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
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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.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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