The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-09-21
OF THE LADY Ell
~ I GIN DISASTER.
INTERESTING NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AND COW.
ARDI

The Milwaukee an 5Chicago papers of
Monday, bring additional intelligence in
reference to the loss of the Egin. The COL
lision took place between the Lady Elgin
and the Augusta, ten miles off shore, and
fifteen miles north of Chicago. The Elgin
was on her usual course of vessels going
down the lake. Her signal lights were
burning properly, and in addition to the
signal lights, the cabins were brilliantly
lighted up. In thirty minutes after the COL
lision, the steamer went to the bottom. The
schooner was then far out of sight on her
way towards Chicago.
THE STATEMENT OF THE STEWARD.
Mr.. Rice, the steward, says that the pas
sengers were dancing at the time, and the
lamps were trimmed at their request. Be-
tween two and half past two the schooner
struck the Elgin on the larboard side, about
amidships, running her bowsprit through
the companion way and through the deck
into the cabin. The hull of the boat was
crushed in below the water line, letting the
sea flow directly 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 were spiked over, but without
avail. The Capt. 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 from
the outside.
Twelve men first 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,
to prevent them from sinking the boat,
showed it off as far as possible. As the
boat swung round the stern of the steamer,
sea struck it and carried it a long distance
off, There was but one light oar in the boat,
and this it was found impossible to get it
back. The steward then called for oars,
believing that he would be able to save five
or six more if be could get back to the
steamer. One oar was thrown, but those in
the boat could not get it.
They then put the boat before the wind,
the sea making clean breach over her ev.
cry minute. With great exertions, however,
they succeeded in reaching the shore at the
foot OF PERPENDICULAR clay bank. One of
the men succeeded in climbing up the bank,
and let down rope, by which the others
were drawn up. They proceeded to the
house of Mr.. Gage, who, with his family,
did everything in his power to relieve the
sufferers.
The lights of the steamer were very dis
tinctly seen by those in the stewards boat,
until they were at least mile distant, when
they suddenly disappeared. The steamer
went down about twelve miles from land.
Mr.. Rice describes the scene on board
the steamer as one of the widest excitement
and terror. Passengers ran hither and
tbither with alarm. Women screamed and
chung to their husbands or companions in
frantic terror. For a considerable time af-
ter the boat left the wreck, the terrific
shrieks of the passengers were heard above
the bowling tempest.
THE STATEMENT OF MR.. GUNNISON.
Col. II. w. Gunnison gives one of the
most interesting accounts we have read, of
the disaster. After narrating the confusion
and excitement created by the collision, he
says:
We (the Captain and himself) then ran
below to the main cabin, and directed the
passengers to repair to the hurricane deck,
which many of them, perhaps $50 or 200
did. We were then requested to crowd aft
as far as possible. From this time was
near by the Captain at the wheel house,
until the boat went down. The boat by
this time was evidently sinking rapidly. 1
removed everything from my pockets of any
weight that would cucumber me at all, hav-
ing gold watch, keys, knife, money, etc.,
and threw them overheard, and had nothing
on now but my pantaloons and shirt. l
should Judge it was from threequarters of
an hour to an hour after the collision when
the boat settled to the main deck, a crash
took place, and the boat seemingly broke in
the centre, while the engine sunk through
the bottom. Previous to this, however,
and the last time passed through the cabin,
l shook hands with several whom I recog-
nized in the dim light, and bid them good
by, among whom were Frank Mccormick
and sister and Miss Murphy, who were
standing together in the forward cabin, and
there were number of Others whom re-
cognized. 1 advised them to avoid clinging
to each others limbs, as by so doing they
would be apt to sink together, and l told
Frank that when they went over, he should
hang on to the dresses of the ladies in order
to save them. That was the last saw of
them. They and those around them were
generally calm and self.possessed. There
was occasionally sob or moan, but no
loud demonstration. then attempted to
kick door off the captains state room, but
being barefooted, failed, ard then went into
the same stateroom and found nothing but
a.bureau, from which took small drawer
for my support.
| This brings me to the time when I went
up on the hurricane deck. As soon as the
crash took place, there was a very general
outcry, especially female voices. run and
sprang as far as possible into the lake with
the bureau drawer in my hands. was
drawn down considerable depth by the
whirl occasioned by the sinking of the YES
ael. A moment after ris;no IN the ton and