New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-11-18
ANOTHER TERRIBLE CALAMITY
WRECK OF THE STEAMER SUPERIOR
FIFTY LIVES LOST
From IA, Lake syoisr Jos,.e'. N's. q


Hitherto Lake Superior has been devoid Of those
dire cslsnities which have been the terror Oh 'n'
liver lakes but we are at last called upon TO record
the lo.s Of one of noble teamrs oSeihtr WIN the
cargo and most of her passengers a'd crew Inc
steamer Superior left Saul Sc Name on WEDNESDAY,
ID, Goth and soon aNer entering the Lake Tue vino
commenced blowing fresh Som the northwest raising
sktavy sea- The boat was wcatherpS the s'of N
brtyey and making for Grand Island, where she coud
lie in safety She had reaiy reached the lsahu "u.n
her udder parted and she was len 10 the mercy o. tue
wave. The engine wa. kept st work, with me nope
thai she might make the lee OF me issni ana us 10 20
saved But she soon swung round INTO inc trougu %
tho ssa which rendered her -till more unhahas"oe'
az rack.d her iimbeis 50 tina: she soon sp.ung t
The engines were still keIt az WORK uh'li 'ne "Hsei
put n fires out Mtsptms the boat diireu .o"Na
bc,e s,d sbon, o'clock she struck on the ma oland,
. ,e east of Green lslsbd, Oft Pictured ROCKS, a.
the place known the Big Cave; ine aneno.s 49,
throw over some time before with TIE nope that 'ne
vopld touch bottom ana hold her. but the wa'er Is
ve,v dep AZ this place and hey did not take hold un-
III ins, before she struck The hrst sea IN S'o y"
after size struck laied the ancn, remains anu oa"u
her fuIt the rock the re Snd sea swept ne ,oI
of and the third one dashed her TO pieces Az tnts
ss tine than bas taken Us TO relate IT, Dy
tie cid of tie boats and fragments Ct the ~reik,
small portion Of the passengers and crew were sa,ou'
Tley slesk in beh terms Of the efforts mtde oy Isp
y
the giving way of the Tudder.
IScIDESrs.
The snow was falling fast durlr Inc ngh,, renuei
ing Il intensely cold and slippery upon the DECK ana
so dark that il was impo ssible TO discern any ming
Cent. Jones in asterd ding the pill house slipped and
fell, bIusing bmself severely. yet he relaxed NOT us
,f,Its in the least. At another time, wDiie stSnunS
rear he gsngway, heavy sea swept nun 9verooaru'
brit f ruuat.ly, 1t returned and Brought him BACK
Int at length, sss be met watery grave. His body
was found by the Survivors at daylight, having oeen
washed ashore before the other bodies were. FROM
this fact il thought that he must nave hea'y
r,sthed II slive Mr.. Ernst the porter, Informs US
that Capt Jones came into the cabin where he was
sitting and said: Boys, want You to stick to the
boat as long as there anything ei. of her, thus Is
the fourth boat have lost, but shall not prooaoy
90 and tell nv mother that did all could to save
d" TIE beat" That he did do all he could there is no
doubt.
Tie first ,rriueer. Mr. Stephen Coolahan, to whom
we are b,ed for most of the particulars given IN
forms "a that il was with difficulty that he sas saved
He went from the deck through the caoln ana met 'e
cbambeIm maid DO asked him II he cou not save her;
r said he would see. They then went ait the wheel
house 10 the yawt boat in which seated tao la
dies They managed to get il aost but 1t soon cap.
sized IN the surf and all we're lost except hun ell sod
be barely knew bow be came on Shore Chas. Ernst,
tie porter attempted to swim ashore, but was mnen
bruised by the floating timbers and at last the HE
boat struck bim on The head ipjurng HIM severely;
but be managed to grasp the boat, and "ss ~asned
ashore with several others.
The next morning nothing was visible bat the wheels
which being strongly made and anchored fast by the
eng and heavy machinery bad not been swept away
Upon these were seen clDgibg the bodies OF seNes
men among them the two clerks and the hrst saloon
ketuer As they were but three or four rods from
shore their cries could be heard distinctly calling to
those On shore to come with the boats and save them
But this impossible as the sun oea'inS on ulc
rocks w ud have swsmped good boat almost Instant
" and those that were washed ashore were almost IKE
the .t,smer, wreck. One by one they dropped OIL
into the water until all were gone lhe scene ID de-
eciib.d as painful beyond description, as the sur
vvors were within speaking distance yet without the
pOwer to nder assistance The saved suffered e1-
utnty from cold snd hunger, and all OF them were
more or le bruised Three days they were weather
bound and not only this but rock bound. too as the
bluff this point rises neatly 3UV teet and almost per-
ptndicuar, presenting an impossible barrier Az ns
lime the sea subsidized sufficiently for them TO reach
Grand Island They patched up the boats and started
gong port Of the way land and part on water Two
boys died ON u way from exposure. The saved were
obliged TO subsist during this time upon such articles
chance threw shore, raw vegetables, raislns ana
hom berg tho principal articles. 80
The number Of saved was sixteen, and the following
are lanes % far have been able TO obtain them
joseph Davis First Mate.
stephen CooIahan, Fnst Engineer
John Butcher, fH,inan.
| Joseph Dennis, passenger
Geo Pii.r
CHARLES Ernst, porter.
Augustus Kenge.
n u
is likely that there others that our informant
is net aware Of that would swell the nu Bber to 50.
The following the far az they known:
Capt. Hiram Jones master
" Him Norris, Let clerk.
William -, I'd clerk
H. ID. " bite, steward.
William Ii weIch, "a ssloon iesper
Harriet -, CT ambeTmad
Hal Burns, I'd mate.
Jacob -, % engineer.
Barney Smith, 6i.ms
John smith, fireman
Mrs B, nnett OF Ontonagon.
Ste phtn -, and four Sisters of Superior cry
- Curley, deck hand.
Wnlism Rsws passenger
Alex. Wrrs waiter.
1honss Wiers, waiter.
Panck Carey.
Mr.. Cooahan, Mr.. Ernst and three others, came
through yestt r.sy in small boat parto the way and
walk &C The rema nder. To them are indebted for
the particulars given. This is the first accident Of the
kiId that occurred on this Lake in which there
ally serious loss of life, and the Superior would,
probably, have reached Grand Island in safety al not
her rudder parted where could have lain perfect
safety from any storm from any quarter. is supposed
by many that Lake Superior is the wort Of all the lakes
in storm, yet such is not the case It be triversed
with as much safety any of them while the natural
baIbcis net exceled, and only need slight improve
mtn's.