Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-06-23
Distressing Calamity.

From the Lake Superior. News
SAUT STE. MARIE, June IL, lSa7.
Distressing Calamity.
| One of the most distressing accidents that
ever occurred at the Saut Ste. Marie, and whicc
it becomes our duty to record, took place Thurs
day afternoons carrying gloom and dsmay TO
every heart. A party of citizens and persona
| from abroas had agreed to descend the Falls of
the Ste. Marie River, situated Immediately
| above this village, and with that view pro.
ceeded to the head ofthe Portage, where they
procured yawl boat with which TO make the
decent-a feat at any time considered hazardous
and yet, strange to say, in its frequent per-
Torrance hitherto no accident ever occurred
| ending in the loss of !ife.. The party On this
occasion were nine in number, consisting Of
Capt. Johd Stannard, Capt. Robhrt Brown, and
Messrsr E. G. Seymour, Thomas Riches John
Parker, add VIM. Flynn, of this place; DR.,
Hough L. rroury, OF M0nroey!lle: Ohio: A,
| Spaford, of Perrysburg, Ohio, and Mr.. Walesr
Clerk of the STEAMBOAT ST. Calir. With this
company, the boat started on its perilous voy-
age. When about halfway down the rapiis
it shipped breaker, that filled her nearly half
full of water-at this, bailing was commenced,
but, moment more, and the boat having rea.
ched what is called the ''big leap" fbeing some
eight or ten feet in descent) was by reaction
itated into the foaming rapids. This catastrp-
phe was witnessed by many of our citizens, who
were watching the voyage from thu shore
boats were immediately REQUIRED; and put out
tie render assistance to thoae who should SUR
vive the struggle of the dashing waters. and
reach the foot of the rapids: Messrs Stanard,
Brown, Wales, Spafford, and Parker sustained
themselves until picked up bv the boats which
went out, or by the Indians who were fishing
from their canoes. BY the chief of the latter,
Mr. Seymour was discovered floating at the bot
tom of the river, and rescued only by means of
spear, with which the Chief succeeded in en-
tangling his coat, and thus raising him to the
surface. So completely was Mr.. s. exhausted
when taken, that for some time resuscitatinn
was considered doubtful but by proper appIl-
cations and incessant rubbing for hours, ANNA
ton was finally restored, although at the time
of writing this, Saturday morning) he is still
considered in a critical situation.
The o.her three, DIR. Prouty, and Messrs
Riches Flyn, we are panied 10 sao were drown.
ed, and their bodies have not yet been discover
ed: DIR: P. was one of pleasure party, who,
with his wife, were on an excursion to this
place. In Huron Co., Ohio, of which he was
a resident, he had been practising physician
for twenty years. possessing, we are told by
those who knew him best, all the traits of char
acter that adorn a noble heait and that for pnb-
lie usefulness, private worth, and warm esteem
no man stood higher in that sectiov of the State.
Besides his amiable bereaved wife, he has left
four children 10 mourn his unfortunate death.
Mr.. Riches was formerly of Detroit. and for
the last two seasons had been engaged as the
Engineer Of the Propeller Independence, where
he mad won the warm regard of his brother ofh-
GERS, and by his urbauity, and kindness, the con-
fidence and respect of the entire community
VIM. Flynn was an exemplary young mar, If
about nineteen years of age, residing in this
village, AMI in the employment Of Messrs. Ste
vens and Cornwall.
A note from Morgan Bates Esq. has the fol.
lowing /:
"Capt. Moore of the schooner Merchant, to
the attempt to get her back over the rapids.
Princely Gi}t.-Abbott Lawrence, of Bostor,
has presented the sum of $4,000 to Harvard
College, for the purpose of establishing de-
partment for teaching the practical scicnce.,--
engineering, mining, & the invention and man..
ufacture of machinery. or this sum, 10000
is to be applied to the erection of suitable bull
dings-the residue, 10000, is to form the basis
of fund, Switch, together with one half of the
tuition fees, till the amount shall Weld the sum
of three thousand dollars annually, shalt be e.
qually divided between the Professor Of Engi.
neering and the Professor of Geology, and be
made permanent foundation for these profess
orshp." This noble gift is only the continue
ton of series ofnoble charity which have long
distinguished the donor as the great philanthro-
pist of the country.
PTrou bles are like hornets-the less ado ron
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