The New York herald., 1868-04-11
THE LAKE MICHIGAN DISASTER.

Further List of Recommendations Man
Saved-He is Washed Ashore on a Dis
mantled Observation-Disclosures Particu.
lars of the Casually.
MILWAUKEE, Wis, April TO- 1865.
The following persons embarked In the steamer
Sea Bird from NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. w. Emerie, Jos.
ID. Doncett, Charles Roacher, Henry Pfeifer James
II. Hodges clerk; Frederick Henim, Frederick Hem
nng Captain N. F. Nelson, Captain John Sovvensen,
James Lykom, cashier; Legro Wenzel-Havlichcks
Albert Meiva, r. H. Hunt William Barton, p. @.
Donnolly and Fritz Hummer, Of Chicago. Also the
following deck hands:-J0hn FOncks, A. Wildes
Henry Nieman Amos Meyer, Frederick Flosbach.
James II. Leonard, of Manitowie, who was pas
senger on the Sea Bird saved himself by clinging to
the wheehouse, and was washed ashore near Evans
ton, Ill., about two o'clock this morning.
Finding too hot TO stay ON the boat, and realizing
the fact that her destruction was inevitable, no
sprang into the water, and being vigorous SWIM
mer soon got hold Of board and soon afterwards
climbed on piece Of the paddle box floating near;
he clung to this and drfted with the waves to- the
Southwest landing, three miles north OF Evanston.
between seven and eight O'Clock last night, after
having been upon fragment Of the wreck twelve
hours drenched to the skin his clothing frozen and
himself dead than alive, after his perious ride
OF not far from fifteen miles.
Mr.. Leonard saw about twenty passengers jump
into the water some SWAN around for some ume
and others seemed to sink almost Immediately; no
saw no women jump overheard and did not see any
women In the water; he believes that there were
about ten women on board, all Of whom must hsvo
pershed In the names
An attempt was made to launch the steamers
boat, but the rapidity with which the flames spread
rendered 1t impossible W accomplish that object
The sea not very high aud the boats could have
easily weathered 1t II they could have been launched
From the best evidence which Captain Goodrich,
Of the Sea Bird, has been able to obtain no effort
was made to stop the engine until circumstances
prevented its further motion. The result was that
the hslm having been put aport, the boat began to
describe circle OF nearly o mile in diameter. The
belief OF those who ought to know that, had the
progress Of the steamer been stopped at the nrst
alarm the boats might have been gotten out and al
on board saved.
The steamboat inspector Of this district hos de-
cded to issue an order to engineers OF all steamers
on the lake and their assistants to stop their engines
on the instant OF fire ALARM without waiting orders
from their superior officers, and not to start again
without an order delivered personally by the chief
oficer.
Statement Of J. II. Leonard, Another Sur.
vivOr,
CHICAGO, April 10, 1858.
James II. Leonard, the third survivor so far from
the disaster to the steamer Sea Bird makes state
ment OF which the following is the substance
At about seven O'Clock yesterday morning went
up on deck and conversed with the first mate OF tho
steamer in regard to the distance to Chcago learned
that 1t was about twenty miles; then went to my
wife's stateroom, and soon afterwards heard the
alarm of fire; went out to ascertain the cause and
found the boat on fire and the flames bursting out
near the stern and close TO the stateroom had just
left; Immediately rushed In to rescue my wife, bus
cation with the stateroom; did not hear OF my
wife after left the stateroon when the alarm was
given.
Mr. Leonard agreed with the statement OF Mr.
Chamberlain in his general description OF the catas
tropbe but thinks there were not more than th,rY
waukee, much larger, he thinks, than the numDer
that embarked at that port.