The steamer JOHN MITCHELL, a 4,468 gross ton bulk carrier, was built in 1906 and owned by C. W. Elphicke Co. of Chicago. On July 9, 1911, it collided with the steamer WILLIAM H. MACK near Vermilion Point, Lake Superior. The MACK was part of the Jenkins Steamship Company of Cleveland.
Tragically, three lives were lost in the collision, and the MITCHELL sank in deep water with all hands on board. Among the missing crew members were Second Mate Archie Causly, steward Albert Clemens, and Watchman George Austin.
The MITCHELL was carrying around 7,000 tons of coal for the Pittsburgh Coal Company in Duluth. After the collision, a heroic young woman named Fay Clemens, daughter of the lost steward, played a crucial role in rescuing fellow passengers from a capsized yawl. She called to the crew of the MACK for help and secured a line that enabled the MACK’s crew to right the yawl and save all six occupants.
Despite efforts to raise the vessel, it was found to be impossible due to its location in 200 feet of water. The MITCHELL was declared a total loss. The accident and the loss of life were deeply felt by the maritime community, and it remains a tragic event in the history of Lake Superior navigation.
