How come 105 years later the camera images on my "high end" phone come nothing near this?

I had to Google Frank J. Hecker (1846-1927). Interesting guy - and what a mansion (still standing) he built in Detroit!

A very nice capture. This is the type of photograph I love and look forward to seeing here at Shorpy. Thank you!

James Cameron!

I'm just a landlubber and maybe I'm not seeing things right but it appears to me that the plates on the lower levels are welded while the ones on the higher levels are riveted or bolted together. Is that a standard in shipbuilding and if so,why? Are welded seems easier to make watertight and if so, why not weld the rest of them,too?

Magnificent, just magnificent. This shot was taken for a postcard printing company? Has anyone located any actual postcards made from this photo?

Those two children standing on the viewing deck were probably telling the story of this event to their grandchildren in 1975. The sweep of the girl's heavy plait tells you everything about the excitement, the awe, and the thrill of that moment. Could any sight have ever equaled this - at least one from the hand of man?

White knuckles on the taffrail.

It would have taken skill and maybe a bit of luck to have captured this shot. 8x10 view cameras don't have a burst mode.

Like the guy said before me, WOW!!! What a photograph. It is exactly what I said when I first glanced at the picture. Textbook "capture" of the moment. Great find, Dave!

EPB

Fantastical photograph!!! Who was the camera person? They should be praised.

What a photograph..... and I DO mean photograph!!!

That's exactly why I love old cameras and classic photography!

We're always talking here on Shorpy about how we'd like to go back in time into one of the scenes photographed, but ... I really really want to go back in this one and be one of those people getting a front row seat for this! It must have been simply overpowering. Just looking at the photo gives me goosebumps.

Nice way to show the answer to that previous post about the rudder when a ship is launched sideways. Perfect.

I think this picture ranks among my very favorite here at Shorpy. What a majestic image with such movement, I feel as if the ship is going to coast right through my computer screen.

It's wonderful how frozen in place yet full of motion this pic is. Beautiful.

Get all their clothes wet. Looks pretty cold for this very same day 105 years ago. 3-D would be nice.

"Let's do launch"

LAUNCH OF A NEW STEAMER. -- The new Gilchrist Transportation Company steamer FRANK J. HECKER, building at the St. Clair yards of the Great Lakes Engineering Works, will be launched tomorrow, and a number of prominent marine men will be on hand to witness it. She will be fitted out as soon as possible.

Buffalo Evening News
Friday, September 1, 1905

FRANK J. HECKER, U. S. 202475, bulk carrier. Renamed PERSEUS 1913, foundered about 90 miles NNW of Fayal, Atlantic Ocean, after breaking away from the tug ENGLISHMAN while in tow for scrapping at Genoa, Italy; September 21, 1961.

Record of Great Lakes Engineering Works, St. Clair (Michigan) Yard