Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-08-18
TERRIBLE AecIDEMT ON LAKE HURoH-sTEAMER
.PEWABIG ~SUHK-sEVERTY 10 ONE HUNDRED
LIVES LIST.

,PEWABle SUHK-sEVEHTY 70 ONE HUNDRED
LIVES LOST.
Dispatches received last Friday an
uounced the collision of two propellers
the Meteor and Pewabic-on Lake
Huron, Wednesday night We lind the
details of the dreadful disaster in the
Detroit Tribune of Friday evening. The
fine Propeller Pewabic was bound down
from Lake Superior, and the Meteor on
an upward trip:
The evening was a tolerably clear one
although it had been somewhat rainy, and
the lights of each steamer was observable
by the other at the distance of six miles.
A moderate breeze prevailed and the wa
ter was rough. The course of the PeWa-
bic was on the side toward the shore, and
that of the Meteor on the opposite track,
by which they would steer clear of each
other. The movements of each steamer
were plainly observed by the crew as we'll
as passengers upon the other, and the fact
of their coming together under such cir
cumstances cannot be explained, except
on the hypothesis of an almost unaccoun-
table blunder on the part of some one
When Captain McCay saw that a collie
sion appeared inevitable, he blew his
whistle as a signal to the other boat to
keep out of the way, which signal, so far
as is known, was not responded to. He
then ordered his wheel to be put to star
board, which would tend to put her out
of danger by taking his boat farther In
toward the shore. From all we can gath
er, it is rendered probable that the wheels
man of the Meteor, not having probably
understood his orders, or by mistake of
some kind put his wheel to port, instead
! of the contrary direction, which he
his bows in a direct line with the port side
of the Pewabic, and the fact of striking
the latter so squarely in the side would
seem to confirm this theory of the cause
of the catastrophe; although it is possible
that a full investigation may present the
affair in a different phase so far as some
particulars are concerned. The bows of
the Meteor, which are long and sharp,
struck the Pewabic almost at right angles
under the pilot house, opening her to the
width of twelve or fifteen feet, and ut
ting her down to the waters edge. There
were probably at least $50 persons on
board. including the crew, and consterna-
ton and dismay at once fell like palsy
upon hearts which only a few brief mo-
ments before overlooked with mirth and
| gladness. The scene was one which beg
gars description, but was soon over
Within four minutes of the collision the
Pewabic sunk, carrying down with her
from seventy to one hundred persons, as
nearly as the number can be, estimated
Many of those on the bows of the Il-fa-
ted steamer had the presence of mind to
jump upon the deck of the Meteor; 9TH
ers were saved from drowning by the he
roic exertions of friends, and many were
subsequently picked up by the boats Of
the Meteor. AS there were tWo or three
sail vessels in the neighborhood, it IS pos.
sible that a few of those now numbered
among the lost have been picked up by
them, but as the Meteor remained near
the scene of the disaster to pick up all
that could be found, this is like hoping
against hope. rea
STATEMENT OF MR.. H. H. RUSSELL.
From a statement of Mr.. Russell, one
of the passengers, we make the following
extracts: 3 a saaa s.
The sight was terrible and heartrending,
as the cries and grOans of the unfortu-
nate passengers rose upon the rolling
sWells of the surging pillows. The life
boats of the Meteor were lowered in due
time and a number saved from untimely
and Watery graves. r 4
Mr.. jackson, the engineer, was a trus-
ty man, and was we'll calculated for the
position. He stood m~anfully at his post,
and, with his wife, went down with the
boat. The tear, that silent attribute, will
often be shed in honor of his valorous
deed. 3ga4sus 1i55 ab
INT uIRAb Was IOSgy ana IOFDlQQlQg,
yet at the time and before the collision
occurred, they were seen respectively by
each other six miles of. There were
about 175 or 100 passengers on the Pc
Wabic. We nave the names of IS of the
passengers saved, and % Of the crew.
The Meteor remained near where the
wreck sank until morning, IN order to
pick up the floating bodies. The Mo
hawk passing down, was signaled, and
promptly came to the rescue. The pumps
of the Meteor were worked for safety
and p~recaution, as she had sustained a
slight injury from the shock. As soon as
1t was light, the boats cruised around
among the floating debris to pick up pas
sengers, but so long a time had elapsed
that none were found. The leak was eff
fectually checked, and she passed on her
way up to Portage Lake. The Mohawk,
with the survivors of the PeWabic, came [
on tothis city. The officers of the Mohawk
have many hearty thanks for their timely
assistance.
The Pewabic and Meteor both belong
to the Pioneer Lake Superior line, Messrs.
j. l.. Whiting & Co., managers. The
Pewabic was built in Cleveland by Peck
Il Masters, andcame out in October, 1868,
but was not entirely finished until the
spring of 1864. She was a craft of fine
sea-going qualities, and was superbly fin
ished and furnished, being valued at
about $780, 00. She is insured in four
or five different companies for IN aggre-