FIRE ON THE WATER
(Charlie Maguire, 1979)
Fire on the water nearly got them all
The crew of the Cartiercliffe Hall
Bound from Duluth to Montreal
One June, on the fifth day.
Fire! Fire! the watch he cried, and then she blew and six men died
And the rest that could went overside in the icy waterway.
Fire on the water nearly got them all
The crew of the Cartiercliffe Hall
Bound from Duluth to Montreal
One June, on the fifth day.
Off Copper Harbor on the Keewenaw, ship's master Raymond Boudreault
And four other so badly burned all we could do was pray
Fire on the water nearly got them all
The crew of the Cartiercliffe Hall
Bound from Duluth to Montreal
One June, on the fifth day.
The Griffen took her under tow and set a course for Ontario
And she did burn as they did go all the way to Thunder Bay
Fire on the water nearly got them all
The crew of the Cartiercliffe Hall
Bound from Duluth to Montreal
One June, on the fifth day.
You've heard it said in song and rhyme not the water but the fire next time
But off Superior's coastline they got both and without delay
Fire on the water nearly got them all
The crew of the Cartiercliffe Hall
Bound from Duluth to Montreal
One June, on the fifth day.
From the Lee Murdock CD, Freshwater Highway
Notes:
In the nineteenth century, almost as many ships and lives were lost on the lakes because of fire as any other reason Whether it was due to negligence, poor engineering, or just bad luck, flames that engulfed a ship provided an awesome background for heroic deeds as well as tragic loss. After refitting in Duluth, the Cartiercliffe Hall was downbound for Montreal with a load of corn on June 5, 1979, when on explosion tore throuqh the aft section causing a fire. Due to the combustible nature of her toad, this Canadian vessel was towed, with all speed and caution to Thunder Bay, Ontario by the Canadian Coast Guard Cutter, Grilles. Even though nineteen af the crew survived, it still provides a grisly reminder of how uncontrollable fire can be, even when surrounded by water.
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