 The following list includes ships that sank during the storm , killing their entire crews . It does not include the three victims from the freighter William Nottingham , who volunteered to leave the ship on a lifeboat in search of assistance . While the boat was being lowered into the water , a breaking wave smashed it into the side of the ship . The men disappeared into the near @-@ freezing waters below . The following shipwreck casualties have been documented : 
