The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1860-09-15
TERRIBLE LAKE DISASTER!
LOSS OF THE STEAMER
T. "A DY ELGIN!
900 LIVES LOSTy
0s EDe,.sO,aa DMlu Snr4d!

We present below still further particulars Of
the loss Of the steamer Lady Elgin, which oc-
CURED Saturday morning last, some fifteen miles
north Of Chicago. We cut from Chicago papers:
STATEMENT OF ". W. BEEMAN, 2D MATE.
Capt. Wilson on watch-the Captain by the
side Of the pilot house, and | on the main deck.
About Q o'clock and 25 minutes the squat struck
US, and in FIVE minutes more we saw the lights Of
the vessel which struck US. She was point off
our port bow. l sang out to the wheesmen
"Hard a-yortr and the Captain gave the same
order at the same time. The vessel seemed to
pay no attention to us; she struck US just for
ward the paddle-box on the larboard side, tear
ing off the wheel, cutting through the guards and
into the cabin and hull We were steering N w
by N, point to the windward Of our course
Wind at that time N w. After striking us, the
vessel hung on moment, but soon swung off and
got clear. went below to see that damage
was done, and when got back she was gone.
Capt Wilson gave us orders to lower life
boat on the starboard side, and row around 10
the larboard and see what damage was done.
assisted to lower the boat, and the LIST mate and
myself got in. When the boat first struck the
water she was dashed under the guards and filed
While bailing her out fifty or more passengers
gathered on the guards preparing to jump in
astern until we could get the boat clear. She
partly capsized two or three times, and we were
kept busy in bailing. Wehad but two oars, and
with these we tried to pull back to the Elgin,
but we're unable to do 50. The sea was running
heavily and the wind was against W. We con-
tnued our efforts until we saw by the disappear
ance Of the lights that the steamer had gone
down. Meanwhile we o man swimming near
lis. and we picked him up; he was Eddy Hogan,
deck sweeper. There were in the boat besides
myself, the lst mate, man named Efforts, and
another Milwaukee man whom did not know.
When we left the steamer there was but little
excitement, and we did not suspect the fatal
character OF the blow The collision was severe,
but we had no idea that she was going down.
Can't Wilson was somewhat alarmed, but be-
haved as q man should with that great respon
sibility upon him. The night was at that time
intensely dark. The rain was falling in torrents
The lightning was vivid and the thunder inces
SAINT. We could not hear anything from the
Elgin until just before she disappeared, two
screams met our cars We were 1t no time per
haps more than quarter of mile awav. We
only knew that she had gone down by the dis
appearance of the lights After all was over,
we kept as near the spot as we could, in hope OF
picking up some Of the passengers or crew, but
we saw nobody. When daylight came, we found
we had drifted long way in towards the shore.
We landed near Wynetka. Striking the surf
We were upset and Effert - and the stranger
drowned. | was washed out from the shore two
or three times BY the retiring waves; but at last
managed to ascend the bank.
Is THE SCENE At MILWAUKEE. @
Our special reporter reached Milw aukec by
the earliest train on Saturday. The train arriv.
ed little after one o'clock r. ", amid a scene or
wild grief and confusion at the depot in that city
such as has probably few parallels. A thronp
Of two or three thousand filed every available
point Of nearness to the station Wives we're
there pallid to learn Of the fate Of husbands
parents of SONS, and children Of parents. what
! fearful sequence this to the hour when on nj.
day morning, to the music Of bands PLAYING. and
laughter floating across the waves, the pleasure
excursion Of three hundred or more souls. passed
out OF Milwaukee to return no more save a. mn
appalled, remnant Of the party 4 7.1i
There was no register OF the passengers down
from Milwaukee. Tickets were printed for the
occasion ana sold BY the Union Guards, and the
clerk does not know how many were on board :
He .supposes that ercfssire Of the crew tire we're
800. 3565aas#35 s4a#s9 ..s - 80
OF the Union Guards, Capt Best, forty ono
rank and file, and not six members. private -.
main alive; Of the Milwaukee CITY Band az II
musicians who accompanied them, there are hui
tsre survivors, Of the gay excursionists. their
female companions, wives and sweethcarts. how
few survive let the brief list tell
What wonder then that Milwaukee turned ont
her nourners BY thousands, and that NM Ia.
comes the chief centre Of sympsthy and Interest
From our reports, by the hasty Extras 81 Mi.
waukee papers, and later by telegraph dispatches.
We are able % answer many inquiries Of our
readers. II fitse iaetn5 ss@ iF1g5r A n D,
When the intelligence Of theloss Of tho steam.
er, with the excursion party OF the Union Guards.
reached Milwaukee, il spread like x:ld.fire thros
the city. The telegraph and Newspaper ofRces
wcrc thronged Ill day with parents, brosl,ers,
sisters and friends Of those on board, and the
Telegraph lines we're given up exclusively 10 dis.
patches concerning the disaster. Many Who pre- |
sented dispatches were In tears, and the most n.
tense anxiety and excitement was ma0ifeoscd In /
the countenances Of All. a AT a#s sFnt
Ladies' cana 70 inquire for husbands, childrsn |
for fathers and mothers brothers for sisters ~
some Of the scenea presumed. wero The saddes1 4
ever witnessed. Among ~ paaeenrers 49,
lsvsral maanheea Of IL coR&on sconpcN. 80, 4.
I've AZ tho citypolice. The military. Aremer - II
Ia the 6rxt ward there II scarcely hnrs. y.
place Of business but has lost some irmate -,
)mplOyee.