Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-09-14

Additional Particulars Of the
Loss Of the Andy Elgin.
\ From the Chicago Pres and Tribune we
condense the following with regard to the
lato disaster on Lake Michigan:
The evening Of Friday set in with wind
moderately high, though not such Is would
have deferred the Elgin from leaving vet
it is still likely she would have lain BY but
for the return excursion party, who had
made no calculations on remaining over
Soon after she left, however, and scarcely
could she have got outside, heavy thunder
storm came up, about midnight, accompan-
led by an increase Of wind, which grew to
perfect gale. In such q commotion Of the
elements the collision took place, the sea
running high and the gale increasing through
out tho night and almost the entire of Sat
urday.
Frederick Rico, steward Of the Lady ElQin,
states that about half an hour before the col
'ision he called upon the porter and directed
him to trim all the lamps. The passengers
were dancing at the time, and the lamps
were trimmed at their request. The whole
boat was lighted up brilliantly. In few
minutes the wiAd aud sea increased to such
IN extent that dancing had to be suspended.
The lights, however, were not turned down,
but remained burning brightly. Between
TWO aud bali past two the schooner struck
the Egin on the larboard side, about amid.
ships, running her bowsprit through the
companion way and through the deck into
the hold. The bilge injection was started,
but the water speedily extinguished the fires.
ln twenty minutes the engines stopped. -
Captain Wilson called to one OF the engineers
to start the engine. His reply was that there
was no steam.
Everything that could be done was to
stop the hole. Mattresses were put into it,
ana planks spiked over it, but without any
avail. The Captain then ordered the boats
to be got ready, and directed five or six men
| to take the boat round to the hole and see if
it could be stopped.
| Twelve men first jumped into the boat
Mr.. Rice, by order Of the Captain, next
dumped in, placed himself in the stern, and
with the oar used every exertion to get
round to the hole. The passengers crowded
the guard ready to leap in, and the steward,
to prevent them from sinking the; boat,
showed it off as far as possible. AS the boat
lswung round the STERN OF the steamer .ea
struck it and carried it long ways off
There was but one light oar in the boat, and
with this it Was found impossible to get it
back. The steward then ca led for oars,
thinking he would be able to save five or
six more if he GOULD get back. One oar was
} thrown, but those in the boat could not gel
; it. They then put the boat before the wind
: / fIAxy cd or -
clay bank. One man climbed the hank, anC
let down rope by which others were draw
up.
The lights of the steamer were very dis
tinctly seen by those in the stewards boa
I until they were at least mile distant, whel
they suddenly disappeared. The steame
went down about twelve miles from land.
Mr.. Rice describes the scene on board tn
9 steamer as one of the widest excitement AM
y terror. Passengers ran hither and ;hithel
with alarm. Women screamed and chung t.
their husbands or companions in frantic terro,
n For considerable time after the boat left tn
wreck, the terrific shrieks of the passenger
c were beard above the bowling tempest.
, The scene on the shore until two P. NJ
when the last survivor was drawn out of tn
u surf, was one which the lockers on will neve
e forget. Of its nature the best proof is tn
If Tact that from forty to fifty persons save
. were less than one third of the number tia
came in from the lake to pass the fearful
gauntlet OF the line Of breakers, several hun
IS dred feet Oft shore, where under the very eye
J. and almost within hail of those on shore, tn
"a majority were seen to Perish. The raft
, would come into the surf, dip to the force {
q the waves and then turn completely over
y Again and again would RATS containing frol
', one to five or more persons gradually nes
~ the shore and then be lost where a stone
= cast would reach them, yet really as far frol
y human help as if in mid-ocean.
" No accurate list or number of persons Q
% board can be given, but it is nearly as 70
a, lows:
4 Excursion party, about sc
Regular Passengers, estimated
l. Crew Of Steamer, 3
nj Total, IS
There was no register Of the passenger
IL down from Milwaukee. Tickets were prin
he ed for the occasion and sold by the Unto
1t Guards, and the clerk does not know no
q many were on board. He supposes that e!
elusive of crew there were at least 800
'e OF the Union Guards, Capt. Barry, fort
y one rank and file, not six members, prvate
e remain alive; of the Milwaukee City Ban
, Of eleven musicians who accompanied then
:. there are but two survivors. OF the gay G,
- cursonists, their female companions, wive
y and sweethearts, how few survive let th
is brief list tell.
When the intelligence of the loss of tn
! steamer, with the excursion party Of th
Union Guards, reached Milwaukee, it sprea
II like wildfre through the city. The tele
graph and newspaper Offices were thronge
it all day with parents, brothers, sisters, an,
o friends of those on board, and the telegrap
/" lines given up exclusively to dispatche
r. concerning the disaster. Many who pre-
:, sented dispatches were in tears, and til
q most intense anxiety and excitement maui
tested in the countenances of al. Ladie
came to inquire for husbands, children 70
4 mothers and fathers, brothers for sisters
J, and some If the scenes presented were tn
saddest ever witnessed. Among the passen
gers were several members of the common
:, council, four or five of the city police, tn
military, fremep, &c. In the FIRST ward, i
;. is said, there is scarcely home or place o
: business but has lost some inmate or EN-
!, ployee.
~ Truly, politics make strange bed
fellows The following paragraphs from tn
National Democrat, new Democratic pape
just established at Eaton, Ohio, will show
: how things ale working:
KEEP IT BEFORE THE PEOPLE!
That the Douglas men in Georgia, Tennessee
and other States have united with the Know
Nothing party to defeat the regular Democrat,
nominees OF the Democratic party.
KEEP II BEFORE THE PEOPLE!
That, in he election just held in Kentucky
the Douglas men united with the Know.
: Nothing party, and cast their whole vote in