Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1860-09-14
Loss Of The Lady Elgin.

have heard of one of the most appalling
and destructive ship wrecks on record. On
last Friday night the Lady Elgin, the reg
ular boat, started on her trip from Chicago
to Lake Superior. In addition to the usu-
al number of passengers, large excursion
party went on board, returning to Milwau-
kee, and swelling the number of souls on
board, including the crew, to about four
hundred. About two o'clock a dark and
portentlous cloud arose, which resulted in
one of the most fearful storms of lightning,
wind and rain, of the season, but would
probably have been met and passed in Sc
curity, bad not the gallant vessel been rnn
into when the war of elements was at it's
height, by heavily freighted sail vessel,
causing so great breach, that she sunk in
less than half an hour in 100 feet water,
off Wynetka, about 5 miles from shore and
10 from Chicago. Of the heart-rending
scenes which TRANSFERRED from that moment
until the last victim expired-as we'll as of
the unavailing agony which will long lay
upon the hearts of the hundreds of circles
which have been suddenly broken by this
awful event, no imagination can adequate
ly conceive, although something may be
gathered from such narratives as our lin
its allow US to present below, which we Sc
lect from details so voluminous as to fill
more than our entire Sheet At latest ac-
counts, the probability is that the number
lost will reach to near 800 persons. Two
ladies from Watertown are reported among
the lost, viz: Miss Eliza Cullen, and Miss
Elizabeth Mclaughlin, both of whom, we
learn, have been employed here as teach
ers.m[ o l--.. g'#l-
STATEMENT OF NJ. E. SMITH OF ONTONAGoN.
| was asleep in the mates room when
the collision took place; but awakened by
the loud crash, and went on deck as soon
} as possible. The vessel with which we
colllded had got clear of us and Capt.
Wilson was giving orders to lower boat
to ascertain the extent of the injury but
when down, the boat could not get near the
} Elgin by reason of the waves and wind |
assisted in rolling freight to starboard, to
lift the boat over, and also in getting over
board some cattle for the purpose of light
ing up. But the water seemed to be com
ing in SO fast, that the Captain ran to the
J pilot house to see how she was heading.
Being told ''West;" he said That's right,
boys, get her to land if you can" He
then ran back to the cabin and endeavored
to arouse the sleepers. and get them on the
hurricane deck. Many of the stateroom
doors were fastened, and he broke them
in with an axe, exhorting the sleepers, many
of whom had been drinking good deal,
to rouse up and save themselves A few
of them refused to leave their berths, but
after a little time, greater part of the
passengers had got to the upper deck =
!. The Captain told each man and woman to
) get plank life preserver Gin which loops
!, of rope were tied) and prepare for the
worst. There appeared to be plenty Of
these, and some were passed down the
: sky lights into the cabins, for the use of
those who would not come out Most of
the passengers were cool and collected
Capt. Wilson kept encouraging them by
cheerful words and by assurances that the
deck would carry US all ashore At length
j surely not more than fifteen minutes from
tie first alarm-the Elgin began to settle
and reel as if for the final plunge A few
loud screams arose, and few frantic pas
sengers jumped overheard in hurry to
meet their fate. just at the moment when
the boat went down, sea struck her up
per works, and they parted from the hull
and tioated Oft In several pieces This
shock and the force of the waves swept off
several of our number /: but the night was
dark, and as all lights were soon gone, we
could not see who was yet safe and who
was gone. | foud myself on piece ofthe
wreck, perhaps 15X30-a portion of the
upper deck, the boards and ribs, or car
Inns to which they were nailed. In COM
pany with me were from 25 to % persons
and VIC had nothing to do but suffer our
selves to be foated toward shore Among
the pieces of wreck we found few cabin
doors. These we secured, and setting
them and our pieces of plank upon end
broadside to the wind, made them serve as
sails. Soon after setting out on our peril
Gus journey, We discovered another piece of
the deck, more deeply loaded than ours.
Capt. Wilson was on it, with two or three
others He came TO our float, and contin-
ued with us, keeping us in heart by his
words Of good cheer. After daylight he
busted himself in providing for the general
safety, by fastening loops to carlins by
which we might hang on when we came
to the surface. There were with us four
or five women. One of these had child
about six months old, for the safety of
which the Captain was exceedingly solicit
Gus. He held it when not otherwise en-
ployed. He had given it up but mo-
ment, to attend to some matter, when a
wave swept it out of the arms of him to
whom he had handed it, and it was gone.
This child and man and a woman were
all we lost. We spent the night in com
Paratlvc comfort. Tue storm was severe.
but we did not suffer greatly from the cold.
The water was warm.
about 8 10 o'clock We neared the
shore at Wynetka. About 200 feet from
the shore, our frail craft was lifted by the
surf winch was running in strong. and