( L d e s c o p e 2 5 0 VOL. 5 JUNE 1956 N0.6 W t i t B t a p t PUBLISHED BY G r eat L a k e s M o d e l S hipbuilders ' G u il d J. E. JOHNSTON, 54Q1 Woodward Avenue R- H DAVISON, E d ito r:____ Detro.t 2> Michigan — Associate_Editor Membership $3.00 Subscription $2.50 Supported in part by the Detroit Historical Society EDITORIAL Cooperation is the key to whatever success we have achieved in our effort to preserve the history of Great Lakes commervial shipping. There have been so many examples of good cooperation, within the past month, it might be well to mention it here. The U.S.Naval Reserve, Chicago office, came up with plans and photo­ graphs of the "Willmette", ex "Eastland”. The brothers, Frank and Robt. Kuhn, dropped in at the museum with a lot of good leads, and the sheets from the plans of the "Virginia" which are missing from our set. Mr.Wil- liam McDonald sent in the histories of the steamers shown on the last pages of this issue. Mr.Dexter Goodison, of Erieau, Ontario, presented us with the plans of a modern, welded-steel gill netter. Frank Slyker brought in his completed plans of the U.S.Michigan (later the gunboat "Wolverine"). The American Shipbuilding sent us the plans of the flat top "Wolverine" which was formerly the "Seeandbee". All this is very gratifying, and confirms our belief that through regional cooperation there is hardly any end to what we may achieve in the field of Creat Lakes history. While we have accomplished much,there is still much to be done and many needs to be filled. We are s till look­ ing for histories of Lakes ports; the little ports which have been neg­ lected in the past. We would like to have someone do justice to the riv­ ers and canals that once were feeders to Lakes water transportation. We can use some biographies of Lakes shipping men, and abo«e all, plans of Great uakes vessels of all periods, along with the details of their power plants. Let's keep the ball rolling. Only through cooperation can the job be done. _______J______ 1 PLEASE NOTICE OUR NEW ADDRESS 5401 Woodward Avenue. THE GUILD Organized in 1952 to locate, acquire, and preserve information and objects related to the history of shipping on the Great Lakes and to make same available to the public through the Museum of Great Lakes History and the columns of Telescope. The construction of authentic scale models of Great Lakes ships is one of the prime objectives of the organization, which has brought into being the largest existing collection of models of these ships. The Museum of Great Lakes History, located at 5401 Woodward Avenue, Detroit 2, Michigan, is official headquarters for the organization and the repository of all of its holdings. The Guild is incorporated as an organization for no profit under the laws of the'State of Michigan. No member receives any compensation for his services. Donations to the Guild are Deductible for tax income purposes. OFFICERS Robert L.Ruhl,.......... President John K.Helgesen,Sr Vice President Joseph E.Johnston, Secy-Treas. DIRECTORS Robert H.Davison Ferndale. Walter Massey,....... LaSalle.Ontario. John F.Miller,... Grosse Pointe . Leo U.Flagler,........ Windsor .Ontario. Carl G.Annon..............Detroit. Frank Slyker............. East Detroit. 3 The harbor of Duluth was the scene lake bottom just as she was about of both stark tragedy and unusual to enter the harbor. This jarring good fortune during the storm. Fail­ threw her out of control against the ing to make the harbor, the large western pier. With her starboard freighter, R. M. ENGLAND, was blown side crashing against the pier, she aground November 28 on Park Point, pivoted completely around. Captain out near Oatka, with winds raging Humble ordered full steam ahead for near seventy-five miles an hour. By the open lake once again, but at superb life-saving technique the TJ. this crucial moment the engines and S. Life Saving crew managed to get a rudder failed. Thereupon, the ship line aboard her and took off those pivoted around again and was hurled of the crew who wished to leave via broadside to the Park Point shore, the breeches - buoy. About noon on some hundred feet west of the west Tuesday, November 28, the Pitts­ pier and about six hundred feet off burgher, ISAAC ELWOOD, battered by the beach. There, the gigantic seas the storm and in a bad way, crashed poured over her, breaking her in into the western pier as she sailed two. in the harbor entrance. Crippled and The plight of tho MATAAFA quickly sinking, she was run into shallow attracted an Immense crowd along the water in the harbor and beached, all beach, but they were helpless to aboard being s a f e . 1 ^ aid. The Life Saving Crew, which had Not so fortunate was the Pitts­ just completed the rescue of the burgher, MATAAFA, which was to meet ENGLAND some two miles down Park an ill-fated end before the eyes of Point, was called, but they were hundreds of Duluthians. The MATAAFA over two hours in arriving, since had cleared the port of Duluth on they had to drag their heavy equip­ the afternoon of November 27, with ment over two miles through the soft the barge JAMES NASMYTH in tow. The sand and billowing snow. Upon reach­ weather was not too heavy. About ing the scene late in the afternoon, 7:00 P.M. the gale struck. All night the Life Savers could not get a line long the MATAAFA fought the storm to the crew of the MATAAFA, the sub­ but made practically no headway. zero weather icing the ship and About six o * clock the following life - saving equipment. Heavy seas morning, after fourteen hours sail­ prevented the launching of a life­ ing and still being only slightly boat from shore, while all boats on north of Two Harbors, Captain Humble the MATAAFA were smashed. The crew of the MATAAFA ordered her turned of the MATAAFA was in a sorry posi­ back toward Duluth. She made the tion. About half the men were in the turn despite the torrential seas, half-sunken aft section. Several passed Two Harbors about 8:30 A.M. made their perilous way to the for­ smd proceeded toward Duluth but in ward section; some were lost over­ the heavy snow could not locate the board; those who remained aft were entry. She circled again. Finally, frozen to death. Fifteen men in the her Captain spotted the North Shore forward section were more fortunate. and cautiously crept along toward They built a fire from chopped up port. It was now early afternoon. furniture in the bathtub of the Cap­ Realizing that he could not possibly tain^ quarters and survived a sub­ make the entry with the NASMYTH in zero night. Then, in the morning of tow, the Captain ordered the barge November 29, the U. S. Life Saving dropped and anchored about two miles crew successfully launched a life­ out from the harbor. The MATAAFA boat and succeeded in taking off the alone proceeded to the harbor. Al­ survivors. Nine men had died. The ready shaking badly in the storm, MATAAFA was salvaged the next year the MATAAFA was picked up by the eiant waves and hurled against the and rebuilt, still plying the hoping that the barge might ride out lakes. The barge, NASMITH, success­ the storm at anchor. Neither ship, fully rode out the storm. however, could stay afloat. About Along the whole North Shore on No­ 5:30 A.M. both crashed ashore, sev­ vember 23 similar stories of tragedy eral miles apart, the MADEIRA just and heroism were being written, a north of what is now Split Rock number of spectacular rescues being lighthouse, at Gold Rock, and the performed. Near Lakewood, the Pitts­ EDENBORN on the reef off the mouth burgher, CRESCENT CITY, lost and of the Split Rock River. Both crews badly battered off its course to Two made their way ashore on lines, Harbors, was hurled broadside on the though one man was lost in each shore. Her crew was able to stretch wreck. The rescue of the MADEIRA a ladder from deck to land, and all crew was especially spectacular. The crossed to safety. After wandering MADEIRA had shattered in two upon in the snow - covered countryside, striking Gold Rock, the two halves they eventually found shelter and wallowing some yards apart in the help.17 shadow of the almost perpendicular At Encampment Island fortune also cliff over seventy-five feet high. A smiled on the crew of another Pitts­ seaman named Benson leaped ashore burgher. The LAFAYETTE struck the with a line from the bobbing bow, reef at the north end of Encampment pulled several of his crew-mated off Island after losing an all-night the bow, and then the four ashore battle to stay on course to Two Har­ scaled Gold Rock and threw a line to bors. Her barge, the MANILA, immedi­ the sinking stern, taking off the ately crashed into her. The LAFAY­ surviving three crewmen there. The ETTE quickly broke in two with her mate of the barge, a John Morrow, bow against the rocks of what is now was swept overboard and drowned. The LaFayette Bluff, with the MANILA crew spent a shivering night ashore crashing up against the shore around before being rescued.19 the point to the north.