S.S. Comet (1875)
The 1970’s saw a great increase in shipping activity in Lake Superior due to the increase in railroads surrounding the lake and nearby areas. An increase in ships unfortunately meant an increase in accidents as well. An improvement in economic conditions in 1875 brought an influx of even more ships to the area.
The SS Comet
Built in 1857 in Cleveland, Ohio, the SS Comet spent the 1860’s and 70’s carrying package freight between Buffalo and Green Bay before being acquired to serve the Great Lakes trading routes. The SS Comet had reportedly sunk several other vessels before sinking herself on the evening of August 26, 1875.
The lookout then reported another ship, causing the captain to alter course towards the port. Moments later, the captain realized with horror that he was headed into an oncoming steamer. His whistle blast went unanswered. In a panic, he ordered a hard turn, but it was all for naught - the Canadian Manitoba was bearing down upon them.
The Manitoba struck the Comet, and immediately the Comet began to settle stern first, sinking completely in less than 10 minutes. The Manitoba picked up the remaining 10 survivors, including the Comet’s captain and other crew members. The first engineer and all of the below deck crew had gone done with the ship, losing 10 or 11 lives total. It was the worst collision fatalities in Lake Superior since 1862.
Lake Superior's Only Treasure Ship
The SS Comet is known as the only treasure ship in Lake Superior due to the cargo that was on board when it sank. It carried a mixed cargo, with 500 tons of pig iron, copper ore, and 70 tons of Montana silver ore. The value of the ship and its cargo was the equivalent of between 1.2 to 2.6 million dollars today.
The items featured on the left show the correspondence between the Under Water Metal Cutting Corporation and the Collector of Customs from 1933 inquiring about the nature and value of the lost SS Comet.
Attempts to salvage the SS Comet were unsuccessful until the 1980’s. However, the fate of the silver ore cargo is unknown.
Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. (unknown). Lake Superior’s treasure ship: The fateful end of the Comet. Accessed from Heroes, Heroines, and History.
Wolff, J.E. (1990). Lake superior shipwrecks. Lake Superior Port Cities Inc.