The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-09-12

Fearful D.sasfer an Lake Mic h;c an-S.eaHl-
err Lady EIgin sUnk-Grent Loss OF Life.
The steamer Lady Elgin, Of the Lake Superior
line, left Chicago on Friday night Sept. Eth, with
Fr u. u to-HlorrCu

! The steamer Lady Elgin, Of the Lake Superior
line, left Chicago on Friday night Sept. Eth, with
about three hundred and fifty passengers or
board, comprising several military and FIRE COM
panies. About half-past two Saturday morning,
she was run into by the schooner Augusta, Of
Waukegan, striking her abafs the wheel The
steamer sank in twenty minutes, in three hundred
feet Of water. Capt. Jack Wilson, the commsI.-
der, is among tie lost. Col. +. i. LumsdeD, OF
the Y. o. Picawne and Family, Herbert Ingra.
ham, Esl, u. p, and proprietor Of the london
Wusra'1{ Icrs, and son, were CA board, and
are all lost. No accurate list o; number ot per
sons on board can be given, but the following es-
innate Is nearly correct Excursion party, three
hundred, regular passengers, fifty; steamers.
crew, thirty-fve OF these but nincty-eisht are
saved.
The Clert Of the Lady E.sin makes the follow
ing statement:
The Lady Eisin left the port OF Chicago at half
pas, eleven O'Clock for Lake Superior among
the passengers were the Union Guards of Mil
waukce, composing part OF some $50 excusOnisls
rom that city. About 2 O'Clock this morning
fhy scno5 @. Augusta, Of Oswego, came in col
Hsion VIII .Aa Lady Elgin, when about ten miles
FROM shore.
The vessel s:rucl; the steamer at tie mil-aips
gaugway on the iarboard sid. The two separa-
ted instantly, and the Augusta drittci By in the
darkness. At the moment OF tie collision there
was music and dancing il the forward cabin. In
an instant after the crash al Nas still aud III hall
an hour the steamer sank.
passed through the cabins. Tie ladies' were
pale bat silent There was not a ory, no. shrek
no noise buG the rush Of the steam and the sur
ging OF the heavy seas. Whether they were not
iully aware ni their danger, or whether the.s APP
pal,iua situation made them specifies, cannot
tell
Boats were lowered at once with tue design Cf
going round upon the larboard side 70 examine
tle lcrk. There were two oars, hui Just At that
uOmcH, some person possessed himself Of one Of
them, ard were left poweriess 70 mar age the
boat. We -aanccded once in reaching the wheel
bur gors Fitted away and thrown upon the bench
at Wruc.rkq Only two boats left the steamer
Oae OF them contained thirteen persons all Of
whoa were saved; the other bore eight, but
only four reached the shore alive, the other be
ing drowned Oh the beach
Before | left the steamer the engines had
ceased to work, the fires having been extineui7h-
ed; and i'll thirty minutes the Lady Elgiu di5ap-
peared
When intelligence OF the loss OF the steamer
wiih the excursion party reached Milwaukee, j.
spread Ike wiidf-s th-oughoa. the city. The
telegraph Office was thongcd al day with rti.-
tives and friends of those on board, Many who
presented dispatches were in tears, and most IN
tense anxiety ard t,c.tomeat was manifested III
the cy.utcuaac,s Of aH In the first ward of tlla,
city it is said that there i5 scarcely house o.
place of business that has not LOST some inmate
or employee.
Ali survivors unite ii according 20 Capt JACK
Wilson, the commander, great bravery and daring
throughout. He was foremost in confronting
danger, aad earnest for the safety Of his passcn
gers. lie drowned within one hundred feet O..
the shore.
Nearly one hundred persons arrived within 80
" wards of the hcsch, hut were swept back -
returning waves and lest.