The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1860-09-26
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Lady Elgin

Nl lOO Il LII u IN LOOO.
The Lady Elgin
The Chicago and Milwaukee papers con
tinue to be filed with accounts relative to
this terrible casualty. We clip from the
Chicago Times and Herald the following
notice of that dreadful night, as written by
gentleman with whom we are somewhat
acquainted. We could fill twenty columns
with personal relations such as follow
many of them more narrowing to the feel
lngs but none any more useful to the liv-
ing. Courage is all that saved Gunnison
One of the most interesting personal accounts
of the disaster yet given is that of Mr.. H. w
Gunnison, who was eleven hours in the water
MIR Gunnison undoubtedly owes his life to thu
cool deliberation and presence of mind which
his narrative shows that he possessed through
out the terrible ordeal. Before the boat went
down he went around among his acquaintances
shook hands aud bid them good bye. He ad
vised all. and especially the military to Olsen
cumber themselves Of all articles that would
add to their weight, and to avoid cnging to
each other when in the water. He says:
81 removed everything from my pockets oi
any weight that would cucumber me at all,
having gold watch, keys, knife, money, etc.
and threw them overheard, and had nothing on
now but my pantaloons and shirt.
| then attempted 70 kick door off the cap.
aims state room, but, being bar etooted, failed,
and then went into the same state room and
a mali dr,wer ~, ,,,v s,.,,r,rt ''''
40 sonn No ,ho ona:h ta,tI, .,,oo .,. -
.,, ,n.,,oI : 80 "
ran and sprang as far as possible into the lake
with the bureau drawer in nv hands. | was
drawn down considerable depth by the whir
occasoned by the sinking of the vessel. A
moment after rising to the TOP, and having
time TO draw a single breath, was drawn un
der again, when the drawer was forced from
my hands by the action of the water. On com
ing to the surface the second time, seized hole
OF "A scantng and a small: box that were float
ing aroun me.
The storm ragged with great fury and coptin
uous thunder, and almost incessant lightning
and the rain pouring down in torrents. The
lightning gave sort of purple glare to tn,
lake and the human faces that were visible
around me, as the persons were struggling fol
life. uring these CLEANS the faces of differ
ent ones were distinctly visible for some dis
tance, and for a few moments were quite nu
merous in my immediate vicinity, but disappear
I'd rapidly. he first scenes of strangling OF
drowning seemed to be followed by convulslve
struggles and sharp shreks, as they threw w
their hands and sank"
Mr.. Gunnison conver.e6 with all vbo wer.
near him, striving to cheer them nm. For him
elf. he onneurs tn have heen perf.c,I~ cbe.rfnl
until his Gonna Mons one nv one had cone to tn,
ho,tom. ana he tound h mseli nm the v.s,a ~
waters alone.
.l,o Cal. e,, c,o,; e,.,
Nv" WV w" e.'"l .,ehh,s " ioi,ei'nes'
Us ,ne'e was ho ope'soI "i',1,li naihns distance
a;,'.s as lar an eou.u Ju"ee. ny TINS une l nae
vn.i up -. w.. pho "u snoft p,anh anu one o
wv ph,' p.u1S VI oo.ius, "l"e. sas.a,heo me yer.
,o.r ua"nh 80 "e 90" a. h .I,s u.ne ""s no
.y, '"P"s" "''" """' was "'.e'
ma,. Taus. ,.o
o"'G H,,i @ a., .; ou ie'. l'as ur''teo aions
-, 40. '., t.,S ns s.Aeu io'u o'' al's
which | also retained. with the idea Of usns
them after daylight AS signal to attract atten
ton to any effort made to rescur me.
After day had fully dawned and discovered
the great distance from shore and the Increase
fury of the storm. cave mn all homes of a res
cue, and threw nv hat and stick away. Abou
this time the difficulty of holding on to the two
or ;hree pieces that had. was such that oaye
up eyery 3, pport but a two inch pino nlank
about six feet by fourteen inches which was m,
entire support for the next four or five hours
| As SYMPTOMS of cramp or chills onneored lev
erted myself by occasional efforts at swimmin,
with the help of the plank.
| In the lonely dangers of his situation Mr.
Gunnison appears to have made up for the wan
of companionship by induging in spirit O
philosophy SO cheerful as to be ut times almos
grotesae. At one time he saws he thought o
\
were they in his situation they would not com
plain OF any lack OF cold water! At another
he called to mind the insurance policy of $4,000
upon his life, and felt deeply gratitied that il
case he should drown, it would provide his fam
lily with a competence yet, says he, deter
mined to save that amount to the insuranc.
company, and succeeded. Some time atte
daybreak he discovered portion of the WRECK
with iOur persons upon it,