Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-09-12


jumped off The main deck into the water to
help US WITH The boat He swan to us, and
We took him iu We lhcn halloaed for lihe
to be thrown TO us, but did not get it. We
seulled around as well as we could with one
oar for the purpose Of getting alongside in
the meantime continually asking for an
other oar or for line. But no attention
was paid to US. Finally some one threw US
an oar; but it was carried of by the sea. By
extraordinary exertions We neared the Elgin
some what when a man jumped of the prom
enade deck, and we took him into the boat
The wind then blew US away still further,
and we were prevented from making an
other approach. After lying off little while,
the distance between the Elgin and ourselves
constantly growing greater, we put the
boat before the wind, and with thirteen per-
sons, myself included, started for shore. We
saw the lights Of the Elgin after We had been
from FIVE 10 ten minutes away. She was
rolling heavily. After the expiration Of that
time, she appeared to sink between two heavy
swells. When we rose on top Of the wave
we saw her no more.
We got ashore near Wyneda about six
o'clock a. IN, worn out and exhausted by the
nights danger and fatigue. We supposed the
accident happened about ten miles from the
land. We had great difficulty in landing un-
der the bluff Our boat was capsized, but all
the party were saved. Alter an hour or two
another boat came ashore containing eight
persons. In landing she was upset in the
surf and four Of her passengers we're
drowned.
mingled freely with the passengers, after
we left Chicago, and am Of the opinion that
there were at least $50 souls, including the
crew, on board. After we set out the great
est good feeling was manifested by the party,
and dancing and other forms Of merriment
we're kept up until a late hour. When the
accident happened most Of the party had
gone to bed, though their may have been a
few still up in the saloon and other parts Of
the boat. So far as l was able to observe up
to the time of leaving the vessel, but little
fear was felt among either passengers or
crew. There we're not many cries or much
Wailing among the ladies Of the party. Our
going away was against our will With but
one car is such boat as ours, and in such a
sea, we could do nothing but keep our craft
L
raft being made, though one might have been
constructed alter 1 left the steamer.
STATEMENT OF THE STEWARD.
Frederick Rice, steward Of the Lady Elgin,
states that about half an hour before the col
ision he called the porter and directed him to
trim all the lamps. The passengers were
dancing at the time, and the lamps were
frimmad ot thair vnCt7oef TIL. ,rboIo
was lighted up brilliantly. In a few minutes
the wind and sea increased to such an extent
that dancing had to be suspended The lights
however were not turned down, but remained
burning brightly. Between two and half
past two the schooner struck the EIgin on the
larbOard side, about miiships, 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. In twenty minutes
after the collision the engines stopped Capt
Wilson called to one of the engineers to start
the engine. His reply was that there was no
steam.
Everything that could be was done to stop
the hole. Mattresses were put into it, and
planks spiked over, but without avail The
Captain then ordered the boats to be got ready,
and directed FIVE or six men to take the large
boat round to the hole and see if the hole
could not be stopped.
Twelve men frst jumped into the boat Mr..
Rice, by order Of the Captain, next jumped 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, 10 prevent them from
sinking the boat showed it of as far as possi
Bile. As the boat swung round the stern Of
the steamer sea struck 1t and carried it
long distance off. There was but one light
oar in the boat, and with this it was found
impossible to get it back. The steward then
called for the oars, believing that he would be
able to save five or six more people if he could
but those IN the boat could not get It. They
then put the boat before the wind, the sea
making clean breach over her every minute.
with great exertiOns, however, they succeeded
IN reaching the foot of q perpendicular CLAW
bank. One Of the men succeeded in climbing
up the bank, and let down a rope by which
the others were drawn up. They proceeded
70 the house Of Mr.. Gage, who with his family
dld everything IN their power to relieve the
sufferers.
The lights Of the steamer were very dis
-inctly seen by those in the stewards boat
until they were at least a mile distant, when
hey suddenly disappeared. The steamer
went down about twelve miles from land.
Mr.. Rice describes the scene on board the |
ieamer as one of the widest excitement and |
error. Passengers ran hither and thither. |
With alarm. Women screamed and clung to /
heir husbands or companions in frantic ter
or. For considerable time after the boat
eft the wreck, the terrific shrieks of the /
'assengers were heard above the bowling tenn
empest
A short time after reaching the house of /
lr. Gage, (which was after FIVE o'clock in the
norning,) man came in with word that
mother boat had come ashore and sWamped
lr. Rice and his companions, with Mr.. Gage,
astened TO the beach, where they found eight
ersons struggling in the surf. They sue
eeded in rescuing four Of them; the others
ere drowned. These four, with those in the
-eward's boat, were all that were known bv
le steward to have been saved.
rATEMENT OF 4. G. GARDNER, OF MILWAUKEE. ,
Had just lain down in ladies cabin when
'llisiOn occurred. Went out on deck, and
W schooner sheering off; then went to as
rtain extent of damage, and afterwards
.rrled down mattresses and assisted to throw
title overheard after assisting in breaking
zen state room doors, was obliged to force t
yeral ladies out and up on deck, as being !
frightened that they refused to make anV 1
ertion to save their lives. After getting i,
many ladies as possible, and flats to sup
TT them, remained on upper deck till the q
at sunk, and fOated away upon it, with e
IRE than one hundred others Deck after y
.rds broke into three RATS, leaving him A
tn about fifteen companions on the forward
TT Ot that number seven were washed !
before reaching the breakers and five were
there-leaving only three who reached
shore alive. Thind capt. Wilson did
rything that could be done under the cir
instances, and that the ladies as a general
lg behaved nobly.
sTATE,IEXT OF MICHAEL z. SMITH.