The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1868-07-01
The LAKE, ERIE DISASTER.
Collision of the Morning Star" and
Barque "Cortland."aF.
SCENES & INCIDENTS

ZOth ult., OF the steamer Morning Star
with the barque Cortland, on Lake
Erie, thirty miles from Clevelsnd, and
the lnss of twenty lives. The Cleve-
land Herald gives the following par
ticulars of the disaster: iE'.'
We understand that the steamer
was moving slower than her usual
speed. owing to the darkness OF the
night, when the collision took place,
but when she struck the barque the
crash was terrific. It was like run
mig AGAINST solid wall, the heavy
cargo of iron ore, and the momentum
of the two vessels coming together,
crushing in the how Ot the steamer,
as thougn It had been made 0f paste.
board. The barque was struck by the
steamer almost at right angles. Cap
tain Viger says the barque was not
seen until the steamer was right on
her. The first intimation those on
the boat had of the barque's presence
was hearing the hell ring, but it was
too late to prevent the collision.
Edward Mcdonald, a lumber mer-
chant of Chicago, states that after the
collision the officers of the Star tho't
there was no danger. The ladies
were partially dressed and were in
the after part of the cabin. Saw the
Misses Patchen; they were on the
stern. Said TO them, "I'll try to save
you" They were somewhat fright.
ened. The Star went down so rapidly
that Mr.. Mcdonald jumped over the
rail and called to the Misses Patchen
to follow HIM, but they did not. Mr..
Mcdonald slipped over on to the rud-
der and pushed OFF, his life-preserver
got round on the wrong side; he
reached a door and was in the water
about two hours, when he was picked
up by those on the hurricane deck,
where he stayed three hours until
picked up by the Rice. He thinks
Capt. Viger did his duty. After he
got off the raft-or hurricane deck
Capt. Viger said it was thick night;
that the bark had no lights ont, and
he did not see her until he got on top
too near to back; cut her through to
the waters edge and carried away her
cabin. The captain of the bark said,
II had just as good lights as ever
were carried. I saw the steamer and
kept on my course; rang my bell
three times, put my wheel hard up
just before they struck"
The statement of Mr.. T. X. Chase,
of Cleveland, passenger on the Star,
is the fullest and most interesting Civ
en- of the disaster. He was awakened
by the shock, or the ringing of the
steamers bell, and at once went out
into the cabin. Here he was met by
| the Misses Patchen, who occupied the
room next to him, and who asked
eagerly what was the matter, and
what should be done. Mr.. Chase re-
piled that there was probably no Sc
rious danger, and that he would go
below. and if. there was any danger,
would return and inform them. MIR.
G. then went on to the deck just aft
of the wheel-house, ON the starboard
side, and looking ahead could just see
between the steamer and the stern OF
the bark as the vessels drifted apart.
He then went down into the engine
room, where the engineer, Mr.. Wat
son, was standing at his with the bar
in his hand ready to start the engine.
This he did just as Mr.. Chase came
up. Mr.. Chase asked Watson =
whats the matter ?'' The engineer
replied ''That was a pretty hard
knock for somebody" Mr.. Chase
asked: "WeII, who got it, we or the
other? ?'' 1.-THE other one, 1 guess, >
replied Watson-"we're all right
The engine worked well, and on this
the engineer was satisfied. Mr.. Chase
after talking with the engineer a mo
ment longer, asked if the boat wa.
making water, and was told by Wat
son that he didn't think she was, or i
she was, it was a little and WoulC
make no trouble. Mr.. Chase, how
ever, noticed the sinking of the bow
gradually, and going up to the cabir
told the Misses Patchen that though
there was no immediate danger, tht
accident might become serious, and i
was best to put on life-preserveIs. H
assisted both to put them on. The,
were not excited beyond presence O
mind, and one of them not beinj
dressed, asked Mr.. Chase if she hat
better put on her clothing. The old
est sister said they had no one witt
whom they were acquainted, and ask
ed-if they might stay with him, ant
Mr.. Chase promised TO assist them q
much as possible. He then went ou
ON the deck again, and saw the sterl
of the bark come crashing into tn
wheel of the Star, pounding and grind
ing the wheel to pieces. Then tn
second mate of the bark, came, or wa
landed some way, on the Star, his fac
badly cut, his lower jaw smashed, hi
tongue hanging out, and his face GOV
cred with blood. Mr.. Chase wen
. again to the engine room, and aske
Watson how the water was making
The reply was that 1t was making fas
: but he thought 1t could be kept bach
The pumps were working, and tn
engineer was hopeful and confiden
Mr.. Chase went forward, and as II
= did so, noticed the inclination of til
boat forward. Looking down the fo
ward companion way, hesaw that tn
: water was rushing in at frightful rat'
s ''as if her whole side was stove in.
e Mr.. Chase says he had noticed at til
= first grating sound alung the steam
er's keel, and had thought that sh
was running over a schooner. No
: he ascertaiBed that this noise was tt
, paying cut OF the cables forward, bot
by the force of the terrible shock, or
Of them falling over the bark, I'll
y other going into the lake, and bot
Is cables paying out of course as II
Ie steamer moved. e All this time the el
Ie gineer was at his post, working h
,e apofv,n IN t-obeliepoa ~ tho halls frf,,