05/13/2026
We’ve been helping the Keweenaw County Historical Society uncover new information for the Commercial Fishing Museum in Eagle Harbor. This article from The Calumet News on August 7, 1935, tells the story of a fishing tug that wrecked off the Keweenaw after springing a leak in rough conditions on Lake Superior. Fortunately, everyone onboard survived.
If stories like this interest you, make sure to visit the Commercial Fishing Museum in Eagle Harbor this summer, along with the other historic sites operated by the society. 🐟🖼
"FOUR ESCAPE DEATH ON SINKING VESSEL
Fishing Tug Is Wrecked Off Keweenaw Point
The thrilling experience of four persons, one of them a seven-year-old boy, who escaped death on a sinking fishing tug off Keweenaw point Monday evening was related here this morning by William Kesanen, Sr., of Pine street, one of those aboard the boat.
Kesanen returned home last night with his son, Billy, 7, and Swen Hamina, 37, of Calumet. The other member of the ill-fated party was Wesley Liikanen, 16, son of August Lasanen, Little Traverse bay commercial fisherman.
The 34-foot Lasanen fishing tug, the “Eleanora,” cracked up on the rocky shore a mile west of Keweenaw point after springing a leak about three miles out in the lake while enroute to fishing grounds near Manitou island to lift nets.
The Eleanora, built and equipped about 12 years ago at a cost of nearly $3,000 is a total loss. Lasanen and Hamina went to the point today to attempt to salvage the engine, valued at $1,200 and net-lifting equipment.
Lasanen, Kesanen and his son and Hamina left Traverse Bay Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock. They set a course for Manitou island after rounding the point. The boat is equipped with a small hand pump which is used to pump water from the bilge and young Lasanen had used it frequently during the afternoon when he noticed that the tug was shipping water.
Later the tug appeared to have developed a serious leak and the floor boards were removed. It was found that one of the boards on which the pump rested in the bottom of the boat had been torn loose.
The boat, leaking badly by this time, was turned around and headed toward shore, approximately three miles away. The three men worked frantically in an attempt to keep the boat bailed out and prevent water from reaching the motor. A heavy sea was running at the time, making their task more difficult.
Fortunately, the motor continued to function, but water was coming into the boat so fast that the men had to abandon their attempts to keep the craft afloat after proceeding about two miles. By that time water had reached the motor and it went dead. A stiff breeze was blowing from the northwest, however, and the tug continued to drift toward shore. The men and boy were finally driven to the top of the cabin by the rising water, which had just reached their shoes when the boat grounded. They waded ashore.
Buffeted against the rocks by the wind and waves, and already weakened by the damaged bottom, the ship slowly broke up.
The men built a lean-to from fishing boxes and canvas which they obtained from the wreckage and spent the night on the shore. At 4:30 yesterday morning Hamina set out for Copper Harbor to summon the coast guard from the Eagle Harbor station.
A crew from the coast guard station set out in a launch and picked up the Kesanens and Lasanen at 5:30 yesterday afternoon. They were taken to Copper Harbor and later returned to their homes.
Kesanen declared that they owed their lives to the fact that the wind happened to be blowing toward shore and that the motor functioned as long as it did. None suffered any ill effects from the experience.
Hamina’s experience on the disabled craft was the second he has had on Lake Superior in the past year. In July, 1934, he went aground on a reef at Manitou island when his motor became disabled and was pulled off by coast guards."
