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It’s November 6, 1913. Two ominous weather fronts
collide over the relatively warm waters of the Great Lakes.
Over the next few days, the storm escalates
to what today’s meteorologists would call a weather bomb.
Hurricane-force winds of 145 km/h,
towering waves of over 10 metres and white-out snow squalls
all furiously slam the Great Lakes Basin.
Toronto’s Dominion Weather Observatory orders Level 4 storm signal flags
to fly at all ports. But for many ships, it’s too late.
Major shipwrecks take place on all the Great Lakes except for Lake Ontario.
Before it’s over, nature’s wrath sends 12 ships to their watery grave,
strands 19 others,
and claims some 250 lives,
with many of the bodies washing up on shore.
During the inquest that followed, it’s argued that some ships that perished
could have been saved had they been warned in time.
And so many lives wouldn’t have been lost.
The problem was, most ships did not have wireless radios on board
to be contacted at sea.
Because of the Great Storm of 1913,
radios become mandatory on all Lake freighters.
As well, shipping companies look to design new lakers with
greater stability to better weather the storms of the Great Lakes.
To know more about the Great Storm of 1913,
go to History Matters at virtualmuseum.ca
and tell us why this History Matters to you.