On this day November 29, 1966, the DANIEL J. MORRELL snapped in two and sank on Lake Huron.  Only one of the 29 crewmen, Dennis Hale, survived.  The MORRELL was en route from Cleveland to Taconite Harbor, Minnesota, with only ballast in its hold.

Photo at top of page: DANIEL J. MORRELL, dated 1937

A November storm was raging with 70 mph winds and waves of 20-25 feet.  A former third mate of the MORRELL testified “the decision to make the lake run late in the season, when there are usually heavier seas, belonged to Bethlehem Steel.”  The mate later testified that if Bethlehem did order a late run, the final decision to make the trip or wait belonged to the captain.

By 2 am the ship’s moans had the crew on deck.  At 2:15 the ship’s hull broke and water poured in.   Some of the crew loaded into raft on the bow waiting to be thrown into the water.  Then, they spotted a ship off the port bow.  Within minutes, it was discovered that it was not a ship but the aft section of their ship being powered by their engine.  The MORRELL had broken in two.

The survivor, Dennis Hale, was on this raft.  After being adrift on the raft in ice waters for 36 hours, half frozen, he was rescued.  The others on the raft did not survive.  He never sailed again.   His feet were severely frostbitten and required several surgeries.   He suffered from what is now called survivor’s guilt.

Name board of the DANIEL J. MORRELL mounted in the Humanities Room of Milwaukee’s Central Library – headquarters of the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society

In 2010, Hale published his book “Shipwrecked: Reflections of the Sole Survivor” and began telling his story.  He joined his crew mates in 2015.

Hale is noted as saying “I think somehow I give people a little hope in life, that life is a struggle, but if you have faith and determination you can go through life and come out ahead.”

DANIEL J. MORRELL at the Soo, Michigan, Hay Lake Cut and Lookout

The DANIEL J. MORRELL was launched on August 22, 1906 at West Bay City, Michigan by the West Bay City Ship Building Co., and was one of the largest freighters on the Great Lakes. She was operated by Cambria Steamship Company, M. A. Hanna Company, Bethlehem Transportation Co. and finally Bethlehem Steel.

Suzette Lopez

Photo Credit:  Great Lakes Marine Collection of the Milwaukee Public Library and Wisconsin Marine Historical Society.