The Tragic Tale of the SS Isaac M. Scott: A Maiden Voyage Disaster and the Great Lakes Storm of 1913
The SS Isaac M. Scott, a mighty lake freighter, embarked on its maiden voyage on July 12, 1909. However, the beginning of its maritime journey was marked by a devastating tragedy that would foreshadow its ultimate demise.
In the early hours of that fateful day, the Isaac M. Scott found itself navigating through dense fog about 2 miles off the Whitefish Point lighthouse. In a horrifying turn of events, the freighter collided with the SS John B. Cowle, causing the latter to sink within minutes, claiming the lives of 14 of its crew members. Fortunately, some of the survivors were rescued by the Isaac M. Scott itself. The freighter itself suffered significant damage, with around 25 plates needing repairs that amounted to $30,000.
The aftermath of the collision saw investigations and hearings that led to the suspension of Captain Rogers and Edward E. Carlton, the Pilot of the John B. Cowle, for 30 days. The inspectors ruled that both vessels were sailing too fast for the weather conditions, and the John B. Cowle failed to properly signal. Additionally, F. W. Wertheimer, the Pilot of the Isaac M. Scott, faced consequences as well. The freighter was subsequently beached for a year as a result of the incident.
Fast forward to November 9, 1913, the Isaac M. Scott embarked on its final journey, carrying a valuable cargo of coal worth $22,000, bound for Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Little did the crew, led by Captain A. McArthur, know that they were sailing straight into the deadliest storm in the history of the Great Lakes. The ship, along with several other freighters, entered Lake Huron from the St. Clair River, unknowingly heading into a tempest that would prove catastrophic.
Around 10:30 a.m., the H. B. Hawgood, running ahead of the storm, spotted the Isaac M. Scott still heading north but struggling to withstand the ferocity of the weather off Tawas Point, Michigan. Soon after, communication was lost, and the freighter was listed as missing in newspapers. In the aftermath of the storm, the body of Captain A. McArthur washed up on the shores of Southampton, Ontario, still wearing his life preserver. One of the lifeboats from the ship was found 23 miles north of the Chantrey Island lighthouse, off Southampton, Ontario. Tragically, all 28 crew members aboard the Isaac M. Scott perished in the disaster.
The sinking of the SS Isaac M. Scott was one of the 11 vessels lost during the Great Lakes Storm of 1913, a calamity described in the book “Lore of the Lakes” as “The most disastrous that has ever swept our Great Lakes, both from loss of life and property.” The storm’s heavy snow, bitter cold winds, and terrifyingly high waves claimed the lives of an estimated 235 mariners, with 178 lost on Lake Huron alone.
The tragedy of the SS Isaac M. Scott prompted a renewed commitment to improved weather forecasting and more rapid communication of storm warnings by the U.S. Weather Bureau. This disaster left an indelible mark on maritime history and serves as a somber reminder of the perils faced by sailors on the Great Lakes, and the importance of advancements in weather prediction to safeguard lives and vessels on these treacherous waters.
