The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1847-06-18
From the Cleveland Herald, Ex., June 10.
Melancholy Accident.
COLLISION BETWEEN THE
Steamer Chesapeake & Sch. John Porter.
Both p-essels and several Lives Losn


Both Tesseis and seueral Lives LosW
1 The steamer Chesapeake and schooner
John Porter came in collision about half pas
l2 O'Clock, Thursday morning, when some
four or five miles off Bonneaut. The mo.
ment they struck, the officers and hands on
the Porter jumped on beard the Chesapeake
The boat and vessel soon separated, the boat
backing off The Porter was not supposed
to be seriously injured, and the boat of the
Chesapeake was lowered to put the crew ON
board the schooner, when the vessel went
down.
About this time it was found that the Ches-
apeake was filling and unsuccessful effor ts
were made to stop the leak. The boat was
headed to thees shore and all steam crowded.
The pumps were set going, and every effort
was made to keep down the water by bailing.
Captain Warner had the glib lowered over
the bow, which was draw into the opening,
and partially aided in staying the rush of
water. Notwithstanding every effort, the
water gained so rapidly that the fires were
soon extinguished, and when about mile
and half from shore the boat lost her head
way. The wind was blowing quite fresh
from the southwest, considerable sea was
running, and the anchor was let 60 to prevent
drifting into the Lake.
The Chesapeake's boat was Immediately
manned and filled with as many passengers
as it could carry, four of them ladies, and
started for Conneaut for assistance The
wind was so heavy that the boat drifted some
two miles below the pier Mr.. Shepard,
Clerk, of the Chesapeake, ran up the beach,
and reached the pier just as the Steamer
Harrison was entering the port. Capt. Park
er promptly went to the rescue of the suffer-
ers with the Harrison, took off the survivors
on the wreck, and picked up all that could be
found afoat in the lake on hatches, planks,
cabin doors, &c. A small boat from the
shore rescued some who were nearly exhaus-
ted from long buffeting of the waves, upborne
on those forlorn hopes of drowning men.
After the Chesapeake was brought to
anchor she continued to sink gradually not
withstandng every effort by pumping and
bailng to keep her aAeat, and at half past 2
O'Clock, the hull went down bow foremost in
40 feet of water. The upper cabin parted
from the hull, and the upper deck remained
out of water. On this such of the persons
on board as had not previously left the boat
were gathered and saved. None were lost
who followed the advice Of Capt. w. and
continued with the wreck. But as the boat
sank deep in the water, and it became certain
that she must go down, and number prepar-
cd floats and took their chance for escape on
hem. Of these eight are known to have been
drowned, and it is feared that others met
y th the like melancholy fate.
The passengers numbered between forty
md fifty, an unusual proportion of ladies, and
several children. No ladies or children we're
ost. The presence of mind, energy and for
itude of the ladies throughout the trying
scene is describ ed as remarkable. Perous
Is was their situation, they needed the advice
# the officers, at their request urged their
to 60 below and assist in keeping
he vessel afloat and made no outcry until it
vas apparent the Harrison in passing had not
discovered the wreck-when one of them
Isked permission of the Captain to also hail
heir best hope of rescue, with the remark
hat woman's shrill voice could be heard far
her than mans. Woman's cry of agony too,
vass lost in the voice of the louder sounding
ea. The lady OF Captain Warner was on
'oard and before the boat went down she was
AIKEN to the mast head, and remained there
ntil the Harrison came to the rescue.
As the books of the boat ere lost, it is
impossible to obtain full list of passengers
t present. The following persons are known
0 have been lost.
Passengers.
leo. Van Doren, Of Lower Sandusky, o.
Irs. Hook, of Watertown, N. York.
J. Gone, of Bellevue, Ohio.
William N. Yerk, of Tiffin, Ohio.
CreW. 6
!. Sutherland, LIST Engineer. l.
}. Wait, I'd Porter.
!. McMann, deck hand.
1t is greatly feared that Mr.. D. A. Folsom,
{ Rochester, New York, formerly OF this
ity, is also among the lost. When the small
oat was leaving the wreck, he urged his
lfe to enter it with their child. She was
nwillng to do so without he accompanied
er. With true and noble disinterestedness,
e refused to embrace the opportunity to save
imsef so long as ladies and children were
1T on board the sinking craft, and knowing
he mothers yearning heart toward her ten
er offspring. he placed the child in the boat.
he mother clung to it, and he bade her fare 4
'ell from the gangway. Soon after MIR. Fol. t
om, in company with young man, hand !