The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1860-09-12
TERRIBLE DISASTER !
the Steamer Lady Elgin sunk by COLES
ION ia Lake Michiganl 8
OVER THREE HUNDRED LosTll

was run INTO ny tho sNhoVnOi h"S"S'', 0h
Waukegan, ut half-past 2 this morning,
striking her abaft the wheel. The steamer
sunk in twenty minutes, in three hundred |
feet of water. From three hundred and |
fifty to four hundred persons are said to |
have been aboard, among whom were
the Black Yagers, Green Yagers, and
Rifles and several fire companies from
Milwaukee, who were on visit to this
city. Col. Lumsden, of the New Orleans
Picayune, and his family, were also on
board, and are supposed to be lost. AT
the time of the accident the schooner was
sailing at the rate of eleven miles per hour.
The steam-tug Mcqueen left this mroning
for the scene of the disaster II. Ingra-
ham, member of the English Parliament
and proprietor of the London NeaOS, with
his son, were aboard, and are supposed to
be lost. After the collision the steamer
foated south to Winetka, wheresbe sunk.
The clerk makes the following state
ment: The Lady Elgin left the port of
Chicago at half-past ii o'clock for Lake
Superior. Among her passengers were
Union Guards of Milwaukee, composing
part of some $50 excursionists from that
city. About halfpast 2 o'clock this NOR
ming the schooner Augusta, of Oswego,
came in collision with the Lady Elgin
when about ten miles from shore. The
vessel struck the steamer at the midships
gangway on the larboard side. The two
separated instantly, and the Augusta
drifted by in the darkness. AT the mo-
ment of The collision there was music and
dancing forward in the cabin. In an in
slant after the crash all was still, and in
half an hour the steamer sank. passed
through the cabins. The ladies were pale
but silent. Their was not n cry nor shrek ;
no sound but the rush of steam and the
surge of the heavy seas. Whether they
were not fully aware Of the danger, or
whether their appalling situation made
them speechless, l cannot tell. Boats
were lowered at once, with the design of
going round upon the larboard side 10
examine the leak. There were two oars,
but, just nj the moment, some person pos
sessed himself Of one of them, and we
were left powerless to manage the boat
We succeeded once in reaching the wheel,
but were lifted away and thrown upon
the beach at Winetka. Only two boats
left the steamer. One of them contained
thirteen persons, all Of whom were saved.
The other bore eight; but four reached
shore alive, the others being drowned at
the beach. Before / left the steamer the
engine had ceased work, the fires having
been extinguished, and within thirty min
utes the Lady Elgin disappeared. The
force and direction of the wind was such
that tho boat and fragments were driven
up the lake, and would reach shore in the
vicinity of Winetka. AS Istood upon the
beach helplessly looking back along the
route we had drifted, l could see in the
gray of the morning objects floating upon
the water, and sometimes thought hui
man beings struggling with the water. d.
r. N. RIcE-Thirteen persons were
saved in the first boat and four in the
second, being the only boats not swamped
About fifty persons swere saved by float
ing ashore on pieces of wreck. Before
p. NJ. all in sight had got ashore. The
three tugs lay outside two or three miles
and it could not be seen whether they
picked up any or not. Probably they
will save some. NJ. E. Smith of Onton
agon, was on board; he says Capt. VIII
son behaved with the greatest coolnes
and bravery throughout. After they
were struck, and it was found they mus
sink, being ten miles from shore,he head
cd her on, and ordered the passengers {,
get life-preservers and the crew to breal
open the state-rooms and rescue the pass
engers, Soon after the engine wen
through the bottom, when she imme
diately sank, leaving the hurricane dec
and top-hamper afoat. This soon sepa
rated into five pieces, with several person
on each, besides large numbers fioatin!
on planks, &c. Smith was on larg
plank, with Capt Wilson and som
twenty-five others. Nearly all hoate,
and lived till daylight, but, when the,
got within one hundred yards of shore
opposite Winetka, the surf capsized then
and broke up their raft, and all but elgh
were drowned-Capt. Wilson anon,
them. When it beacme light four raft
were in sight, and great many noatin!
on pieces of wreck. Capt. w. called {,
the raft, and inquired if his southern
friends were among them, meaning Co
Lumsden and family, but they were no
to be found. David Eviston, of Milwau
kee,saved himself and wife. lie was see
by those on shore to lose her twice fror
his raft, TO leave it and rescue her, an,
at last got ashore, both nearly exhausted
Mrs. E. is the only lady saved.
II. Z. SARGENT.
CHICAGO, Sept. 10.
No accurate list of the number of pei
sons on board can DO given, but the 70
lowing estimate is nearly correct: EN
eursion party, 500; regular passenger
30; steamers crew, 30; Of these but 0
were saved. f,