Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: SS Samuel Mather
- Type: Wooden bulk freighter
- Year Built: 1887
- Builder: Not specified
- Dimensions: 246 ft × 40 ft × 19.3 ft (74.9 m × 12.2 m × 5.9 m)
- Registered Tonnage: Not specified
- Depth at Wreck Site: 55 m / 180 ft
- Location: Whitefish Bay, Lake Superior, 8 miles north of Point Iroquois
- Coordinates: 46°34.263′ N, 84°42.357′ W
- Official Number: Not recorded
- Original Owners: Pickands, Mather Company → Samuel Mather → Interlake Transportation Company
- Number of Masts: Not specified
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The SS Samuel Mather was a late-era wooden bulk freighter designed for grain, coal, and ore transport across the Great Lakes. At 246 ft in length, it represented the final generation of large wooden freighters before steel construction became dominant. Powered by a single steam engine with propeller, it provided reliable service for only four years before its loss.
Description
The SS Samuel Mather was a late-era wooden bulk freighter designed for grain, coal, and ore transport across the Great Lakes. At 246 ft in length, it represented the final generation of large wooden freighters before steel construction became dominant. Powered by a single steam engine with propeller, it provided reliable service for only four years before its loss.
History
Construction and Early Career (1887): Launched in 1887, owned by Pickands, Mather Company and registered at Cleveland, Ohio. Its maiden voyage was cut short when machinery problems forced the tug Mystic to tow her to Sault Ste. Marie for repairs.
Ownership Changes and Legal Troubles (1888–1890): Transferred to Samuel Mather in 1888, later to James Pickard of the Interlake Transportation Company. In 1890, she collided with the steamer Ohio, leading to a court case over damages.
Final Voyage and Wreck (1891): On 22 November 1891, the Samuel Mather departed Duluth with 58,000 bushels of wheat bound for Buffalo. In dense fog, she collided with the steel freighter Brazil in Whitefish Bay. The impact tore an 11 ft gash in her starboard hull, and she sank within 25 minutes. All 20 crew survived. The vessel and cargo loss was valued at over $226,000.
Significant Incidents
- Collision with the steamer Ohio in 1890, resulting in a court case.
- Collision with the steel freighter Brazil on 22 November 1891, leading to her sinking.
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss, the Samuel Mather sank intact and upright on the bottom of Whitefish Bay, where it remains well-preserved due to cold Lake Superior waters.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck was discovered in May 1978 by Bob Smith of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. It has since become a well-known dive site and historical study location. Protected within the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve, divers must comply with preservation rules. At least three divers have lost their lives exploring the wreck due to its depth and enclosed spaces.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”samuel-mather” title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
No loss of life occurred. The crew escaped unharmed. The wreck itself stands as a historical memorial. Artifacts recovered illegally in the 1980s were reclaimed by Michigan DNR and now reside at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum.
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
Other Names: —
Official Number: Not recorded
Registry: United States (Cleveland, Ohio)
Vessel Type: Wooden bulk freighter
Builder: Not specified
Year Built: 1887
Dimensions: 246 ft × 40 ft × 19.3 ft (74.9 m × 12.2 m × 5.9 m)
Tonnage: Not specified
Cargo on Final Voyage: 58,000 bushels of wheat
Date of Loss: 22 November 1891
Location: Whitefish Bay, Lake Superior, 8 miles north of Point Iroquois
Coordinates: 46°34.263′ N, 84°42.357′ W
Depth: ~180 ft (55 m)
Home Port: Cleveland, Ohio
Owners: Pickands, Mather Company → Samuel Mather → Interlake Transportation Company
Crew: 20
Casualties: None
Description
The SS Samuel Mather was a late-era wooden bulk freighter designed for grain, coal, and ore transport across the Great Lakes. At 246 ft in length, it represented the final generation of large wooden freighters before steel construction became dominant. Powered by a single steam engine with propeller, it provided reliable service for only four years before its loss.
History
Construction and Early Career (1887): Launched in 1887, owned by Pickands, Mather Company and registered at Cleveland, Ohio. Its maiden voyage was cut short when machinery problems forced the tug Mystic to tow her to Sault Ste. Marie for repairs.
Ownership Changes and Legal Troubles (1888–1890): Transferred to Samuel Mather in 1888, later to James Pickard of the Interlake Transportation Company. In 1890, she collided with the steamer Ohio, leading to a court case over damages.
Final Voyage and Wreck (1891): On 22 November 1891, the Samuel Mather departed Duluth with 58,000 bushels of wheat bound for Buffalo. In dense fog, she collided with the steel freighter Brazil in Whitefish Bay. The impact tore an 11 ft gash in her starboard hull, and she sank within 25 minutes. All 20 crew survived. The vessel and cargo loss was valued at over $226,000.
Final Dispositions
Declared a total loss, the Samuel Mather sank intact and upright on the bottom of Whitefish Bay, where it remains well-preserved due to cold Lake Superior waters.
Located By & Date Found
The wreck was discovered in May 1978 by Bob Smith of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. It has since become a well-known dive site and historical study location.
Notmars & Advisories
Protected within the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve. Divers must comply with preservation rules. At least three divers have lost their lives exploring the wreck due to its depth and enclosed spaces.
Dive Information
Access: Boat only
Entry Point: Whitefish Bay harbors
Conditions: Cold, deep, dark waters; strong thermocline
Depth Range: ~180 ft (55 m)
Emergency Contacts: USCG Sault Ste. Marie; Michigan DNR
Permits: Diving permitted; artifact removal prohibited
Dive Support: GLSHS and regional charters
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No loss of life occurred. The crew escaped unharmed. The wreck itself stands as a historical memorial. Artifacts recovered illegally in the 1980s were reclaimed by Michigan DNR and now reside at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“In less than half an hour the Mather was gone. Her cargo of wheat and her stout wooden hull sank together, but by fortune of calm evacuation, not a man was lost.” — Maritime casualty reports, 1891
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Originally enrolled in Cleveland, Ohio. Ownership passed from Pickands, Mather Company to Samuel Mather and later to Interlake Transportation Co. Insurance records list a total loss of vessel and cargo exceeding $226,000.
Site Documentation & Imaging
Surveyed by the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society and recreational divers. Artifact controversy in the 1980s resulted in state custody of recovered material, now displayed under loan to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. 3D documentation by 3DShipwrecks.org provides detailed site mapping.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
References
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society archives
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources, artifact recovery reports (1992)
- Lloyd’s Casualty Reports (1891)
NOAA Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: —
Official Number: Not specified
Coordinates: 46°34.263′ N, 84°42.357′ W
Depth: ~180 ft (55 m)
Location Description: Whitefish Bay, Lake Superior, 8 miles north of Point Iroquois
Vessel Type: Wooden bulk freighter
Material: Wood
Dimensions: 246 ft × 40 ft × 19.3 ft
Condition: Intact, upright, well-preserved
Cause of Loss: Collision with SS Brazil, 22 Nov 1891
Discovery Date: 1978
Discovered By: Bob Smith, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Method: Dive survey
Legal Notes: Protected within Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve; artifacts state-owned
Hazards: Extreme depth, cold water, enclosed areas (three diver fatalities recorded)
Permits Required: Yes, under Michigan law