The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-09-15
The Loss of the Steamer sunbeam
of the Rescued Man.

The Detroit, Free Press has the following
particulars of the loss Of the steamer Sunbeam
already noticed by telegraph: s-,.r
The steamer was owned in Chicago, and
ran on Lake Superior. She left Ontonagou
just before the fearful gale of August 2sth.
The number Of passengers aboard is not know n
here, but among them, as has been ascertained,
was the Hon. Abner Sherman and son, and
Hou. Augustus Coburn, Of Ontouagop; Rev
Mr.. Berd and Mrs, Shepherd of Hancock. The
The oply survivor, Mr. Chas. Frazer, wheels
man of tho ill.fated steamer, gives the only
account that has yet been received and which
is such as to lead to the belief that all others
on board have perished. aa- .a .....', ~
He states that the boat became unmauage.
able soon alter the storm commenced. That
the fury Of the gale was such a. to hold it
down aud literally drive. it under water.
When all efforts to manage it sufficiently TO
gain port Of safety proved futile, and their
only hope rested in the small boats, the cap.
tain, crew and passengers, excepting himself
took to them and left, in hopes Of gaining
come place Of safety. After they bad left, he
proceeded to lash himself to the pilot house,
and while engaged in that undertaking was
chilled by the cry of agony that greeted him
from the waters. He looked in the direction
from which it came, and discovered but one
boat battling with the waves. The others
bad swamped and launched their living freight
into q watery grave, and almost Immediately
the last boat was seen TO disappear from view,
not again TO rise with its ill.fated crew. al
He succeeded in lashing himself to the pi.
lot house, and quietly resigned bis life to
chance. The boat now went down, disenga
gipg the pilot house in its struggles, which
hoated off with the last survivor OF those who
went hopefully on their journey but short
time before, little imagining that their last
look at home aud friends was taken when they
parted to trust their lives to the deep in that
unfortunate steamer. a
While Mr. Frazer was being tossed about by
tho rolling seas, he discovered demijon that
danced about him as il 10 mockery of bis per.
il. His whole desire was to grin possession
Of that aaricle. Nearly iusonsible from cold
and fatigue, he finally SUCCEEDED in seizug it,
and was overjoyed TO find il contained port
wine. Upon the contents of this demijon, 40
videntia!ly placed ia his way, he sustained
life until cast upon the shore.
For over thirty hours he was floating upon
this pilot house, and, during the night time,
his sufferings were intense. Seas continually
breaking over him, chilled and benumed, with
no nourishment except that furnished by the
wine, 90 knowledge o. bis position relative to
land, and the uncertainty Of being discovered
by passing vessels, as everything that could,
had undoubtedly u ade for port, where they
would remain until the fearful storm had sub
sided. Tbisaccumulaliou of horror overcame
him, and he finally succumbed to fatigue and
lost conciousness. ..,... ....,- 1,-,,.,,. d,
He next awoke upon land, alone, and too
weak to assist himself. But the fortune which
had safely guided his unwieldy craft to the
land did not desert him in his extremity, but
led to bis assistance. Ths captain of a coast.
ing vessel Mr.. -Hodgsop, with Mr.. Rice, who
were coasting along the shore, discovered him
but not until be had again reapsed into in
sensibicity. They took him aboard their boat
and carried him to Houghton.
Mr.. Frazer states asbis opinion that the
boat became unmanageable because the cheeks
or bustles, built upon the sides of The hull. to
eounteract an inclination to the crank, leaked
so badly from the strauipg and beating of the
heavy seas. as to gil and leave the vessel wa
ter-logged. 800.
an A yawl boat and oar belonging to the Sun
beam was picked up by the City Of Cleve.
land, on her way down This proves the fact
that the occupants Of one boat, at least, are
lost gto pait,sraf ori 81 asyiz o..it 'alatlsg a
1t is to be hoped some may prove to have