The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1868-04-16

All the readers of the Telegraph long be-
fore this paper reaches them, will have
heard of the destruction of the Steamer
Sea Bird, and of the great loss of life by
that sad catastrophe which occurred on the
morning Of Thursday last 1t is for the
beuefit of snch of our readers, as do not see
the daily papers in which the details are
given in full, that we publish a CONDENSED
statement made by A. c. Chamberlain, one
of the surviving passengers rescued by the
Schooner Cornelia
STATEMENT.
About half past six o'clock this morning,
when about eight miles southeast of Wau-
kegan, | was aroused by loud cry.
could not at first tell what it was. thought
probably it was the crew fighting down be
low. There were loud knocks and iudis.
tinct cries. got up and looked out Of the
state-room door to see what was the matter
saw the creT and passengers rushing for
ward through the cabin. The tables were
all set, ready for breakfast They had just
finished setting them. dressed and rushed
ont. then heard some one cry, 'Fire |
ire J" 1t was the watchman, who ran
through the cabin to arouse the sleepers
Everything was in confusion. The passen-
gers were rushing forward, the ladies and
children crying and weeping. They all
seemed poweress to aid themselves or 9TH
ers. The men rushed around frantically,
looking for some means TO save themselves
The little children chung to their mothers,
crying and impeding their progress towards
the bow. The women implored the men to
save them some fell on their knees and
prayed to Cod to save them. By this time
the flames had gained considerable head
way, and threatened with destruction the
entire vessel looked towards the stern
and saw the after cabin full of smoke and
flames shooting upwards in different parts
OF it. The excitement and confusion be-
came terrible The passengers in their hur-
ry to escape from their state-rooms, had
forgotten to dress themselves and were run
Mug around en- dishabIle, interfering with
the few who had sufficient presence of mind
to attempt to stay the progress of the
flames. The flames were all the time in
| ere asing, and in five or ten minutes the
whole upper portion of the boat was at the
mercy Of the fiery element, with the excep
ton Of the pilot house, and that portion of
the deck forward, which had not as vet
been reached by the flames.
The lower decks had up to this time es-
capped, but were full of smoke Some of
those ON board endeavored to get below but
were driven back owing to the smoke al
most suffocating them.
AS soon as | saw there was probability
of the vessel being lost went to my state
room, aud put my hand under the bunk to
see if there were any life preservers.
found two, and took them on deck. The
flames soon reached where | was, and
went down on the lower deck - forward to
see what chance there was there 10 escape
left there and went on the upper deck
again and helped stave in portion of it,
which kept the flames back for short
time. The second mate, Leander Packard
and |, worked as much as we could, break
ing off stanchions and planks and every
thing that would add fuel to the flames, but
we we were driven back by the intense
heat We worked away, notwithstanding,
for some time longer farther forward, but
were at length compelled to desist. When
| commenced to help the second mate
pulled off mp overcoat and laid it down on
the deck When | ceased put one of the
life-preservers on, and my overcoat over
that. A man seeing had two life. preser
vers, and gave it to him. thought my
over coat would be great benefit to me
while | staid on the boat as the wind was
blowing very strong from the east, and it
was very chilly. Thought and rightly
too, that it would protect me from the cold
weather. There was heavy sea on at this
4 7
the crowd a few minutes, aud looking
around. saw the Captain in his shirt sleeves,
apparently dumb. He gave no orders that
| heard, SO utterly was be taken aback. He
seemed to be very calm-in fact was the
only one on board who had entire presence
of mind. He had no cap on, and stood
there looking at the crowd as if riveted on
deck | then made for the bow of the boat,
and got as far forward as possible. At this
juncture the passengers nearest the flames
began SO jump from the sides Of the vessel
into the lake, The mate and l threw the
steps of the pilot house overheard. Only
few jumped into the water. There were
no ladies among them. The ladies and lit
tie children were in the extreme forward
part of the vessel. There were three fam
lilies aboard six or eight ladies and about
ten children. | saw them running around
When the cry of fire was first started some
Of the passengers said "head her ashore"
The pilot attempted to do so, bat turned
the helm hard a-port," which threw her
off the shore. She turned around once and
then remained headed towards the centre
of the lake. drifting slowly down towards
Chicago. The last wind blew her towards
the shore When she ceased turning the
engine stopped.
By this time the hurricane deck was all
burned off, and the timbers falling in, set
the lower decks ablaze.
Six or seven more jumped into the water
about this time. This was about half an
hour after l was aroused by the cry of fire.
took position at the step of the flag pole
in the bow of the boat, and was able to see
what was going on aft of me without any
. difficulty. | took out my knife and cut the
halyards down, thinking they would be of
some use. doubled them four or five times,
: intending to tie them to staple in the post
and lash myself to the post, knowing that as
| long as the vessel remained above water, the
| post would also There were two men be-
low me hanging on to the plank projecting
| from the side of tue vessel. Their fingers be-
came numb from the cold, and losing their
hold they fell offand were drowned.
| The second mate came to where was then,
/ anu L dSbisltu DlIQ 10 bdhG OuG bl10 nag POlC'
| He threw it overheard and jumped after it.
never saw him again. Looking overheard l
could see planks, doors, benches, chairs, stools
and other articles floating around. observed
a number of corpses hanging to some of them.
| The sight aim ost made me sick and l turned
away. thought l would soon be in their po-
sition and my heart almost failed nae. Some
of the men were hanging TO the sides OF the
vessel, and every now and then one of them
would give a shout and jump overheard, with
his mouth wide open. He would go down,
come again, utter faint cry, and go down
again never to rise any more. The water en-
tering their mouths would strangle them.
Some OF them acted very foolish, think. II
they had kept their mouths closed they
might have succeeded in gaining possession
OF plank or box and kept themselves
above water for some time, and probably
have been saved. The excitement, which waf
all the while increasing, by this time had de-
/ creased considerably, owing to there being
but a few on the wreck. l saw two men shake
hands-their mouths moving as if bidding