When ships sink on the Great Lakes, it is a disaster. When sailors lose their lives during these sinkings, it is a tragedy. There have been many tragic disasters on Lake Huron off Michigan's Thumb. Although they are all unique in their own way, they become special when they have a local connection. The John A. McGean had that local connection with the village of Port Hope. We will explore this ship's history, her disappearance, and also make a SCUBA dive to see what she now looks like resting on the lake bottom.

The John A. McGean was launched on February 22, 1908, in Lorain, Ohio, as a steel-hulled propeller by the American Ship Building Company, hull # 00359. She was built for the Pioneer Steamship Company under U.S. registry, and her official # was 205032. The vessel was 432' long, 52' wide, and 28' high, with a gross tonnage of 5,100 and net tonnage of 3,777.

When she sank, the McGean was in her fifth season on the lakes, and her captain was enjoying his second season in command of this new vessel. Captain Chauncey R. Nye was a well-known captain around the great lakes and had been master of many ships. This was the second vessel he commanded for the Pioneer Steamship Company, which was managed by Hutchinson & Co. The reason Captain Nye was so well known was because of his nickname "Dancing Chauncey". Dancing was his passion, and he acquired this name kicking up his heels while in port.

At 2:10 AM Sunday, November 9, 1913, the McGean cleared Port Huron loaded with coal from Sandusky, Ohio, bound for Lake Superior. Much has been written about the Great Storm of 1913 and the incredible toll it took in lives and ships, so we will not go into great detail here. But, at the time, the McGean did not know it was headed into danger. Other boats were passing up into Lake Huron at the same time, as they had done in Novembers past. Captain Nye may have been thinking of his wife's yearly inquiry about being home for their wedding anniversary on December 16th.

A later newspaper story quoted Eve as saying "When I asked my husband if he would be here on that day, he jested like he always did about my 'solitary dinner', for he never returned before Christmas. 'Have a nice anniversary dinner and play I am sitting opposite' he said". We will never know what his final thoughts were. The McGean was last sighted 14 miles north of Tawas Point and was not seen again for over 70 years.

At first, the great storm was reported as just that-- "a disastrous blizzard". The November 10, 1913 issue of the Port Huron Times-Herald was headlined "Many ships at mercy of wind and seas". It went on to say "Never in marine history have lakes been lashed into such fury, and anxiety is felt for many vessels which have not yet reported. No loss of life has been recorded". However, by November 15th the Times-Herald was headlined "Vessels and Lives Lost in Big Lake Disaster". A list followed containing the names of the vessels lost, their number of crew, the number of crew missing, and the number of the crews' bodies recovered. The list totaled 14 ships with 250 crewmen missing and 48 bodies recovered. The John A. McGean was 8th on the list with 28 crewmen missing and 20 bodies found.

Join us next month as we dive into the wreckage of the McGean.

You may contact Capt. Ron at 989-428-5177.