Discovered: Giant Freighter Submerged in Lake Huron, Sunk in Fatal Blizzard of 1913

In the tumultuous waters of Lake Huron, the remains of the S.S. James Carruthers, a 529-foot Canadian freighter, were discovered in May 2025. This ship, one of the victims of the infamous "White Hurricane" blizzard of November 1913, had been lost for over a century.

The S.S. James Carruthers was on its way to Midland, Ontario when the storm hit. With winds reaching speeds of 90 miles per hour and virtually no visibility due to heavy snow, the ship met its fate. Among the dozen ships that sank during the disaster, the S.S. James Carruthers was the largest. Tragically, all 22 crew members aboard perished.

The crew reported that the paint was still tacky in their staterooms before the ship sank, a chilling reminder of the suddenness of the disaster. The ship was found upside down on the bottom of Lake Huron, a poignant testament to the power of the storm.

The discovery of the S.S. James Carruthers was made by David Trotter and his team. However, no information about the person who found the ship has been made available. The ship rests beneath 190 feet of water, a haunting reminder of the past.

The "White Hurricane" resulted in the sinking of ships in four of the five Great Lakes, with the most losses in Lake Huron. At least 250 sailors died in the disaster, making it one of the deadliest in Great Lakes history. Despite the numerous warnings sent out to all vessels during the storm, many ships, including the S.S. James Carruthers, sank regardless.

The S.S. Leafield and a schooner barge called the Plymouth are among the ships from the "White Hurricane" that have yet to be found. The discovery of the S.S. James Carruthers offers hope that these remaining ships may one day be found, providing a deeper understanding of this tragic event in history.

Discovered: Giant Freighter Submerged in Lake Huron, Sunk in Fatal Blizzard of 1913