Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2016 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== The Duluth Herald Monday, November 17, 1913 MANY SMALL CRAFT MAY HAVE BEEN LOST DURING THE BIG STORM. Wreckage of Wooden Steamer Found Floating Near Point Edward. Hours When Storm Warnings Were Displayed Will Be Investigated. Neither the Pittsburg or the Tomlinson Fleets Lost a Man. The news received from Port Huron to the effect that wreckage of a wooden steamer is drifting ashore near Point Edward, Ont., is, it is believed, but the first of a batch of similar reports. Scarcely anything has been heard concerning the marine disaster of a week ago except the loss of the larger vessels. That in itself was terrible enough, but it has been recognized right along that it is quite probable that there will be numerous losses of smaller craft reported, which will bring the total loss of life and property to more ap- palling size than it is now. It is generally taken as a foregone conclusion that the government cutters now scouring the lakes in search of wrecked craft and marooned crews will find many wrecks that have not yet been reported, for it seems hardly reasonable that the smaller craft would escape in a storm that wrecked the giants. However, the steamer LAKEPORT of the Port Huron & Duluth fleet went through the thickest of the storm on Lake Huron and reached Port Huron in safety and only a few hours late. The LAKEPORT is only 263 feet long with a beam of 36 feet; but is a sturdy craft. She was built in 1889. Nearly 300 Lives. With the reports already on hand, it is estimated that very close to 300 lives have been lost, that the property loss will run anywhere from $8,000,000 to $12,000,000, and that 11,000,000 bushels of grain have gone down. Last night Congressman Gordon of Cleveland, Ohio, wired President Wilson, asking him to have the weather bureau investigated to find out whether or not the loss of so many lives was caused by the display of inade- quate or improper signals. Whether or not such an investigation will take place is, of course, proble- matical at this time. Duluthians are quite familiar with the storm signal system. These signals indicate the direction of the storm and in the wired instructions sent our or com- municated to ships, the department endeavors to indi- cate about where it is expected the storm will be the heaviest and as to its violence. The storm warnings displayed, according to the report of the local bureau, were as follows: Nov. 7, 1 a.m. - Warnings ordered at all ports in the lake region. Nov. 8, 10 a.m. - Warnings ordered continued. Nov. 8, 9 p.m. - Warnings ordered down from Duluth to Baraga. Continued elsewhere. Nov. 9, 10 a.m. - Warnings continued from Detroit to Oswego. Nov. 9, 9:30 p.m. - Warnings again ordered at ports on Lakes Huron, Superior and Western Michigan. Nov. 10, - Storm warnings displayed at all ports in the lake region, except on Western Lake Michigan. The hours given above are exact, as far as the local bureau is concerned, but may be subject to minor changes at the outside stations. No Further Losses. Local vessel agents have received no further advices from any points this morning, but one piece of good news arrived by the Associated Press. It was to the effect that the steamer WYOMING, belonging to J. J. Boland of Buffalo and her tow, reported lost in Lake Huron a week ago Sunday night, is safe in Lily Pond, Lake Superior. She passed through the Soo at 3 o'clock Saturday morning and is headed here to load lumber. Another item of news received this morning is that the wrecked and overturned steamer CHARLES S. PRICE, which has been a marine puzzle in Lake Huron for days, sunk this morning at 9 o'clock, so this probably set- tles the hope that she might be salvaged. Despite the heavy loss of life, two of the heaviest owners of vessels on the Great Lakes did not lose a man. There are the Pittsburg and Tomlinson fleets. The steamer MATOA of the former fleet was wrecked and abandoned on Point aux Barques, Lake Michigan, and the HARTWELL of the Tomlinson line grounded on Iroquois point, and is being salvaged, but neither one lost a member of the crew. --------------------------------------------------------- Forty Bodies at Sarnia. Port Huron, Mich., Nov. 17. - Information was received here this forenoon that forty bodies of sailors who lost their lives in last week's storm disasters on Lake Huron, are being taken to Sarnia, Ont., opposite this port, from Kincardine, Ont., where they had been washed ashore. Many of the bodies still are unidentified. No further details were available here this morning in connection with the discovery yesterday of a pilot house and texas, supposed to be from a wooden steamer, which were found on the Canadian shore a few miles above here. All of the vessels heretofore lost were said to be of steel construction, and if a wooden steamer went down in Lake Huron, her identity is a mystery. PRICE Has Sunk The overturned freighter CHARLES PRICE, a derelict for more than a week, sank in Lake Huron shortly before 9 o'clock this morning. The report was received here by wireless. SCHOONMAKER Released. Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., Nov. 17. - The wireless station here received word today that the big freighter SCHOON- MAKER, which ran ashore off Mission river, has been re- leased by tugs. She was only slightly damaged. --------------------------------------------------------- ORDERS INQUIRY INTO WARNINGS OF STORM. Washington, Nov. 17. - Department of agriculture officials today began investigation whether bureau's forecaster at Cleveland issued sufficient warning of last week's disastrous storm. A report from Forecaster Alexander has been called for. --------------------------------------------------------- HAWGOOD IN LOCAL PORT. The steamer H. B. HAWGOOD arrived at 2 o'clock this afternoon and docked at No. 3 Missabe. The HAWGOOD, it will be remembered, went on the beach just below Point Edward, Ont., on Lake Huron, on Sunday during the storm, was blown high and dry, and was pulled off Thursday night with great difficulty. She was not very badly damaged, however. Capt. A. C. May said today that he has been in the marine business for over thirty years, and without question it was the worst storm he has ever seen or heard of. Charles Timblick, chief engineer, who was a brother-in-law of Capt. J. L. Owen, who lost his life when the H. B. SMITH went down in the storm last Sunday, declared that never before in the history of the lakes was there anything like it. He went through the storm of 1905, and says that that was little more than a puff of wind alongside of the storm of last Sunday. The HAWGOOD officers estimate that over 300 lives were lost. --------------------------------------------------------- BIG FLEET IS LAID UP Last of Pittsburg Boats Has Cleared From Head of Lakes. Missabe Ore Docks Will Probably Cease Operations This Week. The Pittsburg fleet is through for the year and not a boat of the fleet is on Lake Superior at this time either up or down bound, nor will there be any for the rest of the season. Some of the other fleets are pre- paring to lay up soon but the Pittsburgh fleet, follow- ing the usual custom, has laid its boats up early. The last boat in of the Pittsburg fleet was the ZENITH CITY and she was also the last one out. It is a question of only a short time when all of the ore docks at the Head of the Lakes will be closed down. The Soo docks are already closed for the season, having quit on Nov. 13, last Thursday, the last carload of ore being received on Nov. 12. The last out from this dock was the steamer NIAGARA. The next to close will undoubt- edly be the Missabe docks, Supt. Kreiter said today that he expects the docks to have shipped their last ore by the end of the week. Just when the Duluth & Iron Range docks at Two Harbors will close is not yet determined, but it is believed that they will not quit business for about two weeks yet. The Great Northern docks in Superior, it is anounced (sic), will close about the same time. --------------------------------------------------------- Notice to Mariners George A. Marr, secretary of the Lake Carriers' asosciation (sic), has issued the following notice to lake mariners: "Whaleback shoal east end gas buoy out. Little Gull island gas buoy showing incorrect characteristic. Lights will be relighted and corrected soon as practicable." --------------------------------------------------------- CRIPPLED STEAMER ARRIVES IN PORT The steamer FRENCH reached the local harbor this morning in crippled condition. The boat was towed in from Eagle river by the ASHLEY. A broken column of the engine placed the FRENCH out of commission and will necessitate her being taken to the shipyard for repairs. --------------------------------------------------------- Draft at the Soo. The recommended draft of the Poe lock is eighteen feet, ten inches, according to a notice sent out this morning by H. W. Brown, local agent for the Pittsburg Steamship company. --------------------------------------------------------- Sault Passages. Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., Nov. 17. - (Special to The Herald) - Up: Huronic, 1:30 a.m. Sunday; Hawgood 2:30; Wolvin, L. R. Davidson, 4:30; Saskatoon, Stormount, 8; Ball Brothers, 8:30; Christopher, 10; Northern Wave, 10:30; Superior, 11:30; Ohl, 2 p.m.; Port Colborne, 2; James E. Davidson, 2:30; Munro, 2:30; Angeline, Westmount, 4; Oliver, 5; Congdon, 5:30; Juniata, Hamonic, 6; Bartow, Glenmount, 7; Meaford, A. E. Ames, Rochester, 8:30; Emperor, 9:30; E. L. Wallace, H. W. Smith, 11:30; McKee, midnight; Noble, Strathcona, 1 a.m. Monday; Dimick, 2; Ishpeming, 2:30; Rockland, C. H. Bradley, 4; Barlum, 5; La Belle, 6; Perseus, B. F. Jones, Hart, 7:30; Midland Prince, Alberta, 8; Newona, 9; Michigan, 9:30; Cetus, Lakeport, 11; Booth, noon. Down: Mott, 1 a.m. Sunday; Sheldon Parks, 2:30; W. W. Brown, Crowe, 3:30; Amasa Stone, Saxona, 6; Sonora, Wisconsin, Kotcher, 7; Phipps, 9; Brazil, Holmes, 9:30; Cole, 11:30; Butler, Neebing, Boston, Conestoga, 2 p.m.; Peter White, 3:30; Leonard, Athabasca, 4; Goulder, 5; Iroquois, 6; Frank H. Peavey, 6:30; Collingwood, 8; Langell, Arenac, Moore, 9:30; Octorora, 10; Favorite, Elba, 1 a.m. Monday; J. T. Hutchinson, Wilkinson, 2; Canopus, Venezuela, 3; J. W. Rhodes, 3:30; M. A. Hanna, Zenith, McIntosh, 5; Presque Isle, Steel King, 6:30; Brower, Curtis, Marvin, Wall, Cutters, Linden, noon. Detroit Passages. Detroit, Mich., Nov. 17. - (Special to The Herald) - Up: McKinstry, 1 a.m. Sunday; Roumania, C. C. Barnes, 2:30; W. G. Mather, 3:30; Wyandotte, 3:45; Cherokee, Brightie, Woolson, N. C. Holland, 5:30; C. Weston, 5:45; Muncy, 6; Panther, 8:10; Ranney, 9:19; Coulby, J. P. Reiss, 10:20; Centurion, 11:30; Schlesinger, 11:35; Argo, Reed, 11:40; Minnetonka, 1:15 p.m., Snyder, Jr., C. Hebard, 2; Corsica, 2:05; W. A. Rogers, 2:50; Norway, 3; England, 4:10; Alpena, 5:20; Champlain, 5:50; Kennedy, 6:10; Chicago, 6:15; Oscoda, barge, Dunham, 9:30; Osborne, Empress, Midland, 10; Isabella Boyce, barge, 11; Anna Minch, 11:20; Hemlock, midnight; Underwood, Maruba, Abyssinia, 12:15 a.m. Monday; Wright, 1; Walters, 3; Rosedale, Shrigley, 4:15; Crete, 4:30; Winnipeg, 5:20; B. Lyman Smith, 11; Phil Minch, noon. Down: Wilpen, 3 a.m. Sunday; Fairmount, 3:10; Conemaugh, 3:30; J. J. McWilliams, 5:30; Chase S. Osborne (tug), Golden Age, 5:55; R. S. Warner, S. D. Warriner, 6:10; Berry, 7:50; M. T. Green, 8; W. E. Corey, 10; Sirius, S. Mitchell, 10:50; Yates, 11; Princeton, 11:10; Mariposa, 11:20; Mataafa, 12:15 p.m.; Duluth, 2:40; Calcite, 1; Widener, 1:55; D. Houghton, 2:05; Farrell, 2:15; Keefe, 2:20; Wissahickon, 3; Jenks, Murphy, 3:20; Tuscarora, 3:40; Kopp, 3:50; William Edwards, Athens, 4:10; Colonel, T. H. Wickwire, Jr., 4:30; North Wind, 5; Chocktaw, 5:20; W. P. Rend, 5:30; Castalia, 6:50; Bixby, 7:10; Lagonda, 9:30; Manchester, 11:30; House, 1 a.m. Monday; Flagg, Thompson, 7:30; Buell and barge, 8; Moll, Nyanza, 8:40; Tagona, 9; Calumet, 10; Maunaloa, 11:30; Saxon, Manola, noon. Port of Duluth. Arrivals: Cygnus, G. G. Barnum, light for ore; Joseph Morrow, Adriatic, J. T. Ashley, G. W. French, Dustin, Harvester, coal; William Livingstone, F. C. Ball, light for grain; Zillah, Miztec, Ralph Connelly, light for lumber; Peshtigo, lime. Departures: Hoover & Mason, Joseph Block, Odanah, D. R. Hanna, Berwind, Nettleton, W. L. Brown, M. Taylor, Sam Mather, ore; Charles Hubbard, Standard Oil barge, light; Saunders, Normania, grain; Tionesta, North Lake, package freight. --------------------------------------------------------- CAPTAIN WAS UNDER THREAT Explains Why Capt. Owen Left Port In Teeth of Storm. Had Run of Bad Luck and Ordered To Make Time. Marquette, Mich., Nov. 17. - The Chronicle says: "That the steamer HENRY B. SMITH sank off Marquette harbor probably not thirty miles from breakwater, carrying to their death a crew of thirty-five men, is believed by local marine men and also the captains of the lake steamers now in port. "There will be little if any wreckage found if the HENRY B. SMITH foundered for she was a solid steel craft even to her superstructure. About the only portion of her which could drift would be the inside finishing, her life preservers and portions of the lifeboats. The SMITH was 565 feet long with 55-foot beam and a depth of 30 feet. She had thirty-two hatches and all were equipped with steel covers. She was built and launched in Cleveland in 1906 and at that time was given over to the command of Capt. Owen, known as one of the oldest and most experienced captains sailing the lakes. Acted Under Orders. "Capt. James Owen guided the HENRY B. SMITH on her maiden voyage and was still with her last Sunday when she left this port during a slight lull in the storm. "There is a pathetic little story related by lake men today that sheds some light on "Jimmy" Owen's last foolhardy trip that resulted in a tragedy as the climax of thirty successful years of maritime life. "'Bring your ship through on time!' Such was the order given the commander of the SMITH, and Capt. Owen, like all good seamen obeyed his orders, for it is said, luck in running the boat on schedule this season broke bad for the captain, and, experienced a navigator as he was, his ship frequently was over- due and he was chided time and again by the owners. When he cleared Cleveland on his fatal voyage it is said that he had orders to run on schedule at any cost and that failure to comply with the owners' demand might cost him his commission. "The HENRY B. SMITH entered Marquette on schedule time and began loading Friday at the South Shore dock. Saturday's storm brought all ore movements to a standstill and Owen is said to have chaffed under the delay. Saturday night he put the matter up to the South Shore officials and asked if it would be possible to complete the loading Sunday. He said it was urgent and as a result Dock Superintendent Harland was ordered to load him despite the storm and snow which made working on the dock hazardous. The cold weather was also causing the ore to freeze, which made the work more difficult and was also instrumental in operating the dock Sunday. "'I will clear as soon as the ore is aboard,' said Capt. Owen Sunday morning. 'Wire the company that I am coming.' Although the storm raged outside the breakwater he was encouraged by a slight rise of the barometer and a noticeable clearing of the sky. Owen signaled to cast off the minute the loaders completed their work. He rounded the breakwater with his men still battening down the hatches and plunged into the storm. "'I will go down the lake with the wind and make up lost time,' he said as the SMITH steamed from the dock. Capt. Owen was obeying his orders and he tried his schedule. The price of his company's folly was the HENRY B. SMITH, a loyal captain, and thirty lives. "According to ship captains, who are in the harbor today, speed mania upon the lakes is just as contagious as upon the rail and that some navigation companies offer a bonus to skippers making the most trips a season which they maintain to the very close of navi- gation. --------------------------------------------------------- STORM SIGNALS DISREGARDED. Canadian Weather Service Also Gave Warning of Great Storm. Toronto, Ont., Nov. 17 - That the captains of vessels lost in Lake Huron and Lake Superior during the recent terrible gales disregarded the "heavy gale" warnings given by the meteorological office in Toronto, and ig- nored the heavy gale signals which were flying every- where on the lakes, is shown everywhere by the weather forecasts of the days preceding the storm. As set forth in his letter, R. F. Stupart, director of the weather bureau, forecasted strong winds and gales for last Fri- day, Saturday and Sunday, and the gale signals were flown in the harbors of all lake ports. His letters follow: "Meteorological Office, "Toronto, Nov. 13, 1913. "Dear sir - In view of the appalling disaster on the great lakes during Saturday and Sunday, it may be of interest to the public to know what warning the meteoro- logical service gave of the storm. "At 11 a.m., on Friday, Nov. 7, heavy gale signals were hoisted at all stations on the Great Lakes. "The 10 p.m. forecast of that day read: 'Strong winds and gales, southerly, shifting to westerly and north- westerly; rain today; turning colder at night, (Saturday night, with some local snow falls or flurries.' "Saturday, Nov. 8, 10 a.m., forecast was: 'Gales, southerly to northwesterly; rain, turning in many local- ities to snow. Sunday, strong winds and gales, north- westerly, decreasing by night; local snow flurries, but mostly fair and cold. "How many vessels heeded the heavy gale warnings and remained in port will never be ascertained but it is certain that many of the vessels lost must have seen and ignored the heavy gale signals which were every- where flying. "That the service does not cry 'wolf' too often is indicated by the fact that so far this year the 'heavy gale' signals have only been displayed six times on Lake Superior, and but three times on Lakes Huron, Erie and Ontario, including this last great storm, and in almost every instance the dispaly was amply warranted. "Terrific gales, such as that of Saturday night, only occur perhaps once in a long term of years, and the ser- vice has no signal to indicate that a storm is to be very exceptional, but I submit that any intelligent study of the meteorological storm warnings would show most positively that the master of a vessel who leaves port in November with the heavy gale signals displayed is running a great risk, as gales are almost certain and blinding snow not improbable. "I am, dear sir, yours truly, "R. J. Stupart, "Director." --------------------------------------------------------- NEW BOAT READY FOR NEXT AUTUMN Sister Ship to Wrecked JAMES CARRUTHERS Now Being Built According to A. A. Wright, general manager of the St. Lawrence & Chicago Steam Navigation company, the new sister ship to the ill-fated JAMES CARRUTHERS will be ready to be placed in commission in time for the grain carrying trade next autumn. The JAMES CARRUTHERS, at the time it was built, cost something less than $400,000, but as it would take that amount now to replace it, the value is placed at that figure. The loss is covered by insurance to the extent of $275,000 with the underwriters and $150,000 insurance fund of the company. This latter fund is in the nature of a reserve, and is obtained by placing in it each year whatever amounts would otherwise have been paid as in- surance premiums. Mr. Wright stated that the company will proceed with its proposed stock issue to the amount of $140,000, just as was before intended. --------------------------------------------------------- WOODEN STEAMER LOST. Wreckage Found on Canadian Shore; Fears For Crew. Port Huron, Mich., Nov. 17. - Fears that an unidentified wooden steamer had been lost with all of her crew in the gale, which swept Lake Huron last Sunday night, were con- firmed yesterday when part of the pilot house of a vessel was found on the Canadian shore near Point Edwards. There were no marks on the wreckage which could establish the identity of the boat. A wrecking company has succeeded in releasing the steamer NORTHERN QUEEN from the rocks at Port Frank, Ont., and that vessel is now at Sarnia for repairs. The bodies of two other victims of the late disaster were identified today. They were I. W. Morey of Detroit, oiler on the overturned steamer CHARLES S. PRICE, and Ernest Patton of Escanaba, a cook on the same boat. ===========================================================================