Edward Thibault's really bad day

From the archives of the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library.

If you think you have had a bad day at work, consider the experience 16-year-old Edward Thibault of Gros Cap had on Saturday, Oct. 7, 1939.

Bordered as we are by the beautiful inland ocean of Kitchi Gami (the great sea) / Lake Superior, it is inevitable that fishing would be a major industry unto itself here in this land of the Great Lakes. Like many area men, the young Ed Thibault was a fisherman, who set out his nets to bring in a day’s catch.

On this particular Saturday, Ed launched his boat, which was propelled by oars, along the Gros Cap shoreline.

Weather reports and forecasts for October 6 and 7, 1939 describe a typical northern autumn day; partly cloudy with cool temperatures and “moderate to fresh” winds.

The young angler headed out to his fishing grounds in the afternoon. By all accounts, it should have been just another day on the lake hauling in the nets, hand over hand, to reap his aquatic harvest. However, as reported in The Sault Star on Monday, Oct. 9, 1939, neither the day nor the night went anything as planned.

While checking his nets, Ed had the great misfortune of losing an oar and at that point, his workday took a turn for the worst.

“Thibault’s boat was blown out into the open lake. During the late afternoon, he tried to hail passing freighters, but distance and growing darkness prevented his making contact,“ reported the Star.

Sunset would have been at 6 p.m. on that Saturday and the forecast that night called for temperatures to be approximately 44 degrees Fahrenheit or a chilly 6 degrees Celsius.

Alone, with one oar and headed further out into the big water, Thibault hollered for help to no avail. It was not until another six hours had passed that the Cleveland Cliff Freighter, Sheadle would hear the cries for help drift across the inky black waters and night sky.

The Sheadle, given its size, “was unable to manoeuvre in waters where the channel course is closely defined” and the young fisherman still remained adrift at midnight.

Unbeknownst to Ed, The Sheadle had fortunately contacted the Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan Coast Guard via the vessel’s radiophone. A Michigan Coast Guard cutter was dispatched to search for the source of the cries for help. Despite their valiant search, the Coast Guard was unable to locate Thibault’s boat.

Surely time must have dragged by, cold minute by cold minute for the desperate fisherman adrift all alone on the lake.

Fortunately, another freighter’s captain did hear that same radio message to the Coast Guard. The Canada Steamship Lines Saskatoon under the direction of Master Captain T. MacLeod set his crew to watch for a soul in distress in the mighty inland sea.

Meanwhile, “Thibault, in (the) face of a growing sea and to attract the attention of those on the steamer, shipping officials said, had fired (burnt) his coat and cap to give his position and direct searchers to his aid.”

The crew of the Saskatoon observed the flames created by the burning garments, and soon the castaway Ed Thibault was brought aboard the freighter. Returning to their intended course, the vessel eventually landed at the Canadian canal and delivered to home what was likely a very tired but grateful young man.

While The Sault Star billed Thibault’s rescue, as “one of the most thrilling the Sault area has known in years” it was not until a few days later on Oct. 14, 1939, that the headline under the Prince (Township) Topics reported that, in fact, Ed Thibault’s Coat is Intact. Apparently, it was not burnt after all!

There was no mention of the hat so one can only assume that it perished in flames at sea on great Kitchi Gami.

Each week, the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library and its Archives provides SooToday readers with a glimpse of the city’s past.

Find out more of what the Public Library has to offer at www.ssmpl.ca and look for more Remember This? columns here.