SS John B. Cowle was one of the early Great Lakes bulk freighters known as "tin pans".

In 1909 on her maiden voyage SS Isaac M. Scott rammed John B. Cowle in heavy fog off Whitefish Point.

[5] On 12 July 1909, the 420-foot (128 m), 4,731-ton John B. Cowle was laden with 7,023 tons of iron ore loaded at Two Harbors and downbound for Cleveland.

The 524-foot (160 m), 6,372-ton Isaac M. Scott was a new steel steamer running light without cargo on her maiden voyage upbound for Duluth, Minnesota.

In an era before radar, Captain Russel Hemenger of Frank H. Goodyear followed Isaac M. Scott with all of the pilothouse windows open and standing propped on a side sill for intense listening, navigating by compass, clock, and the lights and whistles of other ships.

Rogers of John B. Cowle to check to half speed and blow fog signals at intervals of less than a minute.

[6] John B. Cowle's steward, B. Rogers, gave the following account: When the ship sank, I was stuck in a whirlpool, wrenched and whirled till I thought my legs would be pulled off.

The lake was covered with wreckage and all around in the fog could be heard cries of "Help" but it was three quarters of an hour before the yawls of the Scott had been loosened and put in the water.

"[6] Shipwreck historian Wes Oleszewski reported that the crew of Frank H. Goodyear witnessed the collision through a series of sounds, "[F]irst a rumble like distant thunder ... then a distant groan, like tortured steel, accompanied by a series of deep-throated whistle blows ... and shouts through the distance ... [followed by] an earthquake-like rumbling.

Captain Hemenger inched Frank H. Goodyear forward and used her spotlight to probe "through a jumble of wooden wreckage, oil drums, life rings and splashing sailors" until he came upon Isaac M. Scott with a massive hole in her bow.

[7] After a lengthy investigation and hearings, the United States Steamboat Inspectors of Marquette, Michigan ruled that John B. Cowle was going too fast for prevailing conditions and suspended Captain Rogers and Pilot Edward E. Carlton for 30 days even though Rogers claimed that he had checked down to bare steerage way.

[8] The wreck of John B. Cowle was discovered in 1972 in 220 feet (67 m) of water, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south of Whitefish Point at 46°44.435′N 84°57.877′W / 46.740583°N 84.964617°W / 46.740583; -84.964617.

Following a settlement agreement,[12][13] John B. Cowle's steering wheel, two gauges, three electric lamps, binoculars, a cup, a saucer, a jug, a capstan cover, and a paneling section are now the property of the State of Michigan and are on loan for display in the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum.

[2] Divers who visit the wreck sites are expected to observe preservation laws and "take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but bubbles".