The Forgotten Souls of 1913

The Great Storm of 1913 inflicted havoc across the Great Lakes. Ships working the lakes those fatefull days were in a struggle of life and death. Even to this day, the stories behind those struggles are still being learned as new evidence is found. Join us as we investigate the shipwreck Argus and the John McGean and possibly re-write the history books on their final moments.

Argus

The SS Argus was a steel-hulled Great Lakes freighter, that was constructed as the SS Lewis Woodruff by the American Ship Building Company, and was launched on 5 August 1905. Its original owner was the Gilchrist Transportation Company, based in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1913, the ship was sold to the Interlake Steamship Company, and was renamed the Argus.

The ship was lost on Lake Huron on November 9, 1913 during the Great Lakes storm of 1913. Under the commander of captain Paul Dutch, the Argus headed north into Lake Huron, with a load of coal. A little over 13 miles north of Point Aux Barques, the ship with the loss of all 25 hands.

John McGean

The John A. McGean was built in 1908 by the American Shipbuilding Company at their shipyard in Lorain, Ohio. She was 432 feet (132 m) long, with a beam of 52 feet (16 m) and a draft of 28 feet (8.5 m), and measured 5,100 gross register tons.

On November 7 or 9, 1913, John A. McGean was sailing into the Great Storm when she was sighted for the final time. Sometime the following day, she sank with all 23 crew. Her wreckage was not found until 1985, when it was discovered near Port Hope, Michigan.

The body of chief engineer Calvin Smith was found near Black's Point, Ontario (just south of Goderich, Ontario) in late November 1913. Second cook D.M. Betts' remains were identified at the morgue in Goderich, Ontario via a photograph and details furnished by the Lake Carriers' Association. His remains were sent home to Girard, Pennsylvania on November 20, 1913.