Evening star., 1947-11-09
Ghost Ship Of Lakes
Saved From Reefs by
Coast Guard Cutter
Nv the Associated Press

LUDINGTON, Mich, Nov. IA
little Coast Guard cutter raced $50
,ailes through Is to 80 foot waves
today to snatch a disabled freighter
and her crew of % to safety from
the treacherous reefs of Lake Michi-
gan's graveyard Of ships
The 3,000-ton, salt-laden freighter,
Jupiter, known as the Ghost Ship
of the Lakes" was released from
the grip of a raging snow and wind
storm that churned the Great Lakes
and endangered shipping all along
Michigan's lengthy coastllne.
In Lake Huron. whipped to a
froth by the wind, another freighter,
the grain carrier William c. War
rem, was reported aground and leak
ing off Rogers City, Mich. A tug
and lighter were en- route to her
side Her captain radioed that she
was not in danger.
Thirty Freighters Anchored.
Thirty Great Lakes freighters
were anchored or tied in the st.
Marys River at Sault Ste. Marie
against the storm.
The Jupiter, owned by the Jupi-
Ter Steamship Co. Of Cleveland,
plowed ito trouble In Friday nights s
gale. She radioed that her steam
lines were broken and she was un-
able to make headway against the
storm.
The Coast Guard dispatched the
nearest available ships, two clumsy
but seaworthy car ferries of the Pere
Marquette Railroad They stood
by for hours after high seas pre-
vented them from aiding the Jupiter.
Meanwhile, the Coast Guard sent
an urgent radio plea to st. Joseph,
Mich, $50 miles south on the lake.
In response, the little l50-foot cut
Ter Sundew set out into the storm S
teeth.
Drifts Toward Reefs.
The Jupiter's position became
more precarious as she drifted
toward the same reefs where so sea
men lost their lifes in the 1910 storm.
she was in constant danger of
foundering in the area southeast Of
Ludington.
She managed to drop anchor but
It dragged. She began taking water
seamen on the car ferrier reported
that the wind was buffeting her
back and forth fatty on the sea in
almost complete circles every minute
At 6 am. her crew radioed Coast
Guard headquarters here that she
would not last an hour.
However, the wind softened some
what and by am the Jupiter
rsdioed that she probably could hold
out until the Sundews arrival.
Seaman is Injured.
At one point the car ferry City
Of Saginaw got within 100 feet OF
the Jupiter only to be hurled back
by the waves. Then Seaman Frank
Polasch aboard the City of Saginaw
suffered chest injuries in the futile
fight to get line aboard and the
car ferry was forced to return tc
port.
She put out again before dawn
with the car ferry No. 81 to shepherd
the Jupiter through the final trying
hours.
Shortly before noon, the sturdy
little cutter breasted the horizon.
The Sundew maneuvered skillfully
behind the car ferries before inch
ing toward the Jupiter in disregard
of the storm which suddenly began
rising again.
Cutter Begins Tow.
The Sundew cast a line. 1t fell
aboard the Jupiter and a tow, cable
was quickly stretched between the
two ships.
Within minutes of her arrival,
the little Sundew had the 346-foot
freighter in tow.
The Coast Guard radio station at
Northbrook. ILL.,, reported tonight
that the Jupiter had been taken in
tow by the cutter Mackinaw and
that the station had received a
message saying the vessels would
head for Chicago to make port.
At Cleveland, w. G. Secord of the
Jupiter Steamship Co. said Capt.
FLOYD Dossett of the Jupiter told