The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-14
THE LATE STEAMBOAT CALAMITY.
Farther Particulars Of the Collision He.
tween the Meteor and tho Pewnb on
Lake Huron.

Further Particulars OF the Collision Bc-
tween the Meteor and tho Pewabte on
From the Detroit Free Press August III
STATEMENT OF W. n. H. ErssErI..
At about half eight O'Clock the evening OF the
9th inst. "Wednesday the propeller Pewabic, Captain
Mckay on her down trip about six miles from shore,
son. on her up trip The Meteor struck lhe Pewabc just
under the pilot house, literally smashing up the bow.
per hour The crash was awful and frightening causing
the Pewabc to go down in the short space OF three or
four minutes A number were killed BY The crashing
tmbers and but few Of the passengers Of the Pcwabc
bad time to jump from her decks TO those Of the
Meteor the deck Of the Pewabc sank entirely on, Of
sight into the seethng waters The sight was most
terrible and heartrerding, and the cries and groans OF
the unfortunate passengers rose upon the rolling swes
lowered in due tme and q number saved from an TN
timely and watcry grave.
Several noble and heroic incidents occurred worthy OF
mention. One or two in particular, the most memorable
of which performed by Miss Ada Brush OF Detroit.
This lady, by her cool and determined efforts, not only
saved her life by expert swimming but that Of Mrs.
C. NJ Wright also OF Detroit whose husband sank down,
wiz. a lady cinging TO his neck Miss Brush saw Mrs.
Wright struggling the water some distance from her
n floating spar up her and thus saved her from the
melancholy fate Of her cherished husband. The mani
festaop Of such forude the part Of ladies' will ever
be remembered by those who witnessed the agonies Of
that dreadful night Mrs L. L. Mcknight, OF Detroit,
and others whose have not TRANSFERRED, displayed,
the awful OCCASION spirit and determination seldom
CAPTAIN Mckay was one Of the las, upon the wreck.
and leaving the sinking ship OF which he was so proud
He saved the life OF Miss James Of New York Mr.
Cleveland tho mate, worked to the last and cut loose
OF the cboats just the ifsed Pewsbc was going
down He wns one of the very last on board.
Mr. Mcknight did not leave the wreck until he was
taken by Of the crew and thrown on the deck or
The clerk Mr. Charles A. Mack, was one Of the first in
the eboats and would not rest until he had rendered all
the assistance possible in his power. He saved the sec
ond engineer before the boats got into the water ;.
Mr. Jackson, the engineer was trust tna,, and well
qualified for his position He stood manfully his post
and with his wife down with the boat The tears
that silent tribute will often be shed In memory OF
this valorous deed
STATEMENT or o. c. WOOD.
About haIf.past eight or nine o'clock on Wednesday
night while of Thunder Bay Island, and several mil
ahead deserted the Meteor coming up. II was raining
ut the time yet night very bright The prssen
gers all forward to the Meteor approach. IL soon
became evident that she would collide with The pas
sengers became frightened and rap TO the after part Of
the Pewabc for safety Captain Mckay gave orders to
have his helm put spor and the Pewabc had Just com
menced swing when the Meteor whose holm had been
put starbosrd into US, striking us almost squarey
IN the vicinity OF the pilot house. and cutting US down
70 the waters edge The confusion nj this time was indie
scr,babe They perfectly panic stricken Many
capped by jumping board the Meteor, while the bal
ance went down with the wreck, which sank IN less
than Ave minutes after the collision Some Of the per
employed on board the Pewabic, who had retired
escaped to the Meteor with nothing on but their night
clothes standing in the saloon door when the
Meteor struck to the after part Of the boat and
intended to jump board the Meteor but found the
distance great 20 make the attempt then got on the
hurricane deck with the same object in view, but had
scarcely reached that place before the Pewabc made a
fearful lunge forward and sank was thrown forward
with great violence and struck against the smokcppe
and the next instant found myself in the lake
among portions OF the wreck the cabin having
broken 70 pieces. I 10 lfcboat that
saw partially drifting, and attempted 10 get into " bu
was washed of by heavy and carried towards the
Meteor Entanged In the bulwarks OF the latter steamer
was the broken flagstaff OF the Pewabic. to witch chung
until rescued by rope let down from the Meteor
Captain Mckay, OF the Pewabic remained perfectly coo
and collected doing his utmost the passengers by
preventing panic lowering the boats &c. but a. his
steamer went down quick he was unable to do rs
much az he otherwise could have done The Meteor
manned all night In the vicinity OF the catastrophe and
| pcked up those Of the survivors who ahoat
pieces of the wreck About six o'clock Thursday morn.
ing the propeller Mohawk along aud the rescued
passengers and those Of the who saved were
transferred and brought 10 this city Nothing was saved
| from the Pewabc.