Identification Card (Site Style)

Description

The SS James Carruthers was a state-of-the-art steel bulk freighter built in 1913. At 550 ft (167.6 m), she was the largest Canadian-built lake vessel at the time. Powered by a triple-expansion steam engine, she was designed for the heavy transport of bulk cargoes such as wheat, coal, and iron ore across the Great Lakes.

History

Commissioned by the St. Lawrence & Chicago Steam and Navigation Company, the vessel entered service in May 1913. On 6 November 1913, she departed Fort William, Ontario, bound for Midland, Ontario with a cargo of 375,000 bushels of wheat. Commanded by Captain William H. Wright, she sailed into the catastrophic Great Lakes Storm of 1913.

The vessel was last sighted entering Lake Huron near De Tour, Michigan, on 9 November 1913. Shortly thereafter, she disappeared. Debris and bodies began washing ashore near Kincardine and Point Clark, Ontario, in the days following the storm, but the wreck itself was not located.

Final Disposition

The James Carruthers was lost in the “White Hurricane” of 1913, one of the worst storms in Great Lakes history. All 22 crew perished. For over a century, the wreck remained undiscovered, despite numerous search efforts.

Located By & Date Found

In August 2025, Dave Trotter and Undersea Research Associates announced they had discovered the wreck in U.S. waters of Lake Huron, off Michigan’s Thumb. The wreck reportedly lies inverted on the lakebed. As of now, precise coordinates and depth have not been publicly released. Independent verification from archaeological authorities is pending.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No official NOTMARs issued for the wreck area. Further survey and verification are anticipated before formal advisories are posted.

Dive Information

Access: Boat only
Entry Point: Not disclosed
Conditions: Unknown; expected cold, low Visibility, strong thermocline
Depth Range: Undisclosed (likely deep water)
Emergency Contacts: U.S. Coast Guard – Great Lakes Sector
Permits: Required for research or artifact recovery
Dive Support: Specialized technical charters anticipated post-verification

Crew & Casualty Memorials

22 crew lost. Several were recovered along Ontario’s Lake Huron shoreline and buried locally. Crew records and memorials may be researched via Find A Grave and regional archives.

Documented Statements & Extracts

“…he and his group, Undersea Research Associates, have located the remains of the giant ore boat James Carruthers…” – (Preliminary announcement, August 2025).

Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails

Canadian Official Number: 131090. Registered at Toronto, Ontario. Insurance details were handled through Canadian marine underwriters; archival records may be found in Canadian shipping registers and Lloyd’s casualty lists.

Site Documentation & Imaging

Discovery reportedly made by sonar during survey operations in Lake Huron. Imaging (ROV, 3D models) has not yet been released publicly. Documentation pending.

Image Gallery

Resources & Links

• Wikipedia – SS James Carruthers
• Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• National Museum of the Great Lakes
• Chronicling America (Library of Congress)
• Find A Grave
• Detroit Free Press
• Advanced Diver Magazine

References

1. Wikipedia contributors. “SS James Carruthers.”
2. Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
3. Maritime History of the Great Lakes

NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card

Detroit Free Press Article

Advanced Diver Magazine Article.

https://advanceddivermagazine.com/jc.html