The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-29
Loss OF Propeller and Eighteen Lives
on Lake Huron.

From the Detroit Free Press, Oct ~
The graph has already brought the brief announce
ment OF the oss Vi the propeller Troy, Lake Huron,
and the almost miraculous escape Of three of the crew.
the only Survivors Of the fearful catastrophe There
twenty persons In ali board the the
time she oundercd, all Of whom, SO far as Ii kaown,
with the exception Of the first mate, wheelsman and
second engineer lost These three saved by
taking yawl that was considered upseaworthy, and in
which they driven by the force OF the gale across
the lake, landing near Goderch, IN Canada Ihey were
brought Port Huron the steamer kalo0ah, on
Thursday, and yesterday came ON ~ thus city by the
Ruby. From them we gather some details OF the
afair.
The Troy foundered at eight O'Clock Tuesday morn
ing, about ten miles south Of Point anx Barques. The
wind was blowing a terrific gale at the tmc making
complete breach the vessel extngushng her fires
and very filling her The captain very cool and
firm, ana, when he saw that the vessel must go down.
made deliberate and ample Tor the safety OF
result would have been far different The company on
board consisted Of ,weny-sx persons, Of whom eight
were passengers So far KNOWN their names were as
Mr.. Raice Of Racine his wife and three children
LADY, name unknown, the sister of the captains wife.
Two steerage passengers, names unknown-makng
eight passengers.
CREW.
Captain 49, Byron, OF Racine.
FIRST naie--Narcus lane, OF Chicago
Second matc-"Jm," belonging in Buffalo, but shipped
at Chicago.
First whecIsman-Georg f. Plumley, Of Detroit.
Second wheelsman--Nane unknown.
First engineel--Joseph Kelly, Of Chicago.
~
Cook-"Iom, y of Racine.
Chambermad-- Elizabeth Leonard, Of Chicago.
Besides the above there s,x negro deck hands,
two rcmen and one porernaking eighteen in all of the
crew.
When the vessel began to fiji the captain secured the
life boat and placed the passengers together with the
cbambermaid and first engineer, in It.
quarter boat in good condition assigned to the
balance Of the crew. the captain intending find passage
in the lieboat There still yawl which unap-
prcpriated, but was considered unsesworthy
In the CONSERVATION incident to the moment the quarter
boat was launched contrary TO orders into which num-
Der Of the sprang Overlooking and swapping it,
The life boat then launched and the party apportion-
cd to taken board when the propeller giving ndica
tons OF Immediately sinking, rush made that over
loaded the boat and she had nearly swamped when the
captain drove portion of the crew back In the rash,
the oars were lost and the boat was left at tho
broadde TO the sea- and probably could not carry her
load a great while.
The yawl the last beat left, into which George F.
Pumey, the wheelsman, and J. G. Barber the second
engineer seated themselves. They with the first mate,
Marcus Lake, were all who left on board. Seeing No
Of rendering assistance those in the water and
the propeller settling very fast the mate got the yaw
just the hull sunk and the party oated of They
bad secured ono oar, with which they managed
their eaky craft They found II impossible to make tho
American Shore and accordingly headed across the lake.
Two Of them steered while the third kept busily at
work baliing. The boat leaked so badly that j.
required constant work 10 keep her free, and be-
sides the sea was rolling very high and they ship
ped good deal Of water. In this way they ran
across the lake landing safely a: three miles be-
nearly eleven hours in the yawi.
The Troy owned by A. II. Covert, OF Chicago. She
had on twelve thousand bushels Of wheat in bulk, and
hound from Racine Wisconsin, TO Port Colborne, c.
w. She left Mackinaw Monday, and after passing
Presque lse encountered strong head winds until about
two O'Clock Tuesday morning when suddenly veered
about and blew perfect hurricane from the northwest
The vessel rode the gale we'll until half past five O'Clock,
when her gangways burst in by the force of the
They were soon again replaced and strongly secured but
the sea increasing in violence they again stove in
and clean breach made across the vessel badly rackng
her upper works The poured into her matches n
torrents and although the pumps got to work at
once, II impossible TO keep her clear At quarter be-
fore the water had gained her much as to
ex,ingush the fires in her boilers. This stopped her
engines and the unfortunate vessel left at the mercy
OF the wind and waves.
The captain exhibited the greatest sefpossession,
did the first mate and OF the other officers, but the
crew became unmanageabe with fright and refused to
obey orders. The passengers were terror stricken as
they awful death slowly approaching although
that all would yet be we'll they only exhibited the more
CONSERVATION. is probable that any Of them
saved. The mate states that when be last the life
boat rolling about the waves, being perfectly al
their mercy its occupants having whatever To
guide IT, probably foundercd with all who in it.
despatch published yesterday from Port Sarnia
to the effect that five additional persons had been rescued
This lacks confirmation The Forest Queen came down
from Saginaw yesterday and passed near the scene
Of the wreck, but saw traces Of the vessel or the
boats The party who were saved, and who Came down
yesterday, knew nothing Of any other persons being
saved. The Of the lost only be ascerained al
Racine if al ALL as all the books and papers Of the pro
peller were lost
Nr. Iace Of Racine with bis family, were removing
to the East Their effects had been sent forward OF
another propeller, and probably now at Buffalo
awanga claimant. The family were all placed in the
leboa, which is all that is known OF them.