Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1860-09-14
APPALLING DISASTER on LAKE MICHIGAN ,
Sinking of the Steamer Lady Elgiu!

Sinking Of the Steamer Lady Elgiu!
Nearly Three Hundred Lives Lost
CHICAGO, Sept. s.-The steamer Lady Ell
| gin, of the Lake Superior line, which left here
last night, was run into by the schooner Au-
gusta, off Wankegan, at halfpast two O'Clock
this morning, striking her abaft the wheel
The steamer sunk twenty minutes aiterward in
three hunred feet water. Only seventeen per-
sons are known to be saved, including the
clerk, steward and porter.
! There were between three hundred and fifty
and four hundred persons on board among
whom were the Black Yagers aud Rifles, and
several fire companies from Milwaukee, who
were on visit to this city.
! Colonel Lumsden, of the New Orleans Pic
| ayune, and family also on board, and suppo-
sed to be lost.
At the time of the accident the schooner
was sailing at the rate of eleven miles per
hour.
H. G. Caryl, the clerk, makes the following
statement; The Lady Elgin left the port Of
Chicago at half past eleven o'clock for Lake
Union Guards, Of Milwaukee, composing part
of some two hundred and fifty excursionists
from that city. About -halfpast two this NOR
ming the schooner Augusta, from Oswego,
came in collision with the Lady Elgin when
about ten miles from shore The vessel struck
the steamer AT the midships gangway on the
larboard side, tie two separated instantly and
the Augusta dropped by in the darkness. At
the moment of the collision there was music
and dancing in the forward cabin. In an in
slant after the crash all was still, and in half
an hour the steamer sunk. passed through
the cabin the ladies we're pale but silent
There was not cry nor Shrek no sound
but rush of steam and surge Of heavy seas
whether they we're not fully aware of the dan
ger, or whether their appalling situation made
them speechless, cannot tell. The boat was
lowered at once with the design of going round
upon the larboard side to examine the leak
There were two oars, bat just at that moment
some person possessed himself of one of them,
and We were left powcrless to manage the boat.
We succeeded once in reaching the wheel, but
were drifted away and thrown upon the beach
at Wineteka. Only two boats left the steam
er, one of them containing thirteen persons, all
of whom were saved the other bore eight
but four reached the shore alive. the others be-
ing drowned at the beach. Before / left the
steamer the engine had ceased to work, the
fires having been extinguished, and within
thirty minutes the Lady Elgin disappeared
The force and direction of the wind was such
that boats and fragments of the wreck were
driven up the lake, and would reach the shore
iii the vicinity of Wineteka.
As stood upon the beach, helplessly look
ing back along the route we had drifted, !
could see in the gray Of the morning objects
floating upon the water, and sometimes |
thought human beings struggling with the
waves. Sisned]
H. 6. CARYL,
Clerk of Lady Elgin.
No accurate list Of the number of persons
on board can be given, but the following esti-
mate is nearly correct Excursion party, 300 /;
regular passengers, so steamers crew, 35.-
Of these but SO were saved.
Capt. Malott Of the schooner Augusta, in
his statement, says when he discovered the
steamers lights, both red and bright, he sup
posed it to be from quarter to half mile
distant and steering between east and north
cast. It was raining very hard at the time
1--WE kept our vessel on her course, east by
south, until VIC saw collision probable, when
we put helm hard up, and struck the steamer
two or three minutes afterwards, just abaft the
pad,lle-box on the pert side. The steamer
kept on her course, the engine being in full
motion and heading the Augusta around to
the north side Of the steamer, VIC got scpara-
ted in about minute, when the Augusta fell
into trough in the sea-ail the head gear.
We took III sail and cleared away The anchor,
supposing the vessel would fill. After clear
ing up the wreck we got up the foresail.-
We succeeded in getting before the wind and
stood for land. We lost sight Of the steamer
Eve minutes after the collision
- Becman, the second mate states chat
at halfpast two a squall struck US. In five
minutes more the lights of a vessel one
point off port bow. l eang out hard port
The vessel seemed TO pay 40 attention, and
struck US just forward of the padtllcbox Oh
the larboard side, tearing off the wheel, cut
ting through the guards into the cabin and
hull. We were steering northwest by west,
point to windward our course wind at this
time northwest. After striking US the vessel
hung for moment, then got clear / went
below to sec what damage was done when !
get back the vessel was gone
When the intelligence of the loss Of the
steamer, with the excursion party, reached Mil
waulsee, yesterday it spread like wi!d-fre
throughout The city. The telegraph office was
thronged all day with the relatives and friends
of those on board, many of whom when pre-
sented with dispatches were in tears, and the
most int nse anxiety and excitement manifest
ed in the countenances of all.
In the First Ward of that City it is said,
scarcely home or place of business that had
not lost an inmate or employer.
All the survivors unite in according to
Capt Jack Wilson, the commander, great
praise for his bravery and daring throughout.
He was foremost in confronting danger. He
was drowned within a hundred feet Of shore.
Nearly one hundred persons arrived within
fifty yards of the beach, but were swept back
by returning waves and lost.
Up to nine o'clock tonight only twenty-one
bodies were recovered, most of whom have
been recognized by friends as residents of Mil
waukee.