Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-09-12
Details and Incidents Of the Disaster ON
Luke Michigan

Details and Incidents Of the Disaster ON
Luke Michigan.
The Chicago papers bring us further particulars
Of the terrible calamity to the steamer Lady Elgin
and her unfortunate passehgefs and crew. The
steamer, 1t appears, was insured for s34 ,Oo5
STATEMENT or Mr. Smith.
Michael E Smith, Of Ontonagon, was aiming
the number of the saved. He gives the following
statement of the disaster. He was on the Host
with Capt. Wilson:
life-pfeservers; think that most Of them did He
then ordered the crew 10 Ia axes and break open
the state-rooms, SO that none should be left In
them think that nearly every passenger got out,
although pulled one out we foated by the
stafe-room short time after this the engine fell
through the bottom Of the vessel should think
about fifteen minutes after the schooner struck
her; the hull went down immediately. leaving
the hurricane deck floating; great portion of the
passengers were on the hurricane deck when the
hull went down; the most Of them jumped Off
very soon, thinking that II would sink; the hur-
| ricane deck soon separated into ave pieces there
were twenty-five on the part on which / was-the
captain was on this there were some military from
Milwaukee and six or seven ladies; the other four
pieces went of with a number on each
awe held up cabin doors for sails and came
down smoothly as far as Winetka. When within
few rods Of the Shore the raft capsi zed some of
us got back on it-among them, the captain and
| big sea came and washed us OFF The cantain
was the last man on the float; heard him cheer
| Ing the passengers; another sea came washed
him OF, and he drowned. OF the twenty-four
who Were on the foat, only eight were saved.
.sAfter the nfe-boat was launched. a yawl
which was ait was launched. Two boats were
launched from the hurricane deck. knew only
TWO men on the raft.the captain and Mr.. Waldo,
the clerk OF the National Mine at OntonaQon
"When 1t became light in the morning, the four
rafts were In sight, and many floating on pieces of
the wreck. The captain called to each of the rafs
and inquired If his southern friends were aboard
o. hat fhay =
tFhe friends referred to (says the Times) were
probably Col. +. A. Lumsden and family, of New
Orleans and Nh. Garth and family, of Kentucky ]
The family Of MIR. l.. consisted OF himself bis
wife, his son Frank, and an adopted daue hter
| named Emma. The baggage Of the party was not
with them, it having been sent from the fremont
mouse In charge OF the Adams Express Company.
STATEMENT OF THE STEWARD.
Frederick Rice, steward Of the Lady Elgin,
says the dancing ON board was suspended half an
hour before the collision account of the heavy
wind and sea- but the whole boat was lighted up
brilliantly. Mr. r. describes the scene on board
the steamer after the collision as one of the
excitement and terror. Passengers ran hither and
thlther with alarm. Women screamed and chung
70 their husbands or companions In frantic terror.
For considerable time after the boat left the
wreck the terrific shrieks Of the passengers were
heard above the bowling tempest.
INCIDENTS.
IL is said that one man, a passenger, who was
saved In one Of the boats left his wife and child
on the vessel, and in his abject fright did not
seem 70 think OF them until he was himself safe
on land.
MIR. Eviston was with his wife on the pilot
mouse, and bis sole care seemed to be for her
w men near the shore huge wave washed her off
Into the lake. Her husband instantly left his
place and swan to her assistance. Selling her In
his arms he struggled back through the waves,
and by great exertlons succeeded in placing her
again 10y his side on the pilot-house Both were
saved WV
Edward Spencer, a student Of the Garrett Bib
llcal Institute, was especially prominent in his
efforts, and plunged into the surf with rope tied
around his body, thus rescuing several from a
watery grave.
The life-boat, In which were the two mates.
came In below Winetka. One of the boats from
The hurricane deck started with twelve passen-
gers, eight OF whom were saved. The boat upse.
twice. A lady and child who were on this boat
Were washed away once and picked up. They
Were washed of the second time and drowned
For fve miles along the shore the surf was filed
with fragments of the wreck. Furniture, doors,
the piano, carcasses Of cattle and fragments torn
from the boat told the fearful tale Of destruction
and death
John Furlong when the boat began to break up,
FOUND cabin door, with which he threw himself
into the water. A man who gave his name as
Tough, from Indiana, made his way to Furlonp's
raft which proved insufficient for both and
Cough refusing to relinguish his hold, Furlong
LETT 1t, and succeeded in reaching cattle men,
upon which he and a comrade reached the shore
Cough was lost.