[1] Visibility was poor due to the smoke from several forest fires, causing the William C. Moreland to ran full steam onto a reef.

On August 23, 1910 William C. Moreland was temporarily enrolled at Cleveland, Ohio and assigned a U.S. official identification number U.S. #207851 for delivery to Jones and Laughlin's Interstate Steamship Company fleet.

On her fifth trip William C. Moreland left Superior, Wisconsin during the early hours October 18, 1910 with 10,700 tons of iron ore bound for Ashtabula, Ohio.

Vast stretches of brush and forests were burning on the peninsula due to drought-like conditions in the area causing severe visibility problems.

Approaching the Keweenaw Peninsula about 17 hours after she left port the first mate, unsure of William C. Moreland's position sighted an unidentified beam of white light.

[8] Further cracking occurred near hatch 23 due to the enormous strain put on the hull by the flooded and loaded cargo holds and the unsupported midsection.

The Reid Wrecking Company managed to salvage the 278-foot (85 m)-long stern of the ship, the 302-foot (92 m)-long bow stayed on the reef until it slid off and sank.