The Mysterious Disappearance of SS James Carruthers: Lost in the Great Lakes Storm of 1913
On November 6, 1913, the SS James Carruthers set sail from Fort William, Ontario, carrying a substantial cargo of 375,000 bushels of wheat destined for Midland, Ontario, along the shores of Georgian Bay. Under the command of Captain William H. Wright, the ship was joined by the J.H. Sheadle, captained by S.A. Lyons, as they planned to travel down Lake Superior together.
The evening of November 8 brought a foreboding change in weather as freezing temperatures, snow squalls, and powerful winds swept over Lake Superior. Despite the challenging conditions, the two freighters pressed on, navigating their way down the St. Mary’s River. As they locked through, the Carruthers passed the upbound Midland Prince, and the wheelsman, Angus “Ray” McMillan, shouted words of camaraderie to his friend aboard the Prince. Little did they know that these would be the last words exchanged before the storm took its toll.
By the early morning of November 9, the Carruthers took on coal at the Picklands, Mather & Company dock near De Tour, Michigan. After refueling, it entered Lake Huron, with the J.H. Sheadle not far behind. The Carruthers’ lights remained visible for a brief period aboard the Sheadle as they continued on a southeastern heading. However, as dawn broke, the Carruthers turned to port on a course that would lead her south of Great Duck Island, heading straight for Georgian Bay. Tragically, this would be the last time the Carruthers was seen.
In the aftermath of the storm, wreckage from several boats began washing up on the shores of Lake Huron. Evidence of the James Carruthers was slow to appear until large amounts of debris from the freighter were discovered, mostly near Kincardine and Point Clark. Notably, a significant field of wreckage was found nearly seventy miles south of the Carruthers’ intended course towards Georgian Bay.
Several bodies of the crew were also found ashore, mostly around Point Clark. Among them was Captain William H. Wright, identified by his distinctive red mustache. Most of the crew members were found wearing life jackets and heavy coats, suggesting that they had prepared for disaster. Witnesses also reported hearing steamer whistles and seeing distress rockets during the height of the storm, further supporting the belief that the Carruthers was in distress.
The fate of the brand-new freighter and how she ended up so far off course remains an enduring mystery. Despite extensive searches, the wreck of the James Carruthers has never been located as of 2016.
One poignant story of the tragedy involves Thomas Thompson of Hamilton, Ontario. His son, John Thompson, served as a crewman aboard the Carruthers. After several days of uncertainty, Thomas identified a body in the Goderich morgue that he believed to be his son, based on specific features and tattoos. He arranged to take possession of the body and informed his family. However, in a remarkable twist of fate, John Thompson, who was in Toronto at the time, read newspaper accounts of the storm and saw his name on the list of the known dead. His miraculous survival brought a mix of relief and sorrow to the Thompson family, highlighting the emotional toll of the disaster.
The Great Lakes Storm of 1913, with its devastating consequences, prompted significant efforts to improve weather forecasting and storm communication. The vanishing of the SS James Carruthers remains a haunting reminder of the unforgiving power of nature on the Great Lakes, leaving the ship and its crew lost to the depths of Lake Huron.
