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

tent OF the injury; but when down, the boat
could not get near the engine by reason of the
waves and the wind | assisted in rolling
freight to the starboard, to list the boat over,
and also in getting overheard some cattle for
the purpose of lighting up. But the water
seemed TO be coming in 80 fast that the Cap
tain ran TO the pilot house to see how she was
heading. Being told "West" he said, "That 5
right, boys; get her in to land if you can
He then ran back TO the cabin and endeavored
TO arouse the sleepers and get them on the
hurricane deck. Many Of the state-room
doors we're fastened, and he broke them in
with an Ak, exborling the sleepeFs, many Of
whom had been drinking q good deal, to
rouse up and save themselves. A few Of them
refused to leave their berths, but after little
| time the greater part Of the passengers had
got to the upper deck. The Captain told each
man and woman to get plank life preserver
/ (in which loops Of rope were tied) and pre-
pare for the worst. There appeared to be
plenty of these, and some were passed down
the sky lights into the cabins, for the use Of
those who would not come out. Most Of the
passengers were cool and collected. Captain
Wilson kept encouraging them by cheerful
words and by assurances that the deck would
carry US all ashore. At length-surely not
more than fifteen minutes from the first alarm
the Elgin began to settle and reel as if for
the final plunge. A few loud screams arose,
and a few frantic passengers jumped over
board in a hurry 10 meet their fate. just at
the moment when the boat went down, a sea
struck her upeer works, and they parted from
the hull and hoatsd of in several pieces
This was trying moment The snOck and
the force Of the waves swept off several of our
number but the night was dark, and as all
lights were soon gone, we could not see who
was yet safe and who was gone. found my
self on piece of the wreck, perhaps 15z20
feet--s portion Of the upper deck, the boards,
and ribs or carlins to which they were nailed.
In company with me we're from 25 to % per-
sons, and we had nothing to do but suffer
ourselves to be hoated toward shore. Among
the pieces Of wreck we found few cabin
doors. These we secured, and setting them
and our pieces Of plank upon end, baOadside
to the wind, made them serve as sails. Soon
after setting out on our perilous journey, we
discovered another piece Of the deck, more
deeply loaded than ours. Captain Wilson
WAS on il, with two or three others. He came
to our float, and continued with US, keeping
US in heart with his words of good cheer.
After daylight, he busted himself in prOvid
ing for the general safety, by fastening loops
to the carlins by which we might hang on
when we came to the surf There were with
US four or i've women. One of these had a
child about six months old for the safety of
which the Captain was exceedingly sOlioitous.
He held it when not otherwise employed. He
had given it up but moment to attend 10
some matter, when wave swept it from the
arms of him to whom he handed it, and it
was gone. This child and man and a wo-
man we're all we lost. We spent the night in
comparative comfort. The storm was severe,
but we did not suffer greatly from the cold.
The water was warm.
About 81 o'clock We neared the shore at
Wynetka About 200 feet from the shore,
our frail craft was lifted by the surge which
was running in strong, and completely cap
sized. The raft Wss broken by the force Of
the waves Capt Wilson, Mr.. Waldo, of the
National mine, Ontonagon; Mr.. George New
ton, of Superior City and myself clung to one
piece of the deck; but again striking the serf
were again capsized, and all thrown into the
surgiug waves l managed to strike the
wreck again, and Mr.. Waldo got on another
piece, but Mr.. Newton and Capt. Wilson were
seen no more. After much eEertion and ap-
palling danger, gained the land. Of the
twenty. eight on our raft, only eigbt-seven
men and one Woman-Were saved. The rest
went down within sight and sound Of safety.
l want to say that Captain Wilson behaved
nobly from beginning to the fatal close That
any are saved except those who came off in
the boats is due to him.
STATEMENT OF DENNIS GILMORE.
Dennis Gilmore, neWsbOy, who was among
the saved, came up on the cars, and was per-
fectly beseiged as he moved along the street.
sis.sa sIsElziFlEI iIrEIiniaa lsf him. He sRFs
and when the accident happened were about
Is miles from shore. The Elgin had some
200 cattle on board, besides lot of stoves
and other freight. But for this the vessel
would not have sunk as soon as she did
When the collision happened, they all made a
rush, and and the vessel sunk in twenty min |
utes The top of the upper cabin foated off |
and breakingin two was converted into a cou- !
pie of RATS.
got on one of the RATS There we're thir-
ty or forty on each raft. On our raft there /
were only nine saved. saw Oakley, the liv- /
cry man, clinging to the other RATS. Don't |
know whether he was saved. Capt Wilson
was lost. A good many started from the YES
sci in the boats of the steamer. When 1
came away they were taking the life boat to
the spot. Think Capt. Barry and son we're
lost. Think only three or four of the Union
Guards we're saved. Those saved on the raft
with me were Burke and wife, CriIly, John
Tim 0Brien, Tom Keogh, and
some did not know. Band nearly all
drowned.
got ashore between 10 and IL p. m.-
Think Tom Eviston stayed in Chicago but
lis two brothers came on the boat 1 saw
Milton Townsend and a drummer floating
lshOre together, but could not tell if they
we're saved.
STATEMENT OF EDWARD wESTLAKE
l was porter on the steamer Lady Elein.- !
We left Chicago on Friday evening for Mil s
yankee, shortly before midni ht. The wind t
Tas blowing hard from the Northeast, and a s
eavy sea running. There was large party
n board-fve or six persons to each state c
DOM, and many were sleeping on the floor. s
went to bed about quarter past two Ny C
ed was on the Main deck, near the after c
anyway on the larbOard side. C
had not got asleep when heard fearful o
rash. jumped out Of my room with my 81
ants in my hand, and pulled them on as 81
ent on deck. e,
1 went forwarl on the larboard side and a.
w a vessel at the after gangway. Some of d.
IT crew halloaed to her to send her crew B,
board, as we supposed she was sinking: but m
, answer was made to our hail, and we saw "
person. As she fell aft some portion of "
II rigging broke the lamp-room windows. ps
le soon was out Of sight l then went for of