Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Mentor
- Type: Wooden tug
- Year Built: circa 1880s
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Grassy Point, Duluth, Minnesota
- Official Number: 145xxx
- Original Owners: Northern Dock & Dredge Company
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden tug operated by Northern Dock & Dredge Company, primarily engaged in dock and dredge operations on Lake Superior.
Description
The Mentor was a wooden tug that played a crucial role in the maritime operations of Duluth–Superior. It was tied up at Grassy Point when it was destroyed.
History
Built in the 1880s, the Mentor served the Northern Dock & Dredge Company, contributing to the dock and dredge operations in the region until its destruction in 1918.
Significant Incidents
- On 12 October 1918, the Cloquet–Duluth Forest Fire swept into Lake Superior’s shores, with winds reaching 65–76 mph, burning over 250,000 acres.
- The Mentor was tied up at Grassy Point when the fire engulfed the docks, leading to its complete destruction.
- No casualties were reported among crew or harbor personnel during the incident.
Final Disposition
The Mentor was declared a total loss after being burned to the waterline during the Cloquet–Duluth Forest Fire, marking a significant event in maritime history.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the Mentor is not accessible for diving due to its destruction by fire and the nature of the incident.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”mentor-1868″ title=”References & Links”]
The loss of the Mentor during the Cloquet–Duluth Forest Fire underscores the vulnerability of wooden vessels and dockside infrastructure in the face of natural disasters.
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.
(built 1868 – destroyed 12 October 1918)
Identification
- Name: Mentor (wooden tug operated by Northern Dock & Dredge Company)
- Official Registry Number: 145xxx (not consistently recorded under her name)
- Built: circa 1880s; exact year/yard not documented
- Type: Wooden tug—worked in Duluth–Superior dock and dredge operations on Lake Superior
- Loss Location: Grassy Point, Duluth, Minnesota—anchored in harbor
Final Voyage & Incident
- On 12 October 1918, the Cloquet–Duluth Forest Fire, one of the worst natural disasters in Minnesota history, swept into Lake Superior’s shores with winds up to 65–76 mph, burning over 250,000 acres (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Minnesota Historical Society)
- Mentor lay tied up at Grassy Point at U.S. harbor facilities of Northern Dock & Dredge. As fire engulfed the docks, Mentor, along with several company vessels, was completely burned to the waterline, destroyed, and declared a total loss (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Casualties: None reported among crew or harbor personnel. The destruction occurred rapidly amid evacuation.
Summary Table
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Mentor |
| Type | Wooden dock/tug vessel |
| Loss Date | 12 October 1918 |
| Place of Loss | Grassy Point, Duluth, MN – Lake Superior |
| Cause of Loss | Forest fire (Cloquet–Duluth Fire) |
| Casualties | None reported |
| Other Vessels Lost | Tug Ella G. Stone, scows† N. 1–4, John H. Jeffrey Jr., Duluth dredge, etc. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, firelibrary.org) |
Historical Context
- The Cloquet–Duluth Fire began on 10 October 1918, culminating in hurricane-force winds and a wall of flames that reached Duluth by evening of 12 October, annihilating industrial facilities and port infrastructure along the shoreline (Minnesota Historical Society, National Weather Service)
- Mentor was among at least nine vessels wrecked in the harbor, all tied to Northern Dock & Dredge Company, including tugs and dredge scows swept off their moorings as firestorm raged (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Significance & Research Opportunities
This incident marks a rare case of dockside vessel destruction by wildfire, rather than storm or navigation hazard. The loss of Mentor—and her fleet—highlighted the vulnerability of wooden maritime infrastructure in areas dominated by the logging industry, where sawdust, slash, and pine fuel created tinderbox conditions.
Research paths to explore:
- Northern Dock & Dredge company records (if archived in local historical societies) for vessel registries or dockside inventories
- Duluth newspaper archives (Duluth News Tribune, Cloquet Dispatch) covering October 1918 to identify crew reports, inventory listings, and insurance claims
- Insurance records for underwriters assessing losses of steamer Mentor and associated fleet
- Oral histories or photographic archives from Duluth Fire Department or local maritime museum collections for visual documentation
Conclusion
Mentor, a wooden tug under the Northern Dock & Dredge Company, was destroyed by fire while moored at Grassy Point during the catastrophic Cloquet–Duluth Forest Fire on 12 October 1918. Though no lives were lost, the vessel, along with a fleet of tugboats and scows, was incinerated in the blaze—marking a significant non-marine disaster linked to Great Lakes maritime operations. The event underlines the intersection of industrial lumber practices and waterfront infrastructure vulnerability.
mentor-1868 1918-10-12 15:54:00