The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1918-08-10
ANDREW TOFTE s STRUGGLE
WITH THE WAVES.


Thirty-six hours in all open
boat on Lake Superior. during A
heavy October gale, hatless, coat
less and foodless, was the terri
BILE experience Of Andrew Tote in
the fall Of 1900.
Andrew Tote, a hardy and ex-
perienced fisherman, lived at
Tofte, a North Shore settlement.
about 26 miles this side Of Grand
Marais.
Monday morning, Oct. Is, 1900,
Tote took his rowboat and went
out to lift his nets. The morning
was not very cold, therefore he
left: his coat ashore and went in
his shirt sleeves. While he was
working, one of the sudden autumn
nal, squalls came up from the
northwest, one Of those squalls
which has given Lake Superior
such, a treacherous reputation in
the fall of the year.
Before the fisherman saw his
danger and could pull for the
shore, the waves were rolling
high and breaking dangerously.
He pulled with all his might but
could make no Roadway against
the storm. His small boat was
slowly swept out to sea, despite
his strenuous efforts.
Friends and neighbors ashore
saw the fisherman's peril. They
had no boats able to combat the
terrible sea, therefore made their
way by boat along the shelter OF
the shore to a point several miles
distant where the tug Bowling, in
charge of Capt. Taylor, was await
ing a scow' load Of cedar posts.
When. informed that Andrew
Tote had been blown out to sea
in an open boat, Capt. Taylor at
once started to the rescue with the
tug Bowling. After going a few
miles, however, it was plainly seen
that the velocity Of the wind and
the terrible sea made it extremely
unsafe to try further. The tug
was turned about and two hours
were required to return distance
that was covered in half an hour
on the way out.
| Some of. Totes friends were
angry at the master Of the tug
for turning back, but he felt that
he would have unduly jeopardized
his tug and entire crew. had he
not turned back when he did.
In the meantime Andrew Tote
was battling bravely for life, I'M
seen by friends on shore. After
the gale had gained control Of his
(frail craft, he soon was out Of sight
Of those on shore. The wind fairly
tore the tops from the terrible
waves and sent water flying in
sheets through the air. In very
short time the unfortunate fish
erman's clothes were drenched
and he was chilled to the bone.
The best he could do was to keep
his craft afloat, as his strength
was utterly inadequate to make
any progress against the wind and
waves with his oars. At times
the boat was half filled with water
which Tote .frantically baled out
with a pail he happened to have
aboard. He was occupied every
moment of his time.
When the friends ashore OBJ
served the fury of the gale and
saw how the tug was compelled
to give up the rescue, they gave
up their sturdy neighbor as lost.
All day Monday, Monday night
and Tuesday morning did Andrew
Tote battle with the angry Wa
tiers Of Lake Superior. His only
company were the whitecaps and
the whistling gale. When the
derelict got into the path of the
big freighters between Duluth and
the 500, hope bounded in the
heart Of the unfortunate man.
Monday night one big boat passed
within 1000 feet of the, fisherman
on her way to Duluth, but passed
by without seeing him. His loud
cries apparently were unheard, be.
ing swallowed up by the roaring
storm.
| A change in the wind to the
westward sent the eastaway fur.
ther to the eastward. Tuesday,
Oct. Is, the wind fell and the
sea went down to considerable
degree. Tote was then about 80
miles from home but found that
he could make progress against
the sea with the oars.
Almost famished, wet and be.
numbed with cold and exposure,