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The Turret Chief operated on the Great Lakes, carrying grain, coal, and other bulk materials, but was already becoming outdated by the 1910s, as larger steel-hulled freighters replaced turret steamers.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

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.