The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1859-11-25
-a From the Sandusky Register.
The Loss ofthe Propeller Ohio,
on Lake Erie.

The Loss Ofthe Propeller Ohio,
on Lake Erie.
The Ohio left Buffalo on Friday morn
/ ing at 10 o'clock. bound for Cleveland.
with cargo of $50 tons merchandise.
She put into Gravelly Bay, and Law till
Saturday 5 P NJ, when she pursued her
course towards Cleveland. At IL Pm.
she was abreast Long Point weather good
AT about quarter of 2 o'clock, Sunday
morning, Captain Nickerson went below
to the engine room, and found about 60
! pounds head of steam. At that time he
calculated the propeller was 80 miles above
Long Point and about 10 miles from land.
She carried her foresail jb, and was max
ing about l l miles per hour. RI
The Captain then went to his room. and,
removing his hat, coat and boots, Law
down on the outside of his bed to rest. He
had lam there about ten minutes awake.
when he was startled by crashing report
like the explosion of heavy ordinances.
lie sprang from his bed, and, withou.
stoppingto put on the clothing he had
removed, fastened on deck. An awful
scene met his view. There was nothing
of the propeller above water but the hurri-
cane deck and bows, and all around the
struggling crew were clinging to pieces Of
wreck and crying plaintively for help
Luckily, one of the yawls struck in the
water right side up, into which the Captain
had just time to step and push off before
the wreck went down. The other yawl
was capsized. There were seventeen per
sons on board, all told OF these fifteen
were saved, The other two, Thomas
Corvett, second mate, and Michael DAM
gan, wheelsman, are missing. The forme,
was seen running after the explosion oc-
CURED. 1t is thought he got tangled in
the wreck and went down, The wheels
man was not seen after the accident The
Captains son, a lad of about IA years of
age was on board and was saved with diff
ficulty. He had just recovered from an
attack of fever and was weak and conse-
quently was lily able to take care of him.
self. lie was caught under the cabin as
it toppled over, and would have been
drowned had not the engineer reached
under the wreck and pulled him ont.
Into this single yawl the fifteen surviv-
ors huddled, and, having nothing for oars
but pieces of the wreck, they were almost
entirel y at the mercy of the wind and
waves. They drifted up the lake, and
saw two vessels before daylight bound
down, which passed not over ten rods from
the yawl. All efforts to attract the atten-
ton of those on board the vessels were in
vain. A propeller and sail vessel were
seen during the day, but they veered off
towards land and soon passed out of sight.
The condition of the shipwrecked men
now became desperate. The were scanti
ly clad, not one of them having either hat
or shoes, a cold northeast gale was blowing
and the seas were rolling terrifcallv.
Many of the poor fellows, considered their
case hopeless, abandoned themselves to
despair. But their brave captain, undaunt-
ed, and working with the energy of several
men, with words of hope and encourage
ment stimulated them to renewed exer.
ton, and all 'abored with their impromptu
oars to keep their frail bark from swamp
ing.
Darkness now began to gather upon the
horizon, and the stoutest hearted of the
devoted little crew began to give pay be-
fore the almost certain prospects of
watery grave which stared them in the
, face But propeller is seen in the dis
lance bearing towards them. 1t nears
them, their signal of distress is seen, and
they are picked up about p. NJ, off Mad
, ison dock, 25 miles below Grand river and
about - miles from land. The propeller
: proved to be the Equator.
With the promptness and humanity of
true and noble hearted sailors, Cap. Hines
and his officers and crew did everything
IN their power TO administer to the comfort
of their shipwrecked brethren They sup
piled them with clothing, and recruited
their wasted powers with the best refresh
ments the Equator could For this disin-
terested and humane kindness, the officers
and crew of the Equator have the unfeign-
ed thanks of those whose wants they so
promptly relieved,
That common yawl boat, in which
were fifteen persons, should ride out the
gale OF Sunday, seems almost miracle.
Capt. Nickerson, who is an old sailor, SAYS
he never saw more terrific sea, than that
which ran between twelve and two
O'Clock. He thought every surge would
carry them down. When the Equator
stopped to pick them up, she rolled SO tre
mendously that it was feared he would go
to pieces.
The cause of the explosion is unknown.
At the time the accident occurred, the sec
ond engineer was engaged in oiling the
machinery, and the fireman in trying the
water, which he found all right The
Ohio is estimated to have been worth
SIS 900. 1t was not insured. The cargo
was very valuable, and was probably most
y insured. Capt. Nickerson lost $50 in
money, two valuable glasses, barometer,
and about $3.50 worth of clothing.
COMPARATIVE SPEED OF THE HORSE AND