Two Ships Discovered In Lake Superior After Disappearing Over A Century Ago | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's Note: This post appears here courtesy of the The Daily Wire. The author of this post is Ben Whitehead.

    Two ships that disappeared over a hundred years ago in Lake Superior have been discovered, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society (GLSHS) announced last week.

    On November 18, 1914, a lumber fleet from the Edward Hines Lumber Company - one of the largest lumber companies at the time - set sail on Lake Superior from Baraga, Michigan, to Tonawanda, New York. The C.F. Curtis, a steamship, was towing two schooner barges: the Selden E. Marvin and Annie M. Peterson. The ships had a total of 28 people on board, but they never made it to New York.

    "The combined losses of the C.F. Curtis, Selden E. Marvin and Annie M. Peterson have comprised one of the more tragic stories of shipwreck on the Great Lakes and certainly became one of the Lake Superior's enduring mysteries," Bruce Lynn, executive director of the GLSHS said.

    At some point during their journey, the three ships encountered a severe storm that brought snow squalls, high winds, and massive waves. The ships didn't make it through the surprise storm, taking the lives of 28 people and bringing enough lumber to build 1,200 houses to the lakebed of Superior. Researchers have been searching for the three ships for decades.

    The GLSHS discovered nine shipwrecks in 2021, and one of those was the Curtis. The two other ships, Marvin and Peterson, were nowhere to be found. A year later, the Marvin was discovered within a few miles of the Curtis using a remotely operated vehicle.

    The two ships were discovered roughly 25 miles off the shore of Grand Marais, Michigan, which is located in the state's Upper Peninsula on the south shore of Lake Superior - in the lake further than reports at the time suggested. This is near what researchers call the "Graveyard of the Great Lakes," where roughly 200 of Lake Superior's 550 estimated shipwrecks are reportedly located.

    "It was a career highlight to have witnessed the discovery of the Marvin, as it not only solved a chapter in the nation's darkest day in lumber history, but also showcased a team of historians who have dedicated their lives towards making sure these stories aren't forgotten," Ric Mixter, a maritime historian and GLSHS board member said.

    Discovering the two ships was no easy task, largely because there were no survivors to tell the story - leading to a mystery many shipwreck hunters wished to solve. Researchers knew that in the days preceding the sinking of the three ships, other vessels in the Hines Lumber Company fleet had encountered rough weather, the New York Times reports. But, according to Mixter, there were no concerns for severe weather conditions the day the ships disappeared.

    Based on an examination of the two ships, researchers concluded the Marvin was likely in the middle of the tow, while the Peterson was behind, Mixter told the Times.

    "We see a good portion of her stern is ripped off, and we can tell by the towing bits that she was probably in the middle of the tow," Mixter said. "It just surprised us to see the damage on the front and the back of that ship," he continued, adding that no one on the ship stood a chance because of the speed at which the ships went down.

    Researchers will send teams back to the locations where the Curtis and Marvin were discovered this summer in hopes of finding the Peterson.

    "It would be great to know where all 3 wrecks are lying on the bottom of Superior, and finally be able to tell the stories of the Curtis, Marvin and Peterson," Darryl Ertel, the director of marine operations at the GLSHS said.

    Despite the damage to the ships, because of Lake Superior's cold, fresh water, they have been well-preserved - offering a glimpse of that fateful day.

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