The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-10-26
From the D>.roit Free Press, Oct. 23d.
FOUNDEdING OF THE PR0PEL-
LER TROY ON LAKE HURON.


Tsoentysdlree Eves losti-IHe First
Mate, Wheelsman, and second En-
oineer driven across the Lake ia a
yavl!-TAeir statement of the oc-
curreace. I
The telegraph has already brought the
brief announcement of the loss of the
propeller Troy on Lake Huron, and the
almost miraculous escape Of three of the
crew, the only survivors of the fearful
catastrophe. There were twenty-six per-
sons in all aboard the vessel at the time
she foundered, all of whom, so far as is
now known, with the exception of the
first mate, wheelsman, and second engin-
eer, were lost. These three were saved
bv taking TO yawl that was considered
unseaworthy, and in which they were
driven, by the force of the gale, across
the lake, landing near Goderich, in Cana
da. They were brought down to Port
Huron on the steamer Raloolah,on Thurs
day, and on Friday came on to this city
by the steamer Ruby. From them we
gather some details of the affair.
The Troy foundercd at 8 o'clock on
Tuesday morning, about ten miles south
of Point aux Barques. The wind was
blowing a terrific gale at the time, max
ing a complete breach over the vessel, ex-
tinguishng her fires and very soon filling
her. The Captain was very cool and
firm land when he saw that the vessel must
90 down, made deliberate and ample
preparations for the safety of all on board.
Had his orders been strictly obeyed the
result would have been far different
The company on board consisted of twen-
ty-six persons, Of whom eight were pass
engers. So far as known their names
were as follows:
PASSENGERS.
Mr.. Raice, of Racine, his wife and
three children.
A lady, name unknown, the sister of
the Captains wife.
Two Storage passengers, names un-
known; making eight passengers.
CREW.
Captain Byron.
First Mate--Marcus Lane, of Chicago.
Second Mate" Jim," belonging in
Buffalo, but shipped at Chicago.
First Wheelsman--George f. Plumlcy,
of Detroit.
Second Wheelsman-Name unknown.
First Engineer-Joseph Kelly, of Chi
cago.
Second Engineer. c. Barber, Of
Chicago.
Cook-"Tom," of Racine.
Observation-Disclosures Leonard, Of
Chicago.
Besides the above there were six negro
deck-hands, two firemen and one porter
making eighteen in all of the crew.
WIZ. .i.o ~~~s~l Lss~a- DO fll, thf
CaI tain secured the lile-boat, and placed
The passengers, together with the cham
bermaid and first engineer, in it.
A quarter-boat, in good condition, was
assigned TO the balance of the crew, the
Captain intending to find passage in the
life-boat. There was still yawl which
was unappropriated, but which was con.
sidered unseaworthy.
In the CONSERVATION incident to the
moment the quarter boat was launched
contrary to orders, into which number
Of the crew sprang, overlooking it, and
swapping it. The ife-boat was ther
launched, and the party apportioned to il
taken aboard, when, tho propeller giving
indications of Immediately sinking, rusl
was made that overloaded the boat, and
she had nearly swamped when the Captain
drove n portion of the crew back. Ii
tho rush, however, the oars were lost, anC
the boat was left at the mercy of the
waves. When last seen she was laying
broadside to the sea, and probably could
not carry her load a great while.
The yawl was the last boat left, into
which Georgo.F. Phmley,t the wheelsman
and ]. G. Barber, the second engineer
seated themselves. They with the mate
Marcus Lane, were all who were left OF
board. Seeing no means of rendering as
sistance 10 those in the water, and the
propeller settling very fast, the mate got
into the yawl just as the hull sunk, ano
the party were floated off. They had Sc
cured one oar, with which they managed
10 steer their leaky craft. They found il
impossible to make the American shore
and accordingly headed across the lake
Two of them steered while the third KEEP
busily at work bailing. The boat leaked
so badly that it required constant worl
to keep her free, and besides the sea was
rolling very high and they shipped a gooc
deal Of water In this way they rar
across the lake, landing safely at Bayfield,
three miles below Goderich, about Z
o'clock in the evening, having been near
ly eleven hours in the yawl
The Troy was owned by A. II. Co
vert, of Chicago. She had on $4,000
bushels of wheat in bulk, and was bound
from Racine, Wis, to Port Colborne, c.
w. She left Mackinaw on Monday, and
after passing Presque Isle, encountered
strong head winds until about O'Clock
on Tuesday morning, when it suddenly
veered about and blew n perfect hurricane