Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-09-28
INCIDENTS OF THE DISASTER ON
LAKE MICHIGAN.

/ In less than one-half hour after the coli-
sion, the hull of the steamer sunk, leaving
/ the upper deck floating with such ofthe passen
/ gers thereon as had not already left the
! steamer in small boats, nor jumped into the
! water with life-p preservers, doors, boxes, &c.
/ Not q large proportion of those on board
| perlshed at once. it is believed; for at day
break, for miles along the coast, at various
| distances from the shore, could be seen more
than hundred persons cllnsing to doors,
| boxes, RATS, &c.
One boat, containing thirteen persons,
landed first, all safe, at about six O'Clock in
/ the morning. The only other boat which
/ survived the storm, started with eight per-
sons, but as it neared the shore was cap
sized in the surf, which was rolling heavily
and breaking in thunder aloug the beach
OF these eight, only four reached the shore
alive. \ portion Of the deck, containing
nearly fifty persons, including Captain Will
son, h0atcd, by means of doors which were
held up for sails, to within hundred yards
from shore but when it reached the surf it
was overturned, and nearly all, including
the gallant Captain, periShed, within hail
ing distance OF hundreds who had gathered
on the beach. bUt were pOwcrlesS to aid
them
James Eyson Of Milwaukee, after the
boat had sunk, found the roof Of the pilot
house, stout frame covered with canvass.
Upon this be secured bis wife. As they
drifted in towards the shore, he was seen by
those on the beach holding her in one arm,
while with tie other he held himself fast 20
the frame. Repeatedly the waves broke over
and submerged Jhcm both. Still they drift
cd on and pissed the outer breakers, but
when within about two hundred feet of the
shore their rIi,. from some projection be-
meath, touched ground and stopped, while
wave after wave dashed over them, burying
them out Of sight. Once huge wave tore
her from his arms lie instantly left his raft,
spranS to her, and seizing her in his arms,
struggled back through the surge and placed
her beside him on the pilot house, almost
dying, as he was, with exhaustion
Seeing the noble fellows bravery. Edward
Spencer, "a student Of Evanston Seminary,
perhaps the most brave Of all .hc rescuers,
having rope tied fast about his waist, dashed
into the surf; but several times he was wash
ed back by the waves: Selling the proper
time he followed a retrcatIng roller, and
succeeded in getting with short distance
of the pilot house, when the husband, clasp
ing his wife in one arm, struck out for dear
life towards the IeScuer. whose extended
hands barely ciasued the arms Of the strug-
Cling man before an immense wave. which Il
moment sooner woGld have swept him away
forever, with his precious burden. buried
them all, bat the strong hands Mt the other
end Of the rope soon brought the brave young
man and the heroic pair out Of the surt to-
gether.
Miss Rivers was abcd when the boats
struck; should judge there were $50 pers1us
on board the boat, which sunk in fifteen or
twenty minutes after the accident. When
near the shore the raft broke again, and u
piece striking the captain knocked him into
the water. and he never rose again. just
before this captain spoke TO me dnd told me
to hang on, as had suffered too much 20 be
drowned now The narrat0r'S arms, face
and body are badly bruised. 1t was mira
Gle that she was saved. There was vessel
in sight about three while the passengers
were on the raft, but she did not approach
to their assistance.
rs fast as the bodies were recovered, they
were conveyed ID the marshal's Office. Twen-
ty-two bodies were stretched upon the floor
in rows.
One sweet child, about six years Of age,
CdNDNg ohA Nu4lo IL uidEtlc. HdQ cmlttU III
dying, and death had daguerrOtyed that
smile upon its beautiful face There it lay
upon one side, a beautifully formed girl,
with long, black dishevelled hair, and on
the other large, strong, grey haired man,
his lips firmly set, his eyes staring ghastly,
and his fists tightly clenched, as if he had
fought long and stout fight for his life. 1t
was fearful picture Of death
ba Of hr sod l.
bruised and bloody, caused, perhaps, by be-
ing thrown with violence against the shores
or being dashed against the RATS or float,
to which they cIung for life. some of the
faces were placid and tranquil, others were
distorted To the wrists of some were at
tached strong cords, by which apparently
they had been lashed to floats. The women
had no clothing save their skirts and che
mlses, appearing to have been aroused from
sleep only to meet their death