Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-09-27
The Lady Elgin Disaster.


From the Chicago Press, September 21.l
Up to last night the coroner has held inouests
upon one hundred and forty-six bodies Besides
these, eight bodies have been recovered at Racine
and sent TO Milwaokie-six were men, one boy
six or eight years Of age, and one woman-two Of
which were identified as James Rice and ID.
Weeks, Of Milwaukie. A large number Of the
bodies sent to Milwaukee from here as unknown,
brought into Milwaukee on w edne sd day-one, the
body Of Mrs. Thomas Bohan, found by the Grand
HaveR steamer; the other was brought in by the
schooner Bonesteel, and is the body Of a woman
about thi five years Of age.
Three bodies have been found at Kenosha
MISTAKEN lDENrIFIcArIoN
A number Of mistakes have occurred In the
Identification Of bodies from the wreck of the
Lady Elgtn, some OF which have been attended
with no little trouble to the friends of the lost
strange one occurred on Sunday last over a BODY
supposed to be that Of young Comerford, Of MIL
a wauk,e. Upon tn, the ar, arrival Of the body at the
friends OF Comerford, and sworn to az his BODY
But few minutes bad elapsed, however. before
ano her party, friends Of Mr.. Pearce. claimed it,
believing 1t to be his body; and later still another
party, positive that Ii was the body of n man
named McAuliffe. After a careful examination
OF the body and comparison with descri ptions
the Pearce and McAulne parties withdrew their
claims, and the body was delivered to the friends
of Comerford and taken to Milwaukie that night
Arrived at that place, the body was placed In a
metallic case, and preparations made for the fu-
neral Every arrangement was efected-the mil
itary, OF which Comerford was a member Were
out, and the corpse would soon have been Inferred
when vet another party appeared upon the ground ,
and proving almost beyond a doubt that il was
the body of a man named O'Brien, triumphantly
bore IL away. The clothing and articles found
upon the body tallied very nearly with descrip-
tons furnished Of Comerford, Pearce and McAu-
life, with the exception that IL was finally ascer-
tained that both Pearce and McAuliffe had on
shoes, while on the body were found boots Com.
erfOfd 6uDnOnAd N hav hro - ~
worn pair from the house, and white socks.
while on the body were found two odd socks
The friends Of O'Brien, however, to prove their
claim to the body, brought the pair of boots Com
erford had worn away from home, and which be
had left at a bootmaker's, wearing away A pair
Of shoes purchased at the place, and also two odd
socks mating the ones found on the body.
Mr., LUMsDKN AND FAMILY.
One OF the editors of the New Orleans Picayune.
who Is now at the scene Of the disaster writes to
his paper as follows: =
''It was a strange accident by which they were
found in this boat AIR. Lumsden had been in
health, and had decided to 90 home by the way
OF New York. Arriving here early In The week
he had made arrangements to 20 round by the
Lake Railroad, with no thoughts Of excursions
with friend to visit public building In a sdis.
tant part Of the CITY, returning to the hotel, some
business called his friend out Of the direct course
and they came In sight Of this steamer, the Lady
tucH up lOf du excursion. visit
suggested, and an Introduction to the captain
followed, and In the course Of the interview an
invitation was given to the whole party TO ioin
In the excursion, with the hospitable promise, to
meet an objection az to the want of time that
fhsy should be landed at Mackinaw, and sent by
a pleasant route to Toronto, which they wanted
10 visit, within a few hours ride Of Suspepsion
Bridge and Niagara. 1t 10 related, as a melan-
choly foreboding Of evil, that Mrs. Lumsden,
fears that IL would not come TO good and after
getting on board and finding such large party,
instantly proposed going back! On this casual
change Of the route and the accidental sight of
the steamer turned the fate Of this whole family,
two generations, parents and child, bIotted out Of
existence. Upon what slender threads all human
fortunes hang :.
Lumsden has been saved Mr. Adams has in charge
He and the city authorities with him had great
difhculty In Wrestling II from the hands Of those
who rifed the trunks after they were thrown on
shore, and carried of the contents In some
instances the resistance was so strong that force
was neceasary; the plunderers made fght, but were
severely whipped. They were strongly backed,
TOO, by some long-shore rowdies, who seemed to
think the property Of drowned persons lawful
spoil, and ied to back up the rutfans In refusing
restitution. The restitution, indeed 10 still verv
imperfect. The spoil had been distri buted among
several gangs, In different novels, and as il IS
Impossible to know what IL hidden and who has
hidden Ii. the chance Of recovery Of a large part
Of the valuablss which Were known to be With
Mrs Lnmsdens baggage Is very slight.
A very small portion only Of the Jewels she In
Known to have had with hsr has been produced.
Though not by any means 80 large as exaggerated
report here makes it, her collection was fne and
valuable. Little has been found and IL is believed
that most Of IL has been stolen. In fact nearly
every trunk, bale, and package which came to
shore was broken open and pillaged and IL Ia mot
possible to identify the robbers Ii IL not the req
ular or known Inhabitants that are chargeable
with this Dissertation, but transtory coast foafers
and unruly men with whom the community has
been Pestered The real people Of the city and
country showed great sympathy with the su ff.r-
ers, and nothing can be more honora BILE and gene
rous than the conduct Of the people In this city,
In their personal exertons, and In the constant
and unwearied aid they have given to the friend.
Of Mr.. Lumsden In their searches The police.
the authorities, and numerous citizens have done
everything that could be imagined to make the
II has been, thus far, - Intellectual
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