A Peek at the Past
Coast Guard Saves Two Boats
Threatening Weather Endangers Newlyweds
By Leonard DeFrain

The Coast Guard of the Harbor Beach station rescued two boats, one of which was carrying a newly wedded couple on their honeymoon, during threatening weather, south of the harbor.

The two boats were Blue Water II of Grosse Pointe Farms and the Auxiliary Ketch, Tropic Bird of Tampa, Florida.

Chief Boatswain’s Mate John G. Leidke, officer in command of the station, was in charge of the rescue boat, which brought in the Blue Water II, on which its owner, Norman L. Stocking, Detroit, and his bride were on their honeymoon.

The plight of the boat, which had anchored because of engine trouble, was noticed at 4:20 PM. It was brought to the harbor at 6 PM. Stocking told the coast guards it had taken him 43 hours to come from Port Huron to Harbor Beach. Stocking and his bride were enroute to the Les Chenaux Island in the Straits of Mackinac. They were four miles south of Harbor Beach when rescued. The boat was valued at $1,000.

A rescue boat in charge of Boatswain’s Mate John Oles left the station at 4:45 PM to go to the aid of the Tropic Bird adrift five miles southeast of the harbor after a flare was seen from the boat.

The Tropic Bird’s gasoline supply had been exhausted. It was towed into the harbor at 5:30 PM.

I do not recall the year this event took place, but it had to be in the 1930s. Chief Boatswain’s Mate John G. Leidke and Boatswain John Oles were both stationed in Harbor Beach back then, for a few years.

In the 30s and 40s there were many more freighters on the lakes then there are today. Dr. Oaks was called on by the Coast Guard to go out on calls to treat sailors who were injured. Quite often he had to bring them into the Harbor Beach Hospital. One time he brought a Swedish sailor who had injured his hand. He had no passport so was confined to the hospital. My wife felt sorry for him so she brought him to our house and I took him to a football game. He was bored sitting around the hospital, so we kind of broke the law.