Samuel P. Ely (shipwreck) - The Wreck

The Wreck

In October 1896, the Ely traveled from Kelley's Island, Ohio to Duluth, Minnesota, in tow of the Hesper and carrying a load of limestone. The Hesper was also towing the Negaunee, a similar barge. The Hesper, along with the Ely and the Negaunee, reached Duluth on October 27, 1896. The two barges unloaded their limestone while the Hesper unloaded its cargo of coal. On October 29, 1896, the Hesper steamed up to Two Harbors with the Negaunee and Ely in tow. A storm had impeded their progress up to Two Harbors, with heavy headwinds and high seas, and the Hesper was barely able to make it into the port while towing the Ely. Around 8:00 in the evening, the Hesper had to cast off the towline, and although the crew of the Ely dropped the anchors, they were unable to hold the ship, and it drifted toward the breakwater. Around midnight, it was wedged against the rocks of the breakwater and could not be moved. Finally, around 3:00 in the morning, the Ely sank, although the crew was able to escape drowning by clinging to the rigging of the masts.

The next morning, many residents of Two Harbors were watching the scene from the shore, but any plan to rescue the crew was complicated by the possibility of the tugboat becoming entangled on the breakwater as well. Finally, someone devised a plan whereby the tugboat Ella G. Stone would travel close to the wreck and float a small sailboat out to the wreck while tethered on about 200 feet of line. This plan was successful, although it took three trips to retrieve all ten men of the crew.