New-York daily tribune., 1865-08-14
Full Details Of the Calamity
BURNING OF THE METEOR.
NO LIV ES l. 0 S Il
E,om IN. Detroit Tibune Of Friday.

II becomes our painful duty TO record the oc-
onrrence of the most appalling disaster that mas asrx
eDed the records Of the Western lakes iof
On Wednesday night about 81 o'clock, the me
Pewsbo Capt George Mckay. on her way dowh ir9n 9a.
Lake Superior 10 this port. when abreast 0i lhu Sd
Bay Island and about six miles from the Light eoasJJ
with the propeller Meteor, Capt Wilson, uP~s,u
bound by which the Pewabio was Immediately SUNK;
The evening was tOeraby clear one, aithou8n nau
been somewhat rainy and the lights Oh eacn seaIGI M
were dscernibe by the other at the distance OF BIZ
miles moderate breeze prev allied and the water was
rough The course Of the Pewabic was on the sde to
ward the shore aud that OF the Meteor on the opposite
tack by which they would steer clear OF eacn otner.
The movements OF each steamer were plainly oO-
served by the crew as well as passengers upon the
other and the Of their coming together under snch
circumstances cannot be explained except on the ny
nothesis of an almost unaocountabe blunder on the
mart of some one When Capt Mckay saw COLLISION
appeared inevitable. he blew his whistle 40 sigma 10
the other boat TO keep out OF the way whcn sna 30
far as is known, was not responded TO- He then or.
dered bis wheel 10 put TO stsrboard which would tend
tAput of danger by taking his boat fnrther 10
toward the shore. From all that We can gsthef ~ IS
rendered probable that the wheelsmn Of the Meteor.
not havng properly understood his orders or Oy ms
take vi kind put his wheel TO port instead Oh the
contrcry direction which ne oagnt 70 nave G ors
side Of the Pewabc and the fact Of striking the latter
10 sqlarely in the side wonld seem 10 conhrm tns
theory OF the Of the catastrophe afhoneh
os-ibe that full investigation NAV present the snair
In different. phase .Sr ~ some particulars are con-
cerreJ
The bows Of the Meteor. which are long and sharp.
struck the Pewsbc almost at night angles uhuer ths
pilot house opening her 10 the width OF IL or 10 ieel
and cutting her down to the waters edge. There
were we're probably least 80 persons on board in
cluding the crew, and CONSERVATION ana disnay ~
once fe like palsy upon hearts which only few brei
moments before overfowed with Trth aud giaanesr'
The scene was which beggars description Dut sss
soon over Within four minutes OF the collision the
Pewabic sunk carrying down with her from ~ W ioV
persons as nearly az the number can be ascertained
Many Of those the bows Of the fsted steamer nad
the presence of mind TO jump upon the deck OF we
Meteor; others were saved rom drowning os ,ne
heroic exerons of friends and many were subsequont
ly picked up by the boats Of the Meteor As there
we're two or three sail vessels In the neighborhood 1t is
lost have been picked up by them but as the Meteor
remained near the OF the disaster to pick up all
that could be found. this is like hoping against hope
Iuasmuch as the statements below comprise full ac
The sad fate Of Mr. Calvin NJ Wright Of this city win
he depored by hosts Of sympathizing friends. Mrs.
Wright owes her preservation 10 the almost superhn
man exertons OF Miss Addie Brush OF this city. Mr.
J.. l.. Mcknight one Of the proprietors Of the bne,
manifested great courage and presence OF mind SAVING
the lives Of a humber of passengers
Ifthe accident had occurred few hours later nearly
all would have been wrapped IN sleep. and very few
wond have bcen spared 10 recount the fearful tale.
The following is a statement made by Mr. Russell. the
Secretary OF the meeting Of the survivors held on the
Mohawk which steamer brought them down 10 the
city The generous conduct of the officers OF the Mo
hawk appropriately referred to In the proceedings OF
the meeting, which are given below.
STATEMENT OF Mr.. RUSSELL.
About - on Wednesday evening, 9th inst. the pro-
peler Pewabic Capt. Mckay on her down trip, about
eight miles from shore came in collision with the Me-
teor Capt. Wilson, on her upward voyage. The Meteor
struck the Pewabic Just under the pilot house literally
up her bow. The boats were running at the
rate Of about 2 miles an hour and the crash was awful
causing the Pewabic to down in the short space OF
three or four minutes number were killed by the
crashing timbers. But fw OF the passengers Of the
Pcwabic had time TO jump from her decks upon those
OF the Meteor ere the wreck OF the Pewablc sunk en-
rcy out OF sight beneath the seething waters. The
SIGHT wis terrible and hearrending the cries and
gfoans OF the unfortunate passengers rose upon the
rolling sweDs of the sureins bllows The life boats OF
the Meteor were lowered In due time and a number
sayol from untimely and wstefy graves.
Mr. jackson. the engineer, was trnsty man. and
was well calculated for the position he stood man,
boat The tear that silent tribute. will often be shed
In honor hf his yalorous deed.
The steward pilot. each aud all OF the crew. merit
and will ever have best wishes and respect.
The night was foggy and forbdding yet at the time
and before the collision occurred. they were seen
respccti ,ey by each SIX miles of. There about
ls5 or 30 passengers on the Pewabc We have tine
OF - the passengers saved and % Of the crew
We are unable to ascertain the number OF hVes
lost as IL can be estimated 1t Is supposed to be
about 10
The Meteor remained near where the wreck sunk
until morning. in order To pick up the floating bodies
The Mohawk passing down. was signaled and promptly
came 10 the rescue. The pumps OF the Meteo! were
worked for safety and precsutoD, AZ she had sustained
a
the boats cruised around among the floating debris to
pick up passengers but so long time had elapsed that
none were found. The leak was eifeotualy checked,
ard she passed on her way up 10 Portage Lake. The
Mohawk with the survivors of the Pewsbic, came on
TO this city The officers Of the Mohawk have many
hearty thanks for their timely assistance Capt Gibson
is courteous and efficient officer well calculated to
command boat upon the blue and rolling waters OF
the Great Lakes MAY he meet with unlimited Success
and may the waters Of LAKE Huron never again receive
such precious cargo.
HEROIC DEEDS.
Several noble and heroic incidents occurred worthy
II mention. two in particular, the most memor-
able OF which performed by Hiss Ada Brush "a
daughter OF f. A. Brush. of this city) This lady
by her cool and determined efforts, not only saved her
own life by expert swimming, but that OF Mrs. L. N
Wright. whose husband was drowned with lady cling
ing TO his neck. Miss Brush saw Mrs. Wright strng-
Cling IN the water some distance fIom her, and with
great presence of mind she swan to her rescue pushed
floating spar up 10 her, and thus saved her nom the
terrible tate Of her beloved husband: The manifesto
tion OF such ortude on the part OF this lady will oe
ever remembered by those who were Witnesses Of the
terrible catastrophe. Mrs. L. Mcknight Of this city.
and others whose names have not come 70 hand also
splayed spirit of determination seldom witnessed.
Capt. Mckay was one of the last upon the wreck,
and upon leaving the sinking vessel OF which he Wa
proud he saved the lie oi MISS S d n
oose one of the life boats Just the ilfaed Pewabic
went down. He was one Of the last on board
Mr. Mcknight did not leave the wreck until he was
taken by Of the crew and thrown upon Ias aees
A Nsctwas ono OF the first In the lite boat and
I a. No, resi- until he had rendered all the aid that
os nossibo He saved the engineer before the boats
we're got into the water.
STATEMENT OF OBADIAH C. WOOD.
Phis morning called upon Mr. Obadiah e. Wood,
coIored man residing at No 2l3 Congress-s who oc
,uniod the position OF barber on board the lfsted
pew able He makes the following statement: About
u or oclook on Wednesday night, while on thunder
ay Island aud several miles ahead we deserted the
Heteor coming up 1t raining at the time yet the
tight was very bright the passengers all went forward
q geo the MetoOr approaehi II soon Deeame evldent