History of the S.P. Ely

Brief History of S.P. Ely

It has been over 100 years since a fierce 1896 October storm blew the 200-foot schooner barge Samuel P. Ely from its tow the Hesper and smashed it into the west breakwater of Two Harbors, Minnesota. The crew of the Ely along with two crew from a contractor’s scow caught in its path took refuge in the rigging of the Ely. Like may great shipwreck stories the accident was followed by a heroic rescue by a captain and crew of the railroad tug Ella Stone and a fisherman named Strand. Captain Joe Cox maneuvered the Ella Stone as close to the Ely as he could safely go towing the sailboat manned by Strand. The crew of the Stone then let out the sailboat on lines until it was close enough to the Ely to allow the stranded crew to drop into the sailboat. Three times they repeated the maneuver until all of the crew were rescued. The Ely of course broke up and sank next to the breakwater where it remains today.

For a more detailed history go to the Minnesota Historic Society's Ely Site