Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-06-16
rom the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Extra, June 10.
Terrible Collision.

Terrible Collision.
STEAMER CHESAPEAKE AND SCHR.
PORTER SUNK-MANY LIVES LOST.
We are Indebted to the Captain, Clerk,
and Steward, Of the Chesapeake for the
following partiulars of the horrible affair:
The Chesapeake and Constellation were
coming up from Buffalo, and about o'clock
this morning when off Conneaut, the
Schooner Porter bound down, took sheer
to escape the Constellation and came in
contact with the Chesapeake. It is said,
her Wheelsman after escaping the Constel.
lation was ordered to make the Chesapeake
light in her fore rigging, and as the latter
made off, she followed up until the engine
Of the steamer was stopped and water back
ed, but the speed of the schooner soon over
took her, and struck her in the bows or
bowsprit. A. the instant Of the collision,
the hands of the Porter sprang aboard the
steamer, and the vessel continued its course
out into the lake. Capt. Warner, thinking
that neither vessel was much injured, put
about for the Porter, in order 70 return her
crew, but as he neared her, he saw she was
sinking, and by the time the small boat was
lowered, she disappeared.
At this moment the Captain was inform
ed the Steamer was leaking. All hands
were called to the pumps, the water gained
and the passengers were set to bailing-
The fremen forsook the hold and the steam
went down. The Capt ordered them back,
and steam was again raised, with orders to
run her ashore, but the fire came rushing
in at the fire holes, the firemen again left,
the engine stopped. Her anchor was let
go to maintain her position, as the wind
was blowing fresh from shore. From this
time, to the moment of her going down,
was occupied in preparing floats to get
ashore.
The Captain advised all to stick by the
wreck, but many notwithstanding left, and
nothing as yet have been heard from them:
among whom was the Chief Engineer.-
After about half an hour she went down
head foremost in forty feet water, her upper
deck rising with the water. On this the
passengers that remained held fast. The
Captain describes the scene here as awful |
such shrieks, he says, as he never wishes
to hear again. At this critical iuncture the |
Harrison hove in view and passed them.
not hearing their cries for help. She put
into Conneaut about l ] miles distant from
he wreck, and then was informed by the
Clerk, who, with about fourteen others had
made shore in he.ssmall boat, that her
was needed. She Immediately
put for the WRECK, and rescued all on board.
There were about Is passengers on
BOARD How many got ashore safe after
he,Wreck went down is not known
..sOf those known to be drowned are the
blowing ofthe passengers:
Mrs Honk, Watertown, N. Y; &C. Van
Dozen, Sandusky; E. Coon, Bellville. O.:
J. York, Tiffin, Ohio. OF the crew R.
Switzerland, Chief Engineer; Orson Ware,
ID Porter; R. McNab Deck hand.
There has, no doubt, been fearful loss
Il life, and much property. The Clerks |
ooks, and about $4,000 dollars in money. {
he property Of private individuals entrust- ,
d to his charge, went down with the boat. t
lot even passengers trunk was saved. g
he Chesapeake belonged to D. W. BAR q
EY d Co. The Porter was loaded. q
The following card will show who are Il
aved: e
The undersigned, passengers on the n
teamer Chesapeake, wrecked during the S
ght of the 9th inst, near the port of te
onneaut, take great satisfaction in bearing el
stlmony to the humane and gallant con- o.
let of Capt. L. B. PARKER, Of the steamer tt
en-. Harrison, in rescuing them from to
atery grave. th
But for his voluntary, willing and hearty
sistance, scarcely soul would have been NJ
I to tell the story of peril and disaster. &c
Erwin Rees, Clayton, Jefferson Go. N 2(
;, A. Holvin, Buffalo; r. M. Shoemaker, oh
spublic, Ohio, VIM. Steele, West Mill
eek, Erie Co. Pa, John D. Sheffield, en-
alantha, N. Y, Chloe P. Judson, San. set