November and December have historically been perilous months for shipping on Lake Superior. Last week our Day in History feature revisited the grounding of the City of Bangor, with its cargo of shiny new 1926 Chyslers and Whippets. Almost exactly a year later the Altadoc was banged-up in a 3 day storm on Superior, that left her grounded on Keweenaw Point. Barb Koski had a nice write-up on Facebook about it this week:

There was a blizzard 89 years ago also!! and the Altadoc crew was in peril. The Eagle Harbor USCG (Rogers, Padberg, Kumpula, Boldt, Krause, Meyer, Doering, Mongeau... Mathewson was on leave) came to their rescue. Boatswain Anthony Gloza's log has these following excerpts of the rescue:

Dec. 8th. 1927
- 4:10 pm received message via Radio Compass that Altadoc (360' and Captain RD Simson headed to Ontario) had damaged their steering gear and stranded on Keweenaw Point. Crew not in danger.
- Glaza was on Liberty in Calumet but received message. He would try to get to station in the blizzard and go out in morning.
- Kew. Road Commission took Glaza to Phoenix via snow plow. Then Glaza went by horse team 6 miles to Eagle Harbor and then walked to station by midnight. He notified (and they came) /Two Harbors and cutter Crawford to come open ice in Eagle Harbor and Copper Harbor to assist with rescue of crew.

Dec. 9th
USCG waiting for break in weather and ice. Kept chopping ice near station. Gave up with more ice in bay forming. Took team and took surfboat 2181 to West side of harbor to launch over ice there to open water.

Dec. 10th
- pulled surfboat over ice to open water and proceeded to Altadoc in open surfboat 23 miles east of station. Crew safe. 4 men had taken ship lifeboat to shore and walked to Copper Harbor for rescue. (Had lost steam so no radio to let them know the USCG coming) By 6 pm all the crew had been taken to Copper Harbor in a few trips and went aboard Cutter Crawford for warmth and rations. 5 of 21 crew had faces slightly frost bitten.

Dec. 11th
Cutter Crawford got Altadoc and USCG crew and surfboat to Eagle Harbor station going thru ice in the harbors. Crew taken to Calumet via automobiles.

She later broke in two and was finished off by fire in coal bunker.

In 1944 a salvage Co. got the Sarnian and City of Bangor and Altadoc contract. The pilot house was removed and became a souvenir shop in Copper Harbor. She was destroyed by fire March 22, 1987... How many of you recall her pilot house?

That was an interesting story. I enjoy reading how shabbily Lake Superior can treat the boats that ride her waves at times.

I have many pieces of copper country memorabilia in my collection that show the pilot house. Now I have pictures of the ship itself.
Thank you Pasty central.

Very interesting. Thanks for the information!

Wow! Definitely not just a job...

Thanks for posting! And yes, Boatnerd.com
is the best source on Great Lakes Shipping that there is.