Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record

This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: SS John Mitchell
• Official No.: 203943
• Year built/launched: Built in 1906 by Great Lakes Engineering Works, St. Clair, Michigan; launched Nov 28, 1906 (greatlakesvesselhistory.com).
• Dimensions: Length overall 128 m (420 ft), between perpendiculars 128 m (420 ft); beam 15.8 m (52 ft); depth 7 m (23 ft); tonnage ~4,468 GRT / 3,246 NRT .
• Date lost: July 10, 1911.
• Location of loss: Off Vermilion Point (near Whitefish Point), Lake Superior, Michigan (greatlakesunderwater.com).

Vessel Type

A steel-hulled bulk freighter with a single deck and arched cargo hold, powered by coal-fired boilers and a triple-expansion steam engine (~1,400 IHP). Designed for large-volume bulk cargo transport across the Great Lakes (greatlakesvesselhistory.com).

Description

Built with robust steel construction and outfitted for efficiency—arched cargo hold for coal or grain, central hold hatches (approximately 7.3 m/24 ft apart), and powered by a triple-expansion engine. Standard freighter design of early 20th-century Great Lakes vessels (greatlakesvesselhistory.com).

History

Served from 1907 primarily hauling coal between key industrial ports—trips included St. Mary’s River to Superior, Wisconsin (images.ourontario.ca). Under Capt. John H. Massey at the time of sinking, contained a mixed complement of crew and passengers (26 crew and 8 passengers) when it sank (images.ourontario.ca).

Final Dispositions

At approximately 1200 hrs in dense fog, SS John Mitchell was struck broadside on her port bow by coal-laden steel steamer William Henry Mack. Despite Mack’s efforts to hold the damaged vessel’s bow above water, she sank within seven minutes (shipwreckexplorers.com). Three lives were lost (second officer Archie Causely, watchman George Austin, and steward Al Clemens); 31 crew and 3 passengers survived, some rescued via a ladder rigged between decks, and six others saved after capsizing a small boat—heroic rescue by 16‑year‑old Fay Clemens directed by Mack crew (images.ourontario.ca).

Located By & Date Found

Discovered in 1972—wreck lies upside-down in ±46 m (150 ft) of water off Vermilion Point. Bow section in shallower water; stern lies deeper (~40 m/130 ft) .

Notmars & Advisories

No current NOTMAR notices or special marine advisories. Located within U.S. waters—maritime heritage protections apply.

Shore Dive Information

Not applicable—wreck lies too deep (approx. 46 m/150 ft) and inverted; restricted to technical diving with rebreathers and decompression tech.

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Vessel History: John Mitchell specifications/design & sinking (greatlakesvesselhistory.com)
• Shipwreck Explorers: Collision and sinking details (shipwreckexplorers.com)
• OurOntario – Ship of the Month: Full narrative of sinking, crew rescue, site depth (images.ourontario.ca)

Conclusion

SS John Mitchell was a notable early 20th‑century steel freighter of the Great Lakes, built for heavy bulk trade. Her sudden sinking after a collision in dense fog near Vermilion Point highlights the navigational hazards on Lake Superior. The wreck remains upright on the lake bed, attracting technical divers but requiring advanced equipment and training. Its well-documented history and significant human and engineering stories make it an enduring subject of maritime heritage.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

Steel bulk freighter; collision sinking; Lake Superior wreck; Vermilion Point; technical dive; 1911 maritime disaster; William Henry Mack collision; triple-expansion engine; inverted wreck.

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