A Canadian freighter lost in the Great Storm of 1913 now rests deep beneath Lake Huron’s surface, revealed to the world in 2025.
The wreck of James Carruthers was located upside down on 26 May 2025, in (57.9 m (190 feet) of water, on the American side of Lake Huron, 20 miles east of Harbor Beach
After 112 years, the wreck of the SS James Carruthers—a 550‑ft Canadian freighter that vanished during the Great Storm of 191,—is finally located in Lake Huron. Found 20 miles east of Harbor Beach in US waters, the wreck lies upside down at a depth of around 190 feet, offering a poignant reminder of one of the Great Lakes’ most devastating maritime tragedies.
The discovery
Shipwreck hunters led by David Trotter located the SS James Carruthers in May 2025. Despite earlier theories placing the vessel north off Kincardine, its remains rest approximately 85 miles southwest, upside down in deep water.
Historical context
The SS James Carruthers was launched in 1913 and sank just months later during the infamous Great Storm, known as the White Hurricane, taking all 22 crew members with her. The storm—a relentless, hurricane‑force gale which raged across the Great Lakes from 7-10 November, 1913—claimed nearly 20 vessels and more than 250 lives. The exact cause of the sinking has remained a mystery. It’s possible that it capsized because of the strong winds with waves more than 30 feet tall.
This is the largest shipwreck from the 1913 disaster to be discovered to date.
