The steamer Millpool was a 370' long steel ship of 4,218 gross tons. She was built by Ropner & Sons at Stockton-on-Tees for the Pool Shipping Company of West Hartlepool (R. Ropner & Company managers). At the time of her build she was a fine vessel classed 100 A1 by Lloyd's and was outfitted with the latest equipment. Miss Margaret Ropner Ragworth christened the ship and on Sept. 3, 1906 she slipped down the ways into the water for the first time.

Like most steamers she was probably well used during the Great War, sailing hard and fast to keep Britain supplied. The ship, unlike so many others, survived the war and continued to sail. By 1934 the twenty-eight year old ship may not have been in the best of condition. Crewmen later complained about excessive rust, equipment that did not work and of water entering the forecastle causing the crew's quarters to be rather uncomfortable and wet. However a survey of the ship by Lloyd's in 1934 classed the ship as 100 A1 once again. There had been numerous repairs made to the ship and equipment. There may have been underlying structural weakness which the survey may not have identified.

On Sept. 17, 1934 Millpool departed Danzig for Montreal carrying over 5,900 tons of rye in her four holds. On Sept. 29 the master sent a message to the ship's owners that he had been in storms since leaving Danzig. An ominous addendum was added to the message by the master; "Cannot make progress owing to heavy gale", the signal was sent from about 950 miles east of Belle Island, Newfoundland.

On Sept. 30 the master again signaled the owners; "Water entering No. 1 hold from 27th September: cannot locate: now pumps will not reduce: will make St. John's if we cannot proceed direct to Montreal". As the conditions deteriorating on the Millpool several ships were steaming toward her to help. Another Ropner ship, Ainderby, the Canadian Pacific steamer Beaverhill and Cunard White Star's Ascania, all fighting the same storm still made toward the troubled Millpool.

At 1856 on Oct. 2 another signal was sent by Millpool; "Helpless, driving before hurricane since 10 p.m.", within the hour the signals were changed to S.O.S., Millpool was sinking. Around 2000 the master reported that his after hatch was stove in and that he was raising a temporary aerial. As the rescue ships moved in they were in as much danger as the Millpool, but they continued regardless. At 2150 the master of Beaverhill asked Millpool if his lights were burning, the reply was that the oil lamps were not very bright and that they were in a trough.

Another signal at 0018 from Millpool stated "things much the same, don't know about things on deck, rolling heavy". Millpool lasted less than two hours more, before 0200 on October 3, 1934 the last messages were sent, but could not be picked up as the signal was too weak. No further signals were ever received, the Millpool had foundered.

Beaverhill and Ainderby searched the area for survivors, but sadly never found any. They found nothing of the ship or crew, but as the violence of this storm was one of the worst in years, I suspect nobody was surprised. The master of Ainderby later reported that at 0245 his ship was struck by "a terrific sea more of the nature of a tidal wave that a sea caused by an ordinary Atlantic gale". This wave damaged his ship and now Ainderby was in danger of sinking. Even though there was much concern about the safety of his ship, the great skill of him and his men brought her into port.

Millpool vanished in massive seas about 800 miles ENE of St. John's with all twenty-six men, never to be seen again.