Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record

This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.

Steamship – Built 1896, Lost November 8, 1913)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name & Official No.: L. C. Waldo; U.S. registration (official number not recorded in sources)
• Built: 1896
• Type: Steel-hulled steam freighter, configured for bulk iron ore transport
• Lost: November 8, 1913, off Gull Rock near Manitou Island on Lake Superior—part of the Great Storm of 1913
  (Mikel B. Classen On The Road, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

The Great Storm of 1913

The Waldo’s loss occurred during the historic “November Witch”—the Great Storm of 1913, which raged from November 7–10 across the Great Lakes. At its height, winds reached up to 90 mph, with 35 ft waves and blizzard conditions—resulting in 19 ships lost and over 250 lives claimed.
(Wikipedia)

Final Incident & Casualties

• Voyage & Damage: Departed Two Harbors, MN on November 7, bound for Cleveland with iron ore. The storm quickly demolished her pilot house, damaged steering gear, and left the compass and electrical systems nonfunctional.
  (Mikel B. Classen On The Road)
• Grounding: Around 4 AM on November 8, struck Gull Rock. The bow settled on the rock, the hull cracked ominously, and the crew took shelter amidships.
  (Mikel B. Classen On The Road)
• Survival Story: Crew (22 men, 2 women, and a dog) endured nearly four days trapped with no food, freezing temperatures, and encased in ice. Improvised stoves were used to stave off hypothermia.
  (Mikel B. Classen On The Road)

Rescue Operation

• Life-Saving Effort:
  • George Stephenson spotted beacons of distress and summoned help.
  • Eagle Harbor and Portage Life-Saving crews launched in a surfboat, then towed by tug Daniel L. Hebard.
  • After enduring 14 brutal hours in the surf and ice, rescuers reached the Waldo and safely evacuated the crew via rope ladder and lifeboat.
  • Entire crew rescued—heroism led to Treasury Department medals.
    (Mikel B. Classen On The Road)

Disposition & Wreck Site

• Initially abandoned on Gull Rock, the ship was later salvaged, repaired, and returned to service under the name Riverton.
  (Mikel B. Classen On The Road)
• Wreck site: Lies atop or near Gull Rock, Keweenaw Peninsula, in shallow, turbulent water—unsuitable for diving and likely heavily broken.

Significance & Notes

• A paradigmatic example of crew endurance and heroism amid extreme Great Lakes weather.
• Highlights transformation from maritime disaster to triumph, with the vessel’s salvage and return to service.
• Demonstrates the critical role of Life-Saving Service stations (Eagle Harbor, Portage) during “witch” gales.
  (ss.sites.mtu.edu)

Further Research & Archival Sources

• U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service: Detailed reports on grounding, hull cracked, decision to abandon, and salvage proceedings.
• Life-Saving Service Logs: Station logs from Eagle Harbor & Portage Lake during November 1913 for rescue accounts and awarded medal citations.
• Local Newspapers: Houghton Mining Gazette, Daily Mining Gazette, and Milwaukee Sentinel from mid-November 1913 for eyewitness and rescue narratives.
• Salvage Records: Underwriters’ files for Riverton repair and refit documentation in 1914.

Conclusion

The L. C. Waldo saga is one of the Great Lakes’ most dramatic survival stories—caught in a record-breaking gale, struck rocks, and foundering among ice, only to be dramatically rescued after 92 harrowing hours. The vessel’s later salvage and heavy praise for rescuers cement its legacy in maritime history.

l-c-waldo-1896 1913-11-09 21:46:00