Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-09-12


Milwaukee,. She was bruised, and cut and
lame, aud sore, but bad a strong constitution
ana bore up admirably. Her companion on
the raft was a lady friend whom Mrs. Rivers
helped 10y allowing her to cling to herself but
Mrs. a. says, her friend said at length she
could hold on no longer, and feared, too, she
should carry Mrs. r. down with her. This
she would not do. She let 20 her hold when
pretty near the shore, and was instantly in
gulphed and seen no more. Very near TO
this small raft, and arriving at the same time
and place with Il, was n large raft with more
than twenty persons on it. Among these
was Captain Wilson. About twelve or thir-
teen Of these were saved and the rest drown
ed in the surf when within few rods Of the
beach. Capt. Wilson on this raft had behaved
admirably in cheering and directing the lit
tie company how TO hoist and hold doors and
loose planks so as to make sails and rudders
ofthem TO direct their course and hasten them
to shore; but sad to say, after all his skill,
GOODNESS and manliness in directing and cheer
ing others, WREN this raft broke up in the
surf near the beach, the gallant captain was
lost. Though fourteen Il believe) of the lit
tie company were brought in and restored,
the gallant captain sunk and was seen no
more. The persons rescued from these rats
came into the houses of Mr.. Sloat and myself,
and all were in condition to go to their homes
in the course Of Saturday. No sooner had
the thrill of excitement occasioned by the
landing Of these passed, than anxiety was
alive again with reference to several other
I fragments Of the wreck with people elinging
TO item. The wind was strong from the
north, and a tremendous sea was setting
southward. These little RATS with their re-
spective cargoes Of humanity were dancing
about upon the waves, but drifting towards
the south and towards the shore The COM
pany on the land was rapidly increasing in
number, all ready to do what they could, but
nothing could be done except to watch for
and follow the little RATS, and when any came
10 the beach, rush out and grab the persons
from them and bring them up the bank into
the houses, where they could be washed,
rubbed, dry clothed fed warmed and
J put TO rest in beds. All that were saved
from RATS were saved between the
| hours Of nine in the forenoon and Eve in the
afternoon, and between my pier at Winetka
and Speers brick-yard about three miles
south OF it, very near what sailors know as
| "Cross Point" The persons saved were most
/ say, they were not generally dangerously
| bruised nor far gone in exhaustion, or chill
! ing or drowning. Mrs. EyitsOn, the wife Of
Mr.. John w. Evitson, City Sealer of Milwau-
kee, was the only marked exception TO this.
She was very weak and very nearly drowned.
It was with the most skillful and assiduous
rubbing and appliance, by tine County Ply
sician and several women that this woman's
life was saved. She was restored so far as to
talk little towards evening, and was brought
10 my house to be with her husband, where
both OF them now are doing well. All that
were saved at and near Winetka went to their
homes or places Of destination last evening,
excepting this Mr. and Mrs Evitson. No one
who did not witness the coming in and the
landing ofthis couple can conceive of the ex-
citement on shore in view of it. They had
been watched by many eyes for half an hour.
At first we thought this man was carrying in
his arms a little child, then we SAW as he
came nearer that it was not a very small per-
son; then from the helplessness of the lady we
thought the man was holding in his grasp the
lifeless body of a friend. Near the shore she
slipped from his hold and fell off the raft
He plunged after her, got her, and mounted
to his post on the raft Ia part of the wheel
house) againi As they came near the shore
a brave and generous fellow rushed out into
the water and reached out his hand, which
Mr. Evitson grasped, and when those two
hands Joined, there was such thrill on shore
as no one tan describe Both were brought
IN, and both are now doing well, though she
is and will be for some days, in a critical sit
uation. All the houses along the Lake Shore
Road, from Winetka TO Cross Point were
made hospitals for the day. No one is TO be
praised to the disparagement of the rest. All
did.aahI[;- AIl cave themselves their hapseS-
comforting the rescued unfortunates.
There is one poor woman, my neiahbor
here, whose name, Mrs. Joseph Sherlock,
have not seen mentioned among the workers.
who yet has done heroically. With her ba-
by IN her arms she rushed into the water three
times and actually pulled out and saved three
drowning men. Her husband too, worked
nobly IN the common work. The steam tugs
sent out from Chicago failed to accomplish
anything, because they kept two OF three
miles out at sea, when the sufferers on their
trail RATS, and boards and timbers were much
nearer to the shore The life boats sent here
could do nothing. No such craft could live
on such sea. Absolutely nothing could be
done except in the way it was done-when
they came to the shore, seize them, and bear
them to the houses and take care of them
And this was done. The whole people Of this
lelghborhoOd deserve unspeakable praise for
-he energy, courage, mercy and generosity
with which they met the appalling emergen-
y.
iTATENENT OF N. ". BEENAN, SECOND MATE.
Capt, Wilson on watch-the Captain by the
ilde OF the pilot house, and l on the main deck.
About o'clock and 25 minutes the suuall
truck US, and In five minutes more we saw
he lights of the vessel which struck US. She
vas point OF our port bow. l sang out to
he Wheelsmen "Hard-a-pOrtl" and the Captain
ave the same order at the same time The
essel seemed to pay no attention to us; she
truck us just forward the paddle box on the
arboard side, tearing off the wheel, cutting
through the guards and into the cabin and
ull. We were steering N W by N, point
D the windWard of our course. Wind at that
ime W. After striking us, the vessel hung
n moment but soon swung off and got
lear. l went below to see what damage was
one, and when got back she was gone.
Capt. Wilson gave US orders to lower a life
oat on the starboard side, and row around
} the larboard and see what damage was
1ne. l assisted to lower the boat. and the
rst mate and myselfg got in. When the boat
'st struck the water she was dashed under
e guards and filled. While bailing her out
ty or more passengers gathered on the
lards preparing to jump in. To avoid being
NIX by this crowd we dropped astern until
. could get the boat clear. She partly cap-
Zed two or three times, and we were kept
sy in bailing We had but two oars, and
tn these we tried to pull back to the Elgin.
t were unable to do so. The sea was run
ng heavily and the wind was against u.s.
3 continued our efforts until we saw by the
appearance Of the lights that the steamer
gone down. Meanwhile we saw man