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Jolly Inez (Turret Chief, Vickerstown) C106605

Explore the history of the Jolly Inez, a turret steamer that survived the Great Storm of 1913 and underwent multiple transformations before its uncertain fate.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Jolly Inez
  • Type: Steel-hulled turret steamer
  • Year Built: 1896
  • Builder: William Doxford & Sons, Sunderland, England
  • Dimensions: Length: 253 ft (77.1 m); Beam: 45 ft (13.7 m); Depth: 27 ft (8.2 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 1,881 GT
  • Location: Keweenaw Peninsula, west of Copper Harbor, Lake Superior
  • Official Number: C106605

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Jolly Inez was originally a steel-hulled turret steamer, a unique design that was part of a rare class of late-19th-century bulk freighters.

Description

The Turret Chief was built in 1896 and was known for its rounded hull sides, which improved stability in rough waters, reduced canal tolls, and allowed for larger cargo capacities compared to traditional hull designs.

History

The Turret Chief operated on the Great Lakes, primarily carrying grain, coal, and other bulk materials. By the 1910s, it was becoming outdated as larger steel-hulled freighters began to dominate the shipping industry.

Significant Incidents

  • November 11, 1913: The vessel was upbound on Lake Superior when it was driven aground by the Great Storm of 1913, suffering heavy damage but with no loss of life.
  • 1915: Renamed Vickerstown and later Jolly Inez after being converted into a barge.
  • 1927: Stranded in fog on Saddlebag Island, Lake Huron.

Final Disposition

Initially thought to be a total loss in 1913, the vessel was salvaged and later converted into a barge. Its final fate remains uncertain after being abandoned following another stranding in 1927.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No confirmed wreck site has been identified, and any remains would likely be scattered near Saddlebag Island, where the vessel stranded in 1927.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”jolly-inez-turret-chief-vickerstown-c106605″ title=”References & Links”]

The Jolly Inez serves as a testament to the resilience of Great Lakes shipping in the early 20th century, having survived one of the worst storms in the region’s history and undergone multiple transformations before its uncertain fate.

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.

Turret Steamer Turret Chief (1896–1913, later Vickerstown and Jolly Inez)

Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Turret Chief (later Vickerstown (1915) and Jolly Inez (1915))
  • Official Number: C106605
  • Vessel Type at Loss: Steel-hulled bulk freight “turret steamer”
  • Builder: William Doxford & Sons, Sunderland, England (Hull #248)
  • Year Built & Launched: 1896
  • Specifications: Length: 253 ft (77.1 m) Beam: 45 ft (13.7 m) Depth: 27 ft (8.2 m)
  • Gross Tonnage: 1,881 GT
  • Net Tonnage: 1,197 NT
  • Date Lost (First Major Incident): November 11, 1913 (later refloated and rebuilt)
  • Location of Loss: Keweenaw Peninsula, west of Copper Harbor, Lake Superior
  • Cause of Loss: Storm-driven grounding (Great Storm of 1913)
  • Loss of Life: None
  • Cargo at Time of Loss: Unknown

Vessel Description & Service History

The Turret Chief was a steel-hulled turret steamer, part of a rare class of late-19th-century bulk freighters designed by William Doxford & Sons in England. She was built in 1896 and entered service as part of Great Lakes and Atlantic bulk freight shipping operations.

Turret steamers were distinct for their rounded hull sides, which:

  • Improved stability in rough water.
  • Reduced canal tolls due to their lower profile.
  • Allowed for larger cargo capacities compared to traditional hull designs.

The Turret Chief operated on the Great Lakes, carrying grain, coal, and other bulk materials, but was already becoming outdated by the 1910s, as larger steel-hulled freighters replaced turret steamers.

Final Voyage & Loss (Great Storm of 1913)

On November 11, 1913, the Turret Chief was upbound on Lake Superior, having passed through the Soo Locks before storm warnings were issued. The storm intensified rapidly, becoming the infamous “Big Blow” or “White Hurricane” of 1913, one of the worst storms in Great Lakes history. As she fought through the storm, she was pushed west of Copper Harbor on the Keweenaw Peninsula. Driven aground by massive waves, she suffered heavy damage. Initially thought to be a total loss, she was left stranded in the storm’s aftermath. No lives were lost, and her crew was safely evacuated. Despite the severe damage, she was salvaged the next year (1914) and refloated.

Later Service & Final Abandonment

  • 1915: Renamed Vickerstown.
  • 1915: Renamed Jolly Inez after being converted into a barge.
  • 1927: Stranded in fog on Saddlebag Island, Lake Huron.

Declared a total loss and abandoned, but later recovered by T.L. Durocher of Detour, Michigan, and rebuilt again as the barge Jolly Inez.

Final Disposition & Salvage

  • Originally thought to be a total loss in 1913 but salvaged.
  • Later converted into a barge (Jolly Inez).
  • Stranded again in 1927, but was refloated and rebuilt.
  • Final fate remains uncertain after conversion to a barge.
  • No confirmed wreck site identified.
  • • ny remains would likely be scattered near Saddlebag Island, Lake Huron, where she stranded in 1927.

Notmars & Advisories

The Great Storm of 1913 was one of the deadliest in Great Lakes history, causing the loss of over 250 lives and 12 major ships. The Keweenaw Peninsula is notorious for shipwrecks, as vessels rounding the peninsula often encountered strong storms and unexpected shoals. Turret steamers were an unusual design, and by the 1930s, almost all had been phased out in favor of larger, more efficient freighters.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The Turret Chief was a rare turret steamer that survived one of the worst storms in Great Lakes history, the Great Storm of 1913. Though initially presumed lost, she was salvaged and continued operating under different names until the late 1920s. Eventually converted to a barge and abandoned after another stranding, her final fate remains unknown, but she stands as a testament to the resilience of Great Lakes shipping in the early 20th century.

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