The SS Hewitt

Originally named the Pacific, The SS Hewitt was a steel-hulled bulk freighter built in 1914 for the J. S. Emery Steamship Co. of Boston, Massachusetts. She had a sister ship named Atlantic. In 1915, she was sold to the Union Sulphur Company, and her name was changed to SS Hewitt.

Technical Specifications

The ship was approximately 387 feet long, had a beam of fifty-four feet, and a depth of twenty-seven feet. It was powered by a triple-expansion steam engine and had a single screw propeller, which allowed it to reach a speed of twelve knots. The ship had a crew of 42 and was used for transporting various cargoes along the American east coast.

World War I Role

During World War I, SS Hewitt played a vital role in delivering sulfur to ammunition and chemical industries. It was also requisitioned by the Navy in August 1917 and used to ship war materials to various French Atlantic ports. During this time, it became the first U.S. merchant marine vessel to be fitted with a six-inch gun for defense against German U-boats.

The Vanishing

On January 20, 1921, under the command of Captain Hans Jakob Hansen, the SS Hewitt left from Sabine Pass, which was in Port Arthur, Texas, it was fully loaded and bound for Portland, Maine, with a stop in Boston, Massachusetts. The ship made regular radio calls on January 24 and 25 and reported nothing unusual. However, it was last seen 250 nautical miles north of Jupiter Inlet, Florida. After that, it disappeared without a trace.

Theories Abound

It was suggested that an explosion might have occurred onboard, due to the materials the ship was carrying. This could have been sparked by a careless accident or some other ignition source.

There was also speculation that the SS Hewitt might have collided with another ship that disappeared around the same time, the SS Carroll A. Deering. However, examinations of the Deering after it washed up onto Diamon Shoals revealed no signs of damage consistent with a collision. Both ships’ disappearances remained separate mysteries.

Given the turbulent times and the presence of piracy and potential Bolshevik raiders on the seas during that era, there were those who suggested the possibility of SS Hewitt falling victim to such activities. However, authorities discounted these suggestions, and there was no concrete evidence to support them.

Company Transitions

In the aftermath, families of the crew members filed lawsuits against Union Sulphur Co., seeking damages. Settlements were reached with some families. Union Sulphur Co. was later absorbed by Texas Gulf Sulfur Co. in 1924, and details about the company’s ships, including the SS Hewitt, are challenging to find. The fate of the SS Hewitt is still a mystery.