The ship that disappeared in 1913 suddenly appeared, revealing the "mysterious" truth deep under Lake Huron

Shipwreck hunters have just discovered the wreck of the SS James Carruthers that sank more than 100 years ago during the 1913 White Storm on Lake Huron , opening an important step in the exploration of the maritime history of the Great Lakes.

In November 1913, a terrible snowstorm, known as the "White Storm", swept across the Great Lakes area, causing a serious maritime disaster. During the storm, dozens of boats were swept away, with at least 250 people. One of the most famous victims was the Canadian freighter SS James Carruthers, which had completely disappeared on Lake Huron. All 22 sailors on board were unlucky enough to survive, making the ship one of the most notable shipwrecks in Lake Huron's history.

After more than a century, in May 2025, famed shipwreck hunter David Trotter and his team at the Society for Undersea Research announced the discovery of the wreck of the SS James Carruthers. This is the result of five years of careful searching, and at the same time brings the total number of shipwrecks that Mr. Trotter has discovered since the 1970s to more than 100.

The discovery was made while Mr. Trotter's team was mapping the bottom of Lake Huron using an underwater camera. During the scan, a large cube suddenly appeared on the screen, attracting the attention of the research team. By comparing the size and shape, they quickly realized that this was the SS James Carruthers, because no other ship was missing in Lake Huron of similar size.

The 150-meter-long SS James Carruthers is now capsized at the bottom of the lake about 58 meters deep. Mr. Trotter emphasized that the successful detection of this ship is due to a unique search method, which focuses on mapping high-probability areas rather than just looking for suspicious points based on historical data. This method has proven effective, especially for long-standing shipwrecks such as the SS James Carruthers.

The SS James Carruthers was the last of eight ships recorded to have sunk in Lake Huron during the White Storm of 1913. Previously, other wrecks were found between 1913 and 2015, marking important advances in maritime history and safety research on the Great Lakes.

Despite the discovery of the SS James Carruthers, many other ships were still missing in the devastating snowstorm, making it difficult for researchers and shipwreck hunters. In particular, the SS Leafield, which sank in Lake Superior, has not yet been located.

The discovery of the wreck of the SS James Carruthers is not only a significant scientific achievement but also a living testament to the maritime history of the Great Lakes region. It helps to solve mysteries that span more than 100 years, and at the same time recognizes the sacrifices of sailors who died in the White Storm. Experts emphasized that each such discovery contributes to preserving historical memory and improving understanding of the extreme weather conditions on Lake Huron. providing valuable data for research on water environment protection and management.

In addition, finds such as the SS James Carruthers have attracted the attention of the public and historians, spurring interest in the discovery of other long-standing shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. Thanks to modern search methods and the perseverance of shipwreck hunters, seemingly forgotten historical stories are gradually being revived, opening up the opportunity to uncover more mysteries at the bottom of the lake, from missing ships to important historical artifacts.