The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-09-21
The Disaster Oh Lake Michigan.

The Chicago papers have full particulars
of scenes along the shore of the Lake near
the wreck Of the ill-fated steamer, Lady e.
gin. We select the following from the Press
and Tribune:
When our reporters reached Winetka at
10 a. m, the surf was rolling in heavily, and
breaking in thunder along the beach,the gale
having risen to fearful fury from the north
east, and thus nearly on shore. The shore
there is an uneven bluff, ranging from thirty
to sixty feet in height, with narrow strip Of
beach at its base
The whole beach for three miles We found
strewed with fragments Of the light upper
portions of the ill-fated steamer, and out to
sea where the waves were rolling more hea-
Willy than is usually seen even in our Sep
tember gales, the surface of the angry waters
for miles in extent. as far as the eye could
reach, seaward, was dotted with fragments of
the wreck. and RATS and spars with what
were clearly made out to be human beings
clinging to them. At this time, 10 a. u,., va
rious authorities make out that from eighty
! to one hundred persons could have been
counted driving at the mercy Of the madden
ed elements, towards the high rolling break
ers and surfwashed beach and bluff whence
thousands with straining eyes watched their
progress, and with pale cheeks noted, as alas
too many met their fate in the waves.
Parties CT men were on the alert and rea-
dy for the work of rescue. Word was sent
to Evanston, and citizens and its entire STU
dent community came up in force. Atten-
ton was first directed to large raft coming
in steadily but bravely over the waves upon
which were standing a large group of human
beings, since known to have been some fifty
in number. Around and beyond it on all
sides were single survivors and groups of
two or three or more, but painful interest
centered about the fate of that larger raft
1t neared the seething line OF surf. With a
glass those on shore could see that the COM
pany on board seemed to obey the orders of
one That ladies and children were there
hearts on shore forgot to beat for ar instant
and then saw the raft break and disappear in
the seas.
! Ihehceforward the scene on the shore un'
til two p. M, when the last survivor was
drawn out of the surf, was scene which
lookers-on will never forget. OF its nature
the best proof is the fact that the from forty
to fifty person& saved were less than one-thirC
of the number that came in from the lake tG
pass the fearful gauntlet of the line of break
ers, several hundred feet of shore, where un
der the very eyes and almost within hail Of
those on shore, We saw the majority perish
The RATS would come into the line of tht
surf, dip to the force of the waves, and the,
turn completely over. Again and agall
would RATS containing from one to five O
more persons gradually near the shore an(
then be lost, where stones cast woult
, reach them, yet really as far from human
i. help as in mid ocean.
The scenes of these fearful hours woult. fill
volume. The episode of the saving of tn
gallant J. f. Evison Of Milwaukee with hi
wife in his arms was one that left few dr.
y eyes among the spectators. He had secured
himself and his precious burden to the sev
cred roof Of the pilot house, stout, octaso
:, nal canvas covered frame. As this came il
! he was seen upon it holding in one arm a VIC
s man. Again and again the waves broke owe
them and more than once both were sut
merged. Still they came on, passed the tir>
d breakers, and midway thence to the shor
= their raft grounded from some projection be
l. meath. There it hung, beaten and swept b
roller after roller, anG for minutes maxim
no progress, while the breathless spectator
e not two hundred feet distant, watched an
J. waited the result.