The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-09-14
Terrible Disaster on the Lakes.
The Chicago Steamer ''Lady EIgin' Col.
lided and Sunk opposite Wankegan.
300 LIVES SUPPOSED TO BE LOST.

The Chicago steamer Lady Elgn" LEFT,
Chicago at half-past II o'clock Friday even
ing, for an excursion TO the head waters of
Lake Superior, (the last trip of the season.
with party of from $50 to 400 persons on
board, the bulk of them, however, excursion
lists returning home to Milwaukee, Coming
IN collision with schooner, at > O'Clock a.
M, when ten miles off shore opposite Wauke-
gan, ILL.,, the steamer sunk in twenty min
utes. in three hundred feet of water, and
nearly all on board were lost
II. {. Clary, the clerk of the steamer. makes
the following statement: AT about half-past
. this Saturday morning the schooner ..Au-
gusta. OF OSwego, Came in collision with the
Lady E!gin, when about 10 miles from shore.
The vessel struck the steamer at the midships
gangway, on the larboard side. The two YES
sells separated instantly, and the Augusta
drltted by in the darkness. At the moment
OF the collision there was music and dancing
going on in the forward cabin. In an instant
after the crash all was still, and in halt an
hour the steamer sunk. | passed through
the cabins. The ladies were pale but silent
There was not CRY or shrek; no sound
bat the rush Of steam and the surge of the
heavy sea. Whether they We're not fully
aware Of the danger, or whether their appall
lug situation made them speeches., | canno,
tell. A boat was lowered at once with the
design Of going round upon the iarboard side
to examine the leak There were two oar,
belonging to the boat, but just at that mo-
ment some person had possessed himself of
on IT hon nd
age the boat. We succeeded once in reach
ing the wheel, but were quickly driftcd away
and afterwards thrown upon the beach al
Wine,ka. Only two boats were left on tn,
steamer. One of them contained Is person.
all of whom were saved. The other held 5
persons. but onl V four of them reached the
shore alive, the four others being drowned a,
the beach. Before | left the engine had
ceased to work, the fires having been extin
euished. the force and direction of the vino
was snch that the boats and fragments of III.
wreck were driven Up the lake and wuuld
reach the shore in the vicinity Of WinetAa
As stood upon the beach. hupclessy locking
back upon the route We had drifted, could
see in the gray Of morning, objects floating
upon the water, and sometimes | though, hu
man beings struggling with the waves"
Capt. Malott of the schooner Augusta
states that when he first discovered the
steamers lights, both red and bright, he sup.
posed her to be from quarter to half a mile
distant and steaiing northeast 1t was rain
ing Very hard at the time. We kept our YES
sci on her course east by south until We saw
a collision was probable. when We put the
helm hard up, and struck the steamer two o,
three minutes afterwards Just abait the PAD
die-box Oh tie port S.Ge. The steamer KEEP;
on her course. the engine in full notion
headed the Augusta around north. alongside
the steamer. out they got separated in ahou,
minute. when the August: fell in the trough
Of the sea. All her head gear. jib-boom and
staunches were carried away We took in
sail and cleared away the anchor. surprising
the vessel would 81! Alter clearing the
wreck We got up the fore sail and succeeded
in getting before the wind and stood for land
We lost 81 ght Of the steamer in five minutes
after the collision.
Mr.. Beman. second mate of the steamer
states that at half past a. IN. the squal
struck US, and FIVE minutes more saw the
lights Of vessel one point OF over the port
bow. | sung out hard port The vessel
seemed to pay no attention and struck las
just forward the paddle boz, larboard side.
tearing off the wheel and cutting through the
guards into the cabin and hull We were
steering northwest Ey west point to wind
ward. Our course at that time was north
west. After striking us the vessel hung for
moment and Sut clear. went below To
see what damage was done, and when | got
back the vessel was gone
The party on board included the Milwau-
kee Union Guards. the Black lagcrS, the
Green laScrs and the Rifles. and several fire
companies of Milwaukee. who had been on !.
vi>i, to Chicago. and were returning home,
as the steamer was to call at that port.
No accurate list or number of the paSSen-
sc.s on board can be given, but the follow
Ing is estimated as nearly correct :-Excur-
sion to Milwaukee, 300: regular passengers
to lake SUPERIOR 50: steamers crew, 3d. in
all $50. OF these but % are saved.
When intelli gence of the loss of the steam
tt reached Milwaukee. on Saturday. it spread
like wilItire throughout the city. The tele-
graph Office was throngcd all day with the
relatives and friends of those on board. Ma
ny WHO were presented with dispatches were
in tears, and the most intense anxiety and
excitement was manifested in the countenan-
ces of all. In the first ward of that city, it is
SAID there is scarcely home or place OF bus
mess which has not lost some inmate or en-
ployee.
All the survivors unite in according to Cap.
Jack Wilson. commander Of the LADY Elgn' y
praise for great bravery and daring through
out. He was foremost in confronting danger
and earnest for the safety of the passengers
lie was drowned within 100 feet of the shore.
Nearly 100 persons arrived within 30 wards
Of the beach but were swept back by the re-
turning waves and lost.
ME. MoRRlLL'S VOTE. 1t gives Us pleas