The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-09-13
THE DISASTER ON LAKE ERIE.
From the Cleveland Herald, Sept. 5 !.

From the Cleveland Herald. Sept.5 s.
A collision took place on Friday
night, about halfpast IL O'clock, nearly
abreast of Dunkirk Light, between the
propellers Arctic and Scotia, by which
the Scotia was sunk, and nine lives lost.
From Capt. w. ii. Wetmore, of the
Arctic, we learn the following particu-
lars
The Scotia was owned by Capt.
Gardner, Of Buffalo, and was running
independently, belonging to no regular
line. She was built in ls47, at Huron,
Ohio, and was commanded by Capt,
Chas. Roscoe. She was bound from
Toledo to Buffalo, with load of grain.
The Arctic, Capt. w. III. Wetmore,
left Buffalo at nine o'clock on Friday
night. The weather was fair, and the
night not very dark. When nearly
abreast of Dunkirk light, some six miles
from shore, the lights on the Arctic all
burning good, and she running at the
usual rate of speed, and on her right
course, the light of the Scotia was seen
right ahead. Capt. Wetmore ordered
the helm of the Arctic to beput aport
one point, and ran short distance,
when he found the Scotia approaching
and the lights were not opening sufii-
GENTLY, he ported the helm another
point. The Arctic was then heading
West by South. BY this time getting
very close to the Scotia, and finding he
would be unable to pass her, the helm
was put hard aport, and the bell rung to
stop but Immediately perceiving that
he did stop he would run into her
amidships, he rung the bell to go ahead
again, hoping to pass her without dam
age, or at least with only glancing
blow. After making few turns ahead,
and seeing that a collision was inevita-
bic, he stopped again and Immediately
reversed the engines and commenced
backing. The Arctic's stem had pass
cd the Scotia, when she struck the Arc
tic few feet abaft the stem on the port
side, coming on with considerable force
at about two or three points less than
right angle.
The bow of the Scotia seemed to lit
orally crumble for several feet. Capt.
Wetmore saw the Scotia was in a sink
ing condition, and having no fears for
the safety of the Arctic, he Immediately
cleared his boats away for the purpose
of saving those OH the Scotia. "A por-
ton of the crew of the Scotia jumped
aboard the Arctic as she cleared the
wreck. The Scotia sunk in from seven
to ten minutes after the collision, car
rying down with her, Charles Hickox,
the clerk, two firemen, two deck hands,
the colored cabin boy, the stewards
wife and child three months old, and
colored woman passenger. We are un-
able to learn the names of those lost
with the exception of the clerk.
Capt. Roscoe, the balance ofhis crew,
and one passenger were saved. Some
of fthem were taken from the pieces of
the wreck in the water, and some from
the small boat of the Scotia.
Capt. Wetmore and the officers of
the Arctic did all in their power for the
relief of those on board the Inflated pro-
peller. The boats Of the Arctic patrol
ed all night around the spot where the
collision occurred, and when daylight
came the Arctic took several circles
around the scene, but could see no fur
ther signs of life. He then left, bring
ING those saved from the Scotia to this
port. Capt. Roscoe and crew left for
Buffalo on Saturday evening, and we
had no opportunity of having conver-
sation with any Of them.
The only reason assigned for the col
lision is, that the steering apparatus
of the Scotia would not work, and she
could not be brought around in time to
avoid the shock that sent her to the
bottom.
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.
From the Buffalo Express, Sept 5.
Capt Chas. ID. Roscoe, of the Scotia,
states that when he saw the Arctic APP
preaching he signalled her to pass on
the starboard side by blowing the
whistle twice and that she answered the
signal, but, almost Immediately altered
her course as if intending to pass
across the bows of the Scotia, and
struck her on the starboard side about
five feet from the stern, staving in the
whole bow. The Scotia filled instantly
forward and went down head first.
The Captain, one passenger and IL of
the crew were picked up by boats
from the Arctic and another propeller.
Mrs. Catharine Dickson and child,
and Mrs. Henrietta Harris, of Toledo;
George III. Hickox, clerk Of the Sciota,
two firemen, who resided in this city,
but whose names we were unable to
ascertain, and three colored hands ma
med Simeon Blaidso, George Lewis and
Samuel Carter, were drowned. Hickox
was last seen standing near the lady
passengers, and it is thought he lost
his life in endeavoring to save them.
He was a young man of fine business
ability, and much respected. He was
a native of Pittsfield, Mass, where his
widowed mother now resides. The
Scotia was wor'h about $4,000, and
was insured for $4,000. She had on
board 1900 bushels of oats, owned by
partiesin Erie 1000 bushels of wheat,
consigned to a. c. Winslow & Co. and
100 barrels of flour, consigned to III.
Niles q Co.
s5y Tt is estimated that Holland
and Germany have taken $3.50, 700, 900
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