November 7, 1913

On Friday, with the low centered over western Wisconsin, the weather forecast in the Ludington Daily news called for rain with brisk to high southwest winds and falling temperatures, followed Saturday by brisk to high northwest winds and colder with rain or snow. By mid-morning heavy gale warning flags were raised at Lake Superior ports. In the late afternoon they were replaced with flags warning of impending hurricane winds. Winds had already reached 50 mph on Lake Superior and the blizzard was beginning it's push into Lake Huron.

  The Henry B. Smith had arrived at Marquette late the night before and was at the docks waiting to load with iron ore before the storm began. The Louisiana was in Milwaukee, having delivered her load of coal there, and the 451 ft L. C. Waldo was downbound from Two Harbors loaded with iron ore for Cleveland. The Regina was at Sarnia, Ontario, topping off her cargo with mixed freight, including heavy iron sewer and gas pipes that would have to be stacked on her deck.

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