- Hydrus -

OFFICIAL NO: 200315
OTHER NAME(S): R. E. Schuck
LENGTH: 416 ft.
BEAM: 50ft.
DEPTH: 28 ft.
TONNAGE: 4,713 gt
BUILDER: American Shipbuilding Co., Lorain, OH - 1903
OWNER: Interlake Steamship Company, Cleveland

When launched at Lorain, OH., in 1903 the R. E. SCHUCK was one of eight vessels building for the Gilchrist fleet and was completed in just over eight weeks from the time the keel was laid. In 1910 Gilchrist Transportation was forced into receivership and restructured, becoming part of the Interlake Steamship Company, and ceased to exist in 1913. In May, 1913, the R. E. SCHUCK was given the new name HYDRUS.

On November 9, 1913, HYDRUS and her crew of twenty-five became victims of the deadliest Great Lakes storm in history. Her final resting place was discovered in the middle of Lake Huron by underwater explorer and shipwreck hunter David Trotter in July, 2015. While not divulging the exact location of the HYDRUS he does report that her hull sits upright, bow facing west, and her port anchor is missing. Other clues suggest that the fires in the engine room boilers may have been extinguished.

Partial Crew List
compiled from Annual Report of the Lake Carriers' Association, 1913
death benefits paid (shown in red), and correspondence with
David D. Swayze.