Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1860-09-15
Terrible Steamboat Calamity.

Terrible Steamboat Calamity.
Sinking ofa Steamer wnh Three Tim.
dred and Fifty Passengers on boqrI
-Great L,ss Of life.
Chicago, Sept. S.-lhe steamboat la.
dy ElgiA was run into tbs morning ny
schooner, of Wank, gan, and sunk in
twenty minutes.
She had upwards Of $50 passengers on
board, including several military and fra
companies. Orly seuen!eea prr-ons
have been sa'eG 50 lar as known. Colo.
mel Lumsden, of the New Orleans Plea.
yune, and h's family are Supposed 10 be
among the lost.
sLCOND DESPATCH.
Chicago, Sept. s-Tbe terrible steam.
boat disaster creates sn intense excite.
menI here.
The military companies on board the
unfortunate steamer were the Black Va
gers, the Green Yagers aud a rifle com
panv. Also, several fire companies OF
Milwaukee, who had been on visit and
were returning.
The books and papers of the steamer
are ali lost.
After the collision with the schooner,
The steamer hoaled south 10 WlneIka,
where she soon sunk.
THIRD DESPATCH.
Hedrt.rending ParticuiGrS-the Clerks
Statement
Chicago. Sept. S.-The clerk Of the
steamer Lady Elgin, makes the following
statement
The Lady Elgin left Chicago at half
past Il o'clock on Friday night, for Lake
Superior. Among The passengers were
the Union Guard" OF Milwaukee, compo-
sing part of some $50 excursionlsts from
that city. At hal(.past 2 o'clock this
morning, the schooner Augusta, OF OSwe-
90, came in collision with the Lady FL
Gin when about ten miles from shore.
The vessel struck The steamer mldshlps
Sv the gangway on the laTboaId side.
The two vessels separated instantly, and
he Augusta drIned by in the darkness.
Al the moment Of the collision, there
was music and dancing going on IN HE
forward cabin. In an instant after the
terrible crash, all was su.l, and in half
hour The steamer went down. passed
through the cabins; the ladies were pale
but silent; there was not cry or shrek;
no sound but the rush Of the steam and
the surge OF the heavy sea. Whether
hey were not fully aware of their danger.
Or whether their appalling situation made
hem speechless, We cannot tell.
boat was lowered al once, with the
Iesign Of going und.uPon tho Iarboard
ide to examine the extent Of the leak.
There were Two oars belonging 10 he
,oal, but just al that moment some per-
on possessed himself Of one Of them, aud
We in The boat were thus rendered power
rss to manage IT, We succeeded, how
yer, in reaching The wheel, but were
uickly dufled away, and thrown upon
he beech at Wlnetka. Only two boats
ere left on the steamer. One of them
obtained thirteen persons, all OF whom
ere saved. The other contained eight
ersons, bot only iour OF them reached
hore alive, the four others being drowned
/ The beach.
Before left the steamer the engines had
eased TO work the fires having been eX-
The force and direction OF
he wind were such that the boats and lho
pigments OF the wreck were driven up
he lake, and would reach the shore IN
he vicinity Of Wlnetks. IS stood up
Il the beach op'Eessly looking back up
n the route We had dr(ted, could see.
\ the grey morning light, objects floating
pom the water, and sometimes thought
\ " human beings struggling with tho
,ayes. (Signcd)
IT, &. GLhRYL,