Wilson/belly of the whale

On June 6, 1902, the steamer Thomas Wilson entered the Duluth harbor to take on a cargo of iron ore at the Missaba ore docks.

She had been loading all night and was delayed in leaving the next morning, June 7th. The weather was fine, so Captain Cameron of the WILSON did not bother to wait for the hatch covers to be covered. Instead he would save time by doing it out in the lake. Little did anyone know that the shop and the cargo would never see another port!

It was almost 10:30 am when the WILSON passed the pier heads at the Duluth harbor entrance, loaded deep in the water with her iron ore. About two miles out in the lake was the steamer GEORGE HADLEY, bound in with a cargo of coal. Going out to meet the HADLEY was the tug ANNIE L. SMITH. She had orders for Capt. Fitgerald of the HADLEY to go to the Superior entrance and dock at Allouez Bay.

The SMITH reached the HADLEY some distance in advance of the WILSON. The tug captain passed on the orders to the captain of the HADLEY. By this time the two big ships had approached quite close to each other on courses which would make them take a port side passing. Suddenly the HADLEY changed course and swung to port, as though to head for the Superior Entry. The WILSON turned to starboard and was in the act of crossing the HADLEY's bow, and seemed to slip past her in safety. However, they were too close and the next moment they came together in a terrific crash. The bow of the HADLEY, although wooden, struck the WILSON just forward of the aft hatch, crushing the iron shell with tremendous force. The wooden craft recoiled from the impact, and the other heeled over to starboard. As the HADLEY fell away, the WILSON rolled heavily to port, the righted slowly, but even as she did the bow began to settle.

Captain Cameron of the WILSON at once reaslized that his boat was in serious condition. The crew of the WILSON rushed to the companionways and warned those below of the danger. From the Forecastle, the engin room, the fire hold, the men came rushing on deck, some of them almost without clothing. Almost as soon as they reached the deck, it was seen that the vessel was sinking very fast. The bow was down so that the forward turrent was half under water, and the stern was already raised in the air. Everybody was a rush aft.

Capt. Cameron, Second Mate McGilvray and Watchman Campbell hastened to where the lifeboat was fastened, but abandoned their efforts to loosen it, and turned their attention to a raft. With the knives they slashed at the fastenings, in a desperate attempt to get in clear. Meanwhile the other members of the crew did not eve wait to put on life preservers or rid themselves of the clothing. After making their way to the stern of the boat, they leaped into the icy waters of the lake and struck out for the the HADLEY, which was less than 150 feet away. Before the lashings of the life raft could be cut, even while the members of the crew were still leaping into the water, the WOLSON dropped by the bow. Her stern tilted high into the air, and her screw lifted to the surface of the ater, throwing a cloud of foam and spray.

The next instant, before those who had delayed to leap could act, the nose of the WILSON went under. With a plunge she slid beneath the water bow first. As her stern went under, a column of steam, smoke and foam rose up from a height of 40 feet. as it decended, a whirling, bubbling maelstrom appeared on the spot which drew into it embrace of the crew within reached of it deadly suction.