Shipwreck Report: JOHN B. COWLE

Identification & Site Information

• Name: JOHN B. COWLE
• Type: Steam Screw Freighter
• Construction: Steel-hulled
• Builder: Constructed in 1902, Port Huron, Michigan
• Home Port: Cleveland, Ohio
• Tonnage: Gross: 4,731 tons
• Dimensions: Length: 420.0 feet (128.02 meters) Width (Beam): 50.2 feet (15.30 meters) Depth: 24.0 feet (7.32 meters)
• Engine Power: Indicated horsepower: 2,100
• Crew: 21
• Cargo at Loss: Coal
• Location of Incident: Whitefish Point, Michigan, Lake Superior
• Date of Incident: July 12, 1909
• Condition: Total Loss; sank after collision
• Accessibility: Wreck lies in deep waters, suitable for advanced technical diving or remote exploration.

Vessel Type Description

The JOHN B. COWLE was a steel steam screw freighter designed to transport bulk cargo across the Great Lakes. Such vessels were integral to the industrial economy of the early 20th century, facilitating the movement of coal, ore, and other commodities. Equipped with a powerful engine and a substantial crew, the vessel was built for efficiency and durability in the often treacherous waters of the Great Lakes.

History

The JOHN B. COWLE was launched in 1902 at Port Huron, Michigan, as a modern example of a Great Lakes freighter. Owned by members of the Lake Carriers’ Association, the vessel operated primarily out of Cleveland, Ohio, carrying bulk cargoes such as coal and iron ore. It was part of the economic lifeblood of the Great Lakes shipping industry, supporting regional and national industries.

On July 12, 1909, the JOHN B. COWLE departed Buffalo, New York, with a cargo of coal. During its return trip down the lakes, it collided with the steam screw ISAAC M. SCOTT near Whitefish Point on Lake Superior. The collision caused catastrophic damage to the JOHN B. COWLE, leading to its rapid sinking. Out of the 24 persons on board, only 10 survived. Fourteen crew members, including the following, tragically perished:

• John McKernain, Engineer, Brooklyn
• Edward Morin, Second Engineer, Buffalo
• Wilfred Emerson, Wheelsman, Superior, Wisconsin
• A.J. Patton, Oiler, Adams, New York
• Seymour Higgs, Fireman, Belleville, New York
• Walter Woodward, Oiler, Adams, New York
• James Franklin, Fireman, Adams, New York
• John Lane, Deckhand, Adams, New York

Several other names remain unrecorded in the accident reports.

The collision highlights the dangers of navigating busy shipping lanes in the early 20th century, with limited communication technologies and navigational aids.

Final Disposition

The JOHN B. COWLE sank after the collision and was declared a Total Loss. Its wreck lies in the deep waters off Whitefish Point, a site notorious for shipwrecks due to the challenging conditions and heavy traffic in the area. The wreck is part of the Great Lakes’ rich underwater heritage.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) are linked to the JOHN B. COWLE. The wreck is inaccessible for casual diving due to its depth, but it remains a site of interest for advanced technical divers and underwater archaeologists.

Located By & Date

The wreck of the JOHN B. COWLE was not immediately located after the sinking. Subsequent surveys of the Whitefish Point area have documented numerous wrecks, but the exact discovery details of the JOHN B. COWLE are unspecified.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is presumed to be in deep waters near Whitefish Point. Due to the depth and conditions, the site is primarily accessible via advanced diving or remote-operated vehicles (ROVs). The vessel’s steel Hull likely remains largely intact, though time and lake conditions have undoubtedly caused deterioration.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• Whitefish Point Shipwreck Museum

Keywords JOHN B. COWLE, Whitefish Point shipwreck, Great Lakes collision, Lake Superior maritime history, 1909 shipwreck, steam screw freighter, ISAAC M. SCOTT collision, Lake Carriers’ Association, early 20th-century Great Lakes shipping.