|
of iron ore at the Allouez docks in Superior, Wisconsin. The
weather forecast was favorable, so late that morning the schooner-barge
left Superior in tow of the
steamer
Venezuela, which also was carrying a heavy cargo
of ore. Their intended destination was South Chicago.
On
the Great Lakes, serious storms are rare in late summer, but
conditions on Lake Superior turned ugly that evening. By early
the following morning, ships all across the lake were in trouble.
At 5:15 a.m. the steel steamer Sevona hit Sand Island
Shoal and broke apart, causing many casualties.
The Pretoria
and Venezuela were navigating rough seas 30 miles
northeast of Outer Island around 7:30 a.m. when the Pretoria's
steering gear failed. Capt. Charles Smart signaled the Venezuela,
and the Venezuela attempted to shift the Pretoria's
course back toward the shelter of the Apostle Islands -- but
the towline connecting the heavy surging vessels parted at
both ends and fell into the lake.
continued
|
