SS Hydrus

SS Hydrus
History
Name:	R.E. Schuck
Owner:	Gilchrist Transportation Company of Cleveland, Ohio
Port of registry:	United States
Builder:	American Ship Building Company of Lorain, Ohio
Yard number:	327
Launched:	1903
Identification:	United States registry number 200315
Fate:	Sold to the Interlake Steamship Company in 1913
Name:	Hydrus
Owner:	Interlake Steamship Company of Cleveland, Ohio
Port of registry:	United States
Acquired:	1913
Identification:	United States registry number 200315
Fate:	Foundered and sank during the Great Lakes Storm of 1913.
General characteristics
Class and type:	Bulk freighter
Tonnage:	4,713 gross register tons (GRT) 3,384 net register tons
Length:	416 ft 0 in (126.8 m)
Beam:	50 ft 0 in (15.2 m)
Height:	28 ft 0 in (8.5 m)
Installed power:	Triple expansion steam Piston One - 0 ft 22 in (0.6 m) Piston Two - 0 ft 35 in (0.9 m) Piston Three - 0 ft 58 in (1.5 m) Stroke Length -0 ft 40 in (1.0 m)
Propulsion:	Propeller

The SS Hydrus was an American steel-hulled Great Lakes bulk freighter, constructed in 1903 and launched as the R.E. Schuck.^[1] She was following the SS James Carruthers heading south on Lake Huron while carrying a load of iron ore when she and the Carruthers were caught in the Great Lakes Storm of 1913.^[2]

The Hydrus foundered and sank with a crew of twenty-four aboard on or around 8 November 1913^[3] while heading for the St. Clair River. During the storm, waves were said to be 35 feet high along with wind gusts of 90 miles per hour.^[4] Five of the crew were found frozen to death in a lifeboat that washed ashore in Canada. The James Carruthers was also lost in the storm as well as the SS Argus, which was the sister ship of the Hydrus. The wreck of the Hydrus was located in the summer of 2015 by a team of shipwreck hunters led by David Trotter.^[5]

References

1. "Hydrus, 1913.". Fr. Edward J. Dowling, S.J. Marine Historical Collection. University of Detroit Mercy. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
2. Willis, Glen (2003). "The great storm of 1913". Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse Society. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
3. Jim Schaefer (November 9, 2015). "Man discovers Lake Huron shipwreck missing since 1913". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
4. Swayze, Dave (1998–2001). "Great Lakes Shipwrecks H - Hydrus". The Great Lakes Shipwreck File: Total Losses of Great Lakes Ships 1679 - 1999. Boatnerd.com. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
5. Jim Schaefer (November 9, 2015). "Man discovers Lake Huron shipwreck missing since 1913". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2015-11-09.