Ever since French explorers first cast their eyes on Lake Michigan, this huge inland sea has been the scene of thousands of shipwreck rescues and tragedies. As mishaps and disasters proliferated, a dedicated service of lifesavers arose. Braving perilous conditions, these servicemen pulled those aboard the merchant schooner Havanna from certain death. The intrepid St. Joseph Lifesavers saved the crew and passengers of the City of Duluth. Sadly, not all rescues ended in heroism, as was the case with the doomed Arab, which went down along with two other ships. Author Michael Passwater captures the stories of shipwrecks and the brave men and women who risked their lives against an angry Lake Michigan.
Michael Passwater is an electronics engineer who has a passion for history, especially Great Lakes history. He has spent years researching the U.S. Life-Saving Service and shipwrecks in the Great Lakes in order to dig up the stories of the men and women who played critical roles in the rich maritime history along the east coast of Lake Michigan.