Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== VESSEL NAME: Madeira OTHER NAME(s): - OFFICIAL NO: 93020 DATE OF LOSS: 28 November 1905 CAUSE OF LOSS: Storm LOCATION: Lake Superior, Gold Rock Point RIG TYPE: Schooner-barge, 3 mast HULL TYPE: Steel BUILDER: American Shipbuilding Company, Chicago, Launched at S. Chicago, Jan 26, 1900. OWNER(S): Minnesota Steamship Co., Cleveland, OH Sold to Pittsburgh Steamship Co., of Ohio, in 1901. MASTER: J. H. Dissette of Buffalo, N.Y. TONNAGE: 5,039 gt DIMENSIONS: 436 x 50 x 24.2 CASUALTIES: 1 of 10 On November 28, 1905, under tow of the steamer WILLIAM EDENBORN en route to Two Harbors, when the pair were caught in the midst of the "Mataafa" storm. During the afternoon, with gale winds shrieking 70 - 80 mph, the captain of the EDENBORN ordered the MADEIRA'S towline cut. In the late afternoon the MADIERA smashed into Gold Rock, north of where Split Rock Lighthouse now stands. The heroic efforts of Fred Benson, a Scandanavian crewman, saved all but one man of the MADEIRA'S crew. In the midst of the blinding snowstorm, with gale winds howling about him, and raging seas pounding the MADIERA, Fred Benson grabbed a rope and leaped from her deck to an outcrop of rock at the base of the cliff. With what must have been super -human effort he then scaled to the top of the 60 foot cliff. After first weighting his rope with a rock he lowered it twice, once to each end of the stranded vessel, rescueing nine shipmates who were able to climb up and join him. There they stayed for the next two days until rescued by the tug, EDNA G. The only casualty was Mate, James Morrow, who had attempted to climb the mast but was thrown into the icy water. In June, 1902, while in tow of the steamer DOUGLASS HOUGHTON, the MADEIRA collided with the draw of the inter- national bridge on the American side, tearing the structure off its bearings and leaving it swung three-fourths of the way across the channel. Two months later she punched a hole in her bottom when she struck bottom just below the Lime- Kiln crossing. In collision with the steamer PRINCETON at Sailor's Encampment - June 20, 1904. ======================================================================== Sources: U.S. Merchant Vessel list, 1900 U.S. Merchant Vessel list, 1906 Port Huron Daily Times, 27 January 1900 Detroit Free PRess - 7 June, 1902 Detroit Free Press - 30 November 1905 The Ely Echo, 13 December 1972