Under An Autumn Moon

Throughout history, shipping on the Great Lakes has experienced many unfortunate journeys. The first volume in the CQD Shipwrecks Series focus’ on shipwrecks that have occurred in the waters surrounding the Apostle Islands. ‘Under An Autumn Moon’ will take you back in time to experience the events that led to each vessel’s tragic ending. Using archival photography and actual accounts, the history of each ship and her crew will unfold. To bring the vessel’s final voyage back to life, the presentation is highlighted by creative narrative, the use of 3D animation and underwater videography.

• Under An Autumn Moon - RT: 35:23 The feature program in a docudrama format, which outlines the history of Lake Superior, the Apostle Islands and the six chosen shipwrecks.
• A Day On The Lake - RT: 1:50 A short film of a day spent on the shores of Lake Superior.
• Diving In The Apostle Islands - RT: 1:37 A short film introducing and discussing diving.
• Diving The Shipwrecks (see below) A series of individual programs which take you diving on each wreck and describe the remains that you are seeing.

The last run of the season was, in turn, the final voyage for the seaworthy schooner Lucerne.
With fair weather under her sails, a crew of nine departed Ashland on the schooner Lucerne on November 15th, 1886 with intention to meet her tow, the Raleigh, at Sault Ste. Marie. Carrying a lighter than usual load of Gogebic ore, weighing a mere 1,256 tons, and having been dressed with all new canvas, the Lucerne’s captain and crew were confident that the journey to their homeport would be one of speed. The steadiness of the barometer gave no indication of the Northeaster that raged toward them. By evening, heavy winds moved in, but the well-seasoned captain held out for daybreak to bring calmer seas. To their dismay, the storm increased in ferocity and as the temperatures continued to fall, hope of survival was all that remained for the crew…

Known as the best of its style, the Fedora’s last moments were spent at full-throttle.
On the eve of September 20th, 1901, the Fedora, traveling light from Duluth, set out for a short, uneventful trip to Ashland with the intent of loading a cargo of iron ore. The vessel, with her captain and a crew of seventeen men, also carried two passengers. As the Fedora came into the dim-lighted view of her destination, a kerosene lamp exploded in the engine room. As the fire quickly spread to combustibles, the entire engine room was engulfed in flames. Engineers were forced from their posts while southeast winds fanned the flames to incredible heights. The crew and passengers were forced into the extreme forward of the burning vessel while the entire hold was ablaze. With unattended engines steaming onward, the illuminated lake allowed the captain to see which direction to run the burning vessel aground…

Tow barge originally built as a schooner rests just below waterline.
Loaded with 600,000 feet of hemlock lumber, the Noque Bay departed Bayfield on October 9th, 1905 with her usual consorts, the Lizzie Madden and the Mautenee. It was just twenty miles from port when the smell of smoke had first been noticed. The whole crew was taking a break for lunch when a fire broke out in the boiler room. The blaze made significant headway before its discovery and the vessel’s cargo would soon amplify the disaster…

Horrific September gale devastates newly rebuilt steamer Sevona.
On September 1st, 1905, a crew of twenty men and four women passengers left Superior in the Sevona loaded with 6,000 tons of iron ore. Weather conditions and forecasts gave no indication of the storm that would soon deluge them. With pleasant company and a fine dinner, all were content as night approached the ship. But, as midnight arrived, so did the gale that none were expecting. The captain, being familiar with late-season storms, ordered to come about and search for the lights of Sand or Raspberry Island. The passengers and some crew were ordered aft where lifeboats were stationed. Minutes seemed like hours and no light came in sight. The Sevona, still blinded by the pounding rain, suddenly came to a crashing halt, finding itself aground on Sand Island Shoal…

The Pretoria, one of the largest sailing barges on the Great Lakes, succumbed to a merciless autumn gale.
Heavily laden with ore, the Pretoria towed by the steamer Venezuela, left Superior docks with her captain and crew of nine men. The two vessels made way through the night as an unsuspecting storm matured. The following morning, the two ships found themselves in the clutches of a vicious autumn gale. About thirty miles northeast of Outer Island, Pretoria’s steering gear failed. The Venezuela then turned toward the Apostle Islands for shelter, but the towline could not stand the stress any longer, snapping at both ends. Visibility diminishing, the Pretoria was now alone. In attempt to find shelter, her sails were raised, but the fierce winds ripped them to ribbons. With her hold so heavily burdened, the once gallant vessel rapidly took on water as she became powerless to the vengeance of the waves surrounding her…

After a weeklong rescue of the steamer Hoyt, Ottawa finds tragedy of its own.
After a week of rescue efforts, the tug Ottawa’s crew of nine looked forward to a well-deserved rest. The steamer Hoyt was stranded on an unmarked shoal near Outer Island, and after a week of unfortunate results by other salvagers, the tug Ottawa and the Manistique of the Reid Wrecking Company were put to task. With a third tug assisting, the steamer was finally set free a week later. On November 29th, 1909, the tug Ottawa assisted in towing the steamer Hoyt to a place of rest in Red Cliff Bay. Unfortunately, their long anticipated night’s sleep was short lived due to an unexpected fire. Blazing out of control, the crew realized extinguishing the fire was hopeless and finding a place of refuge was now their immediate concern…