Clinton News Record, 2013-11-06, Page 9FIND
Wednesday, November 6, 2013 • News Record 9
Clinton and the Great Storm of 1913
By David Yates
The Great Storm of 1913, which
raged from November 7-10 was the
most violent weather event recorded
lakes on the Great Lakes. Lake Huron
was epicentre of the 'White Hurricane'
where 8 ships were lost with all hands.
In the storm's aftermath, many Clinton
families anxiously awaited news from
their kinfolk who sailed aboard ships
on the lakes.
As news of the fate of local men
arrived, the 'Clinton News Record'
(November 20, 1913) reported that
'Clinton came off much more fortunate
than many other Ontario towns' which
suffered grievous loss in the storm.
The 'News -Record' noted that 'the
sons of Harry Cook' and seaman Ernie
Cook were 'reported safe.'
Norman Sheppard (17) of Hullet
who shipped aboard the Yorkton hap-
pened to be out of the storm's path.
Clinton seaman, Ray Ford on the Mid-
land King rode out the storm's fury at
Fort William. Herbert Schoenhals' (18)
steamship Kenora weathered the storm
by seeking refuge in a Lake
Superior harbour.
Gordon Holtzhauer (17) was safe in
harbour aboard the Alberta when the
storm struck. Not so lucky was his
18 -year old brother, Wellington, who
had a 'thrilling experience' on the Tur-
ret Chief. In hurricane winds, heavy
seas and blizzard conditions, the cap-
tain of the Turret Chief ran his vessel
aground near Copper
Harbor, Michigan.
As the Turret Chief was breaking up,
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the crew scrambled over the side on a
rope ladder into lifeboats to head for
the safety of shore. Amazingly, one of
the first Michigan men on the scene
was a childhood friend of Holtzhauer.
Former Clinton resident, R. H. Read,
when he learned that Holtzhauer was
amongst the stranded crew 'showed
them much kindness:
The death of 28 -year old James Glen
was Clinton's greatest tragedy of the
storm. Glen had just emigrated to Can-
ada from Ayrshire, Scotland in May
1913. It is believed that Glen came to
Clinton to live with his wife's uncle,
Reverend Walter W. Wylie, the minister
of the Clinton Baptist Church.
Although Glen had never sailed
before, he had experience as an elec-
tric operator on the docks in Scotland.
Hearing that there was good money to
be made sailing the lakes, he shipped
aboard the Wexford as a deck hand. It
was to be his last trip of the season
before returning home to bring his
young wife back to Canada in the
spring of 1914.
On November 11, Robert Turnbull, a
St. Joseph farmer, was surveying the
damage along the shoreline of his lake
front property when he saw a frozen
body with outstretched arms, which
seemed to be beckoning to him
for help.
The clean-shaven corpse with blue
eyes and red hair was brought to Bren-
ner's Hotel in Zurich and given the
label Body #1. A gold wedding ring and
a letter in his pocket addressed to
George Glen of Saltford provided clues
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CLINTON RADARS
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as to the body's identity.
The body was the mortal
remains of James Glen. Rever-
end Wylie positively identified
the body and brought it back to
Clinton for burial. Wylie relayed
the 'sad news' of Glen's death to
his niece and Glen's parents in
Scotland. James Glen has the
distinction of being the first of
scores of bodies that drifted
ashore in the days after
the storm.
Presbyterian minister, D. K.
Grant, conducted the funeral
service from the Ball and Atkin-
son Funeral Home. The 'News
Record' called it a 'singularly
sad and impressive' service,
which was well attended by
the town.
Although Glen was recorded
as having been buried in the
Clinton Cemetery, there was no
record of his burial site found
until recently. Huron County
Museum Curator Pat Hamilton
and local historian Reg
Thompson with the help of
graves superintendent, Richie
Cox, finally located the
unmarked grave. Perhaps some-
day a permanent marker to
denote the final resting place of
Clinton's only victim of the
Great Storm will be erected.
Clinton may not be a lake
port but it contributed to the
area's marine history by provid-
ing so many mariners who
braved the waters of the
Great Lakes.
Christmas comes to Bayfield this weekend
Santa is on his way to the Village of Bayfield this
weekend, getting the season off to a start with a salute
to local business.
Christmas in Bayfield runs Friday, Nov 8 through
Sunday, Nov 10, offering up a weekend full of shop-
ping, dining and festivities. Deb Grasby, Chamber of
Commerce committee member, said it's the first and
best chance to start your Christmas shopping, with all
Chamber member businesses on board.
Of course, the event also gets people in the festive
mood, with the lighting of the lights in Clan Gregor
Park at 7 p.m. Friday, which will be even brighter this
year thanks to a donation of 250 strings of lights from
Tuckersmith Communication. Following the lighting
ceremony, Santa himself will be arriving via fire truck
before returning the next day for the Saturday mom-
ing parade.
This year's parade marshal is Karen Sealy of Sealy
Design. Sealy has been featured regularly on television
on City Line, as well as many national decor maga-
zines, and is an avid supporter of all things Bayfield.
The parade gets underway at 11 a.m. Nov 9, follow-
ing which there will be free horse-drawn carriage rides
through town. The parade gets bigger and better every
year, and has become quite and attraction.
"You're lucky to find a parking spot on Main Street,
that's for sure," Grasby said. "The streets are packed
with people especially for the parade:'
After the lights are lit, local restaurants and pubs fill
up with revelers, spreading the Christmas cheer and
pumping dollars into the local economy.
A lucky few will also be able to win a draw for a Bay-
field shopping spree, with prizes of $500, $300 and
$200 to be drawn December 23.
Coordinated by:
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WspiringOher%-
One StarataTime;
NOMINATE SOMEONE TODAY
Nominations will be accepted until November 30
Contact this newspaper or the Ontario
Community Newspapers Association
at www.ocna.org/juniorcitizen or
905.639.8720 ext. 221
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