JANUARY ☆ FEBRUARY, 1989 Volume XXXVII: Number 1 GREAT LAKES MARITIME INSTITUTE DOSSIN GREAT LAKES MUSEUM Belle Isle, Detroit, Michigan 48207 TELESCOPE Page 2 MEETING NOTICES • Several members have inquired for information on the photos that appeared on the back covers of Telescope last year. Beginning with this issue, we’ll provide data for the McDonald photo that appears on the back cover. In the next issue we’ll print the data for all six photos used in 1988. Institute members A1 Sykes and Skip Gillham have co-authored Pulp and Paper Fleet: A History of the Q&O Transportation Company. The first chapters cover the building of the paper mill in Thorold, Ontario and the early vessels acquired in the fleet. The second section cover the individual ships that have sailed in Q&O colors. Several short stories on these vessels have appeared in Telescope, but over thirty vessels are contained in this book, making the $15.00 price a bargain. The paperback edition is available at the Dossin Museum or from A1 Sykes, 12 Peach Tree, Fonthill, Ontario Canada LOS 1E0. Please include postage when ordering at either address. It is with deep regret that we announce the death of Peter Worden on October 31, 1988. Peter served as News Editor in the 1960’s until his graduate studies forced him to relinquish his volunteer activities. While serving in the Coast Guard at the Soo, Peter photographed many vessels that are only memories today. During the past few years while recuperating from cancer surgery, Peter copied many of his photos, providing the museum with photos of new vessels and conversions of older ships. To his family we extend our deepest sympathy. MEETING NOTICES • Mr. Dick Kruse will be our guest speaker on Friday, January 20th at 8 p.m. at Dossin. His slide program titled “ St. Marys River: Soo to DeTour” will take you along this busy waterway, covering the small vessels up thru the 1,000-footers that now dominate this river. Future Board of Directors meetings are scheduled for Thursday, February 9th and April 13th. Nominations for the G.L.M.I. Board will be finalized at the February meeting. CONTENTS • Membership Notes 2 The Discovery of the John McGean by David Trotter 3 Voyage to the Interior by Alan Mann 10 Great Lakes & Seaway News Edited by Don Richards 18 Great Lakes Claendar 26 Back cover photo: David Rust, No. 6793. Built in 1873 at Saginaw, MI. 201.8x33.5x18.5 884 gt. 666 nt. Dismantled and abandoned at Toledo, OH. in 1911. Photo taken in Sheboygan, WI. at C. Reiss Coal Dock around 1911. Dock torn down about 1909-10. Published at Detroit, Michigan by the GREAT LAKES MARITIME INSTITUTE ©All rights reserved. Printed in the United States by Macomb Printing Specialties. OUR COVER PICTURE. The steamer Regina sails up the lake with general merchandise for the small towns. When the Storm of 1913 crossed over the lakes, the Regina was one of eight ships sent to the bottom with all hands. This painting by Robert McGreevy is available at the Dossin Museum for $80.00 or from CTM Associates P.O. Box 36441 Grosse Pte., MI. 48236. □ Telescope is produced with assistance from the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, an agency with the Historical Department of the City of Detroit. JAN ☆ FEB, 1989 Page 3 THE DISCOVERY OF THE JOHN McGEAN by DAVID TROTTER Underseas Research Associates The Great Storm of 1913 was unparalleled as experience, a storm of such unprecedented one of the worst in Great Lakes history, violence with such rapid changes in the and certainly an unparalleled tragedy. It was direction of the wind and gusts of such fearful the most disastrous in terms of the loss speed. Storms ordinarily of that velocity of life and property ever to be recorded in Lake do not last over four or five hours, but Huron, as evidenced by the long list of wrecks: this storm raged for 16 hours continuously at an Argus, 25 lives lost, located upside down off average velocity of 60 miles per hour, with the ‘Thumb’ of Michigan; the James Car­ frequent spurts of 70 and over. ruthers, 22 lives lost, unlocated; the Hydrus, Obviously with a wind of such long 25 lives lost, unlocated; the John A. duration, the seas that were made were such McGean, 23 lives lost, located off the ‘Thumb’ that the lakes are not ordinarily familiar with. of Michigan; the Charles Price, 28 lives lost, The testimony of masters is that the waves located upside down off Port Huron, Michigan; were at least 35 feet high and followed each the Regina, 25 lives lost, located partially up­ other in quick succession, three waves side down off the ‘Thumb’; the Issac Scott, ordinarily coming one right after the other. 28 lives lost, located upside down off Alpena, They were considerably shorter than the Michigan and the Wexford, 24 lives lost, re­ waves that are formed by an ordinary gale. portedly located off Goderich, Ontario. Being such height and hurled with such force The Lake Carriers Association was to report: and rapid succession, the ships must have been ‘No lake master can recall in all his subJected to incredible punishment. Pesha Photo/Dossin Mus. Coll. The JOHN A. MCGEAN was carrying coal, upbound on Lake Huron when she sank in 1913. TELESCOPE Page 4 Masters also relate that the wind and sea The Klein sidescan sonar, when used by a were frequently in conflict, the wind blowing very experienced operator, provides out­ one way and the sea running in the opposite standing survey capability. With many direction. This would indicate a storm of cy­ commitments by members of the survey team, clonic character. It was unusual and unpre­ only two of us were on the survey boat that cedented and it may be centuries before such a day. The 80-pound stainless steel ‘fish’ was combination of forces may be experienced placed over the side and 500 feet of cable were again. strung out behind the boat. Weather is always Into this storm sailed the likes of the a factor, and it begun to deteriorate late in James Carruthers, virtually new and 550 the day. However, we decided to make one feet long. She was on her third and last trip. final pass before recovering the cable and The Carruthers was built to withstand the making for the safety of the harbor. In the rigours of the Lakes with many extra tons of middle of the last pass a small target was structural steel in her hull, having been placed noted, only to be followed by the biggest there at the expense of carrying capacity. wreck we had ever seen! Downbound with a load of grain, her Several weeks later, we again visited the disappearance, along with seven other ships in wreck, however, this time it was to grapple Lake Huron, is ample evidence of the storm’s and make a dive on our discovery. The fury. ‘close-up’ survey work we had done One of the great adventures for people with the Klein unit had indicated a ship that of moderate means (we can’t all be astro­ was nearly upside down. After numerous nauts) is the opportunity to search for, and attempts to set the grapple, we finally possibly discover, ships that ‘went missing’. It secured our boat to the shipwreck below. requires countless hours of research and on- We suited up with excitement and some the-water searching by people dedicated to apprehension, wondering what lay at the end of uncovering the mysteries that lie beneath the the grappling hook. surface of the Great Lakes. Once found, these On the descent natural light was lost ships become the ‘vehicle’ to swim back quickly, especially when we arrived on the floor into time. Proper documentation can often of Lake Huron next to an enormous steel add footnotes to history that otherwise hull. Due to Klein close-ups, we knew would never be known. that turning left and swimming west would JAN ☆ FEB, 1989 Page 5 Underseas Research Assoc. The whistle sheared from the stack lies intact on the bottom. TELESCOPE Page 6 place us at the front of the ship. We combined uninsured value totalling $257,000, swam 40 feet and came to the remains disappeared into the depths of the lake. of the cabin structure crumbled on the floor of Capt. Chauncey Nye was bom and raised Lake Huron. AdJacent to the cabins was a in Port Hope, a small town above name on the side of the ship, the John Harbor Beach which is located in the A. McGean. We had discovered one of ‘Thumb’ area of Michigan. He subsequently the shipwrecks from the Great Storm of 1913! married and moved to Detroit where, at one A quick survey found both anchors still in time, he acted as pilot on the steamer place and the mast and a portion of the cabin James Battle, one of the Detroit fireboats. area lying on the bottom. Time was all Capt. Nye acquired the nickname ‘Dancin’ be­ too short and we secured our safety line on a cause of his affection for the good life once railing to begin our ascent while shaking he was ashore. Capt. Nye was the hands. master of ships for the Cleveland-Cliffs The John McGean was built in 1908 in Lorain Iron Company, United States Transportation Ohio by the American Shipbuilding Company. Company and the Hutchinson Company which With a length of 432 feet and a beam of owned the McGean; this was his second season 52 feet, her gross and net tonnage were as captain of the ship.