Chicago, IL; Launched in 1916;
Acquired by the Navy, 8 December 1917 and commissioned the same day as Manta (ID 2036);
Decommissioned, 13 March 1919 at Norfolk, VA and returned to her owner, the Clyde Steamship Company;
Sold in 1925 to the New York & Porto Rico Steamship Co., New York, NY;
Sold four times in 1929,
first sold at U.S. Marshal's sale, 21 March 1929 to Charles H. Lawrence, New York,
then to the Manta Steamship Co., New York, NY,
then to John McCambridge, New York, NY,
and finally to Rederi A/S Ring (Hans Hansen, Mgr.), Oslo, Norway and renamed Ring;
Kirkenes, Norway to Middlesborough, England.
Specifications: Displacement 3,800 t.; Length 251'; Beam 43' 6"; Draft 17' 9"; Speed 9 kts.;
Complement 64; Armament one 5" and one 3".
[The first] Manta (No. 2036), originally built for the Clyde Steamship Co., was launched in 1916
by the Chicago Ship Building Co., South Chicago, Ill.; and acquired and commissioned by the Navy 8 December 1917.
Manta, a NOTS cargo ship, plied the waters of the eastern Atlantic and the Caribbean until mid-July 1918.
She then conducted two round-trip voyages to Europe as a mine carrier. On 30 October 1918 during the second
return voyage, she was damaged in a storm and was towed to Norfolk. After extensive repairs she was
decommissioned 13 March 1919 and returned to her owner.
Copyright 2003 Bill Medford
