The Tug Mentor (1868–1918): A Casualty of the Cloquet Fire

Identification & Site Information

• Name: Mentor
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: 17573
• Vessel Type: Propeller Steam Tug (Towboat)
• Hull Material: Wood
• Number of Decks: 1
• Built By: Lafrinier & Drake, Cleveland, OH
• Year Built: 1868
• Registry: U.S. Enrolled Cleveland, OH
• Length: 54.2 ft (16.5 m)
• Beam: 14.2 ft (4.3 m)
• Depth: 6.2 ft (1.9 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 29.47
• Net Tonnage: 14.74

The Mentor was a steam-powered Tugboat, designed for tow work and harbor service on the Great Lakes. With a 15” x 16” engine generating 64 horsepower, it was built to handle various industrial and dredging operations. The wooden Hull made it vulnerable to fire and harsh weather conditions, yet it served for over 50 years before meeting its end.

History

The Mentor had a long and varied career, serving multiple owners across Michigan and Minnesota. It was originally owned by Joseph Gregory of Lake Linden, MI, and later operated by Calumet & Hecla Mining Co. and Northern Dredge Co. of Duluth. Throughout its service, it was involved in dredging, towing, and industrial work for mining and shipping companies.

Notable Events in Mentor’s Career:

• 1876: Owned by J.S. & Co., based in Saugatuck, MI.
• 1879: Purchased by Portage Lake & Lake Superior Ship Canal Co., Houghton, MI.
• 1890, Dec 27: Capsized and sank at Lake Linden, MI, after being heavily covered by ice from waves while at Gregory’s dock.
• 1898, Jun 24: Purchased by Calumet & Hecla Mining Co., Calumet, MI.
• 1905: Transferred to S.A. McElroy et al., Duluth, MN.
• 1906: Became part of Northern Dredge Co., Duluth, MN.

Final Disposition

• Date of Loss: October 12, 1918
• Location: Duluth, Minnesota
• Lake: Superior
• Cause of Loss: Burned in the Cloquet Fire of 1918

The Mentor met its fate when the Cloquet Fire of 1918—one of the most devastating wildfires in Minnesota history—swept through West Duluth, destroying numerous vessels, docks, and buildings. The Tug was moored at its dock when the inferno reached the waterfront, engulfing the vessel in flames.

The fire was so intense that it consumed everything in its path, including other Northern Dock & Dredge Co. vessels, such as the Tug Ella G. Stone, Dredge Duluth, and multiple scows. Mentor was entirely destroyed, leaving nothing but charred remains.

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The Cloquet Fire of 1918 & Mentor’s Loss

🔥 The Cloquet Fire was part of a series of wildfires that burned over 1,500 square miles (3,900 km²) in northeastern Minnesota.
🔥 It killed over 450 people, making it one of the deadliest wildfires in U.S. history.
🔥 The fire spread rapidly due to dry conditions, high winds, and sparks from railroads, wiping out towns, forests, and industrial sites.
🔥 Duluth’s harbor and Shipyards were among the many places affected, leading to the destruction of vessels like Mentor.

Aftermath & Legacy

Following the fire, Northern Dredge Co. and other businesses in the Duluth-Superior harbor suffered millions of dollars in losses. While some vessels were Rebuilt, Mentor was not salvageable and was declared a Total Loss.

🔥 Impact on Firefighting & Logging Regulations: The disaster led to improved fire prevention measures, forest management reforms, and better firefighting response strategies across Minnesota.

🔥 Historical Significance: The destruction of Mentor and other vessels in the Cloquet Fire of 1918 remains a testament to the vulnerability of wooden ships and the immense power of natural disasters.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes Database
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Duluth Harbor Archives
• Minnesota Historical Society – Cloquet Fire Records

Conclusion

The Mentor was a workhorse of the Great Lakes, serving for 50 years in towing, dredging, and industrial transport before succumbing to the Cloquet Fire of 1918. Its loss is a reminder of both the importance of these vessels in maritime history and the destructive power of natural disasters.

Keywords & Categories🔥 Mentor shipwreck🔥 Cloquet Fire 1918🔥 Duluth shipwrecks🔥 Northern Dredge Co.🔥 Great Lakes tugboats🔥 Historic Minnesota fires