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. =========================================================================== Port Huron Times-Herald Tuesday, November 11, 1913 STEAMER TURNS TURTLE IN LAKE UNKNOWN VESSEL AND CREW OF 30 DROWN One of the Most Awful of Marine Disasters Right in Plain Sight of the Mouth of Saint Clair River Within plain sight of Huronia Beach and even the mouth of St. Clair river a big unknown steel freighter turned turtle sometime during Sunday night's storm and in all probability carried to a watery grave its crew of more than thirty brave sailors. As if purposely projected to mark the spot where so many men met sudden death, the bow of the steamer sticks out like a huge black shaft, in the shadow of which occurred one of the most disastrous accidents of the lakes. That not a soul was saved is the only natural conclusion after an inspection of the steamer and her position in the lake. It is probable that death came with awful suddenness to the crew of the ill-fated boat. The steamer was first discovered late yesterday afternoon by the Reid Wrecking Co. tug Sarnia City, which ventured out into the lake despite the fact that seas were rolling high and that it was almost impossible to make headway. Earlier in the day the men at the life saving station thought they saw a steamer at anchor. They spied a black object on the water, which looked to them like a small steel steamer. There were no signals flying and it was thought that she was riding at anchor. Late in the afternoon Capt. Tom Reid heard that there was a boat out in the lake and he immediately decided to send his tug Sarnia City to the rescue, if any help were needed. Earlier in the day Capt. Reid had gone out himself but not in the direction of the steamer. At the time he was out it was snowing and he could only see a short distance. Within a couple of hours, Capt. Ely, of Sarnia, in charge of the tug, steamed back into the river. He brought the information that a big steel freighter was upside down in the lake right in the course taken by all steamers, about eight miles north and east of the mouth of the river. Capt. Ely had found it impossible to make out the name of the boat, owing to the high seas and the fact that she was lying keel upward. The mark at the 20 foot waterline was out of water at the bow and, according to the tug captain, there was about one hundred feet in length of the sunken steamer above the water line. It is estimated that there are about sixty feet of water at this point in the channel, so that the marine men figure, if the captain's estimate is correct as to the distance of the boat out of water, that it should be in the neighborhood of 275 feet in length. This of course is only conjecture. "I think it is one of the big fellows," said Capt. Reid. "That's the way it looks to me. I think she was headed back toward the river, running for shelter, when she must have been caught in the trough of the sea and bowled over." Many anxious inquiries were started as soon as it was learned that a steamer was overturned in the lake. Vessel owners and relatives of vesselmen were eager to obtain information. Capt. Reid communicated with Capt. William Livingstone of Detroit, as to the advisability of sending a tug out to remain at the scene of the wreck all night. "Do so by all means," came the word from Capt. Livingstone. This was done in order to protect other steamers as the wreck lies directly in the path of navigation and would be a dangerous obstacle at night. When the news of the awful disaster spread over the city last night there were many anxious people. A large percentage of Port Huron's population has relatives on the lakes and all were desirous of learning the name of the steamer. But the lake held its secret securely and no amount of speculation could positively reveal the identity of the boat. All that could be done was to wait for daylight and the hope that the Sarnia City would bring in a positive identification. That death must have come to the members of the crew without a moments warning seems certain. It is probable that they felt they were nearing their goal of safety, after battling with the seas which were destined to engulf them right on the threshold to the harbor of safety. As the ship turned completely over in sixty feet of water, it is thought by some that her cargo shifted as she was caught in the trough of the sea. The bow of the boat is turned toward the north and east which also indicates that control was lost of her and that she swung around at the mercy of the mountain high waves. Vessel captains who were out in the storm say the waves climbed up over their ships, sweeping them full length in a manner never before experienced. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - HURONIC HARD AGROUND It was learned last night, in a telegraphic dispatch from the Soo, that the big steel steamer Huronic, of the Northern Navigation Co.'s line, is hard aground near Whitefish point on Lake Superior. Tugs have gone to her rescue. It is stated that the Huronic is in no immediate danger. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Schooner Sephie Is On Bottom at Cape Smith The anxiety which was felt for the safety of the three masted schooner Sephie and her crew was relieved this morning when word was received by Captain Tom Reid, of the Reid Wrecking Co., to the effect that the Sephie was on the bottom at Cape Smith, in the Georgian Bay district, and filled with water. The schooner is commanded by Captain Hugh McKinnon, of Sarnia, who is also a part owner. The boat carries lumber from the Georgian Bay district to Sarnia and it is thought that when the storm broke on Sunday Captain McKinnon headed his little schooner for shelter at Cape Smith. Later reports are to the effect that the Sephie dragged her anchor and went ashore but previous to that the crew had taken to the small boat and reached the shore in safety. It is thought that the Sephie can be pumped out and brought to port in safety. Captain McKinnon is one of the old type of mariners and has hosts of friends at the various ports along the great lakes. Anxious inquiries were made on Monday regarding his safety and when the word came this morning that he was safe there were many glad hearts. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Steamer Mills Is On Her Way to Detroit The steamer D. C. Mills, which went ashore in Sunday's storm a short distance above Harbor Beach, passed down St. Clair river early this morning. The big steamer released herself during the night and evidently was not damaged as she did not stop at this port, but continued on to Detroit where an examination will be made. It is presumed that the captain of the Mills, which was light, filled a portion of the hold of the boat with water when she grounded and after the sea subsided pumped her out which enabled him to release the boat under her own steam. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Str. Hawgood Is On the Beach Near the Point Word was received this afternoon from Captain A. C. May, of the steamer Hawgood, which is on the beach, directly in front of the Lake Huron hotel at Lake Huron beach, just north of Point Edward. It appears that while the storm was at its height the Hawgood dropped her anchors but they would not hold. After dragging steadily for about eight miles, the water compartments of the Hawgood were filled and water was also allowed to come into the hold. The steamer then took to the beach it being impossible to keep her headed in the storm. The bow of the steamer is out several feet and is pointing directly toward the hotel. It is thought that when the water recedes, people can walk out to the steamer. The crew are of the opinion the when the water is pumped out of the hold the boat will be lightened sufficiently to enable her to be pulled off by tugs. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Hanna Pounds To Pieces The big steamer Howard L. Hanna is reported pounding to pieces on the rocks at Point Au Barques. The steamer went ashore in Sunday night's storm. The crew has arrived at Port Austin in safety. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Paltry $25 Tow Bill Balked at By Light Ship Captain Causes Big Loss to Andrews Had the lightship been at its regular station in Lake Huron, just off Lakeside park, on Monday morning, the steamer Matthew Andrews would today be unloading its cargo of iron ore at a down-the-lake port, instead of resting on the bottom at the Corsica shoals. To have brought his ship safely down the lake and to have ridden out the fierce storm at anchor, only to have her go on the shoal as a result of a misplaced lightship, was the hard luck which fell to Captain John Lampoh, master of the Andrews. When seen by a Times-Herald reporter last night Captain Lampoh in a matter of fact way said that it was a severe storm and that his ship had been swept by the heavy seas, that the windows in the pilot house had been broken and things upset in general but aside from that everything was allright (sic). But behind the matter of fact statement of the conservative mariner is a graphic story of nerve and endurance to bring one of the biggest boats safely through the storm into port. This story was not told by the captain. He was too modest except to give the merest details. It seemed the irony of fate, that after the big ship had encountered and fought to a finish the worst storm that has swept the lakes in years, and with port but a few miles distant, that it should become stranded on the Corsicca (sic) shoals. The blame, if any, for the accident to the Andrews can be attributed to the fact that the lightship was at anchor on the Canadian shore instead of at its regular station. The Andrews came down the lake Sunday afternoon heavily loaded with iron ore and although the heavy seas swept the 600 footer from stem to stern, she made good progress. While some distance to the north of the life saving station Captain Lampoh decided to come to and anchor for the night and ride out the storm, it being impossible to make the river. An idea of the fierceness of the gale can be gained from the fact that it was necessary for the members of the crew to pass the word to lower the anchor, from one to the other and also to convey messages to and from the captain. The noise of the raging storm made it impossible for an order to be heard more than a foot or two. Rides Out the Gale After the anchor had been lowered, the Andrews rounded to and held fast. With heavy seas washing the big steamer from stem to stern she rode out the gale from Sunday night at 7 o'clock until Monday morning shortly before nine o'clock when the anchor was raised and the steamer pointed for the river. A heavy snow storm was still raging and it was impossible to see the shore line. Under these conditions the captain of the Andrews steered by the lightship but during the night the latter boat had been blown from its station and was lying at anchor on the Canadian side. The fact that the lightship was not at its proper station accounts for the presence of the Andrews on the Corsica shoal and according to Captain Tom Reid this accident could have been avoided. When Captain Reid received word that the lightship was flying signals of distress, he immediately went to its assistance with the Sarnia City and offered to tow the ship back to its station. The officer in charge of the lightship stated that he could not accept the offer of the tow until he had received authority from Chicago. The two (sic) bill to place the lightship back at its proper place would have been about $25. In the meantime the Andrews was coming down the lake and Captain Reid made an effort to warn the captain bu tcould (sic) not reach the latter boat in time. The captain of the Andrews continued on his regular course and as a result brought up on the shoal. Had the officer on the lightship taken the chance of incurring a $25 tow bill, the owners of the Andrews would have been saved about $2,000 as it will cost that much to release her. The tug Fischer went to the scene, where the Andrews is grounded and is working today in an effort to release the big 600 footer. If the steamer is grounded too hard it may be necessary to lighter a portion of her cargo. The boat is in no danger. This is the first accident that Captain Lampoh has met with and it was a bitter disappointment to have brought his ship safely through the storm only to wind up on the shoal through no fault of his own. ===========================================================================