Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-07-09


tive young ladies. The last news from
them is given by Mr.. I. r. Chase, whose
statement we give elsewhere. Their loss
will be deeply mourned by very wide cir
Gle Of friends nn
STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN vIoER.
Capt Viger, of the Morning Star, states
that he was ON the hurricane deck at the
time OF the collision, standing at the win
dow Of the pilot house, Men were at each
corner Of the wheelhouse, outside, watch
ing the lights Several lights had been
passed, but nothing was seen of the Cort-
land until the steamer was so close on her
that collision was inevitable A hard north
erly wind was blowing, and a pretty
heavy sea was on. A few of the passen-
gers were up. though most had gone to
bed. There were thirty passengers
on board Some little confusion ensued
when the steamer struck. The bark was
struck forty Of fifty feet from the STERN
The Morning Star sunk in five minutes af-
ter the accident The boat was loaded
with about eighty tons of iron and a light
load of other freight.
Captain Viger declined giving further
particulars before he appeared before the
directors Of the company to state the case
to them.
STATEMENT OF DoUoAL MLAUoHLM.
Mr.. Mclaughlin, one of the pilots of the
Morning Star, was at the wheel at the time
Of the collision, and gives the following
account: He could see what he would call
''dim bright light" once in q long while.
Supposing it to be the light of q vessel
steering the same course, he aimed to
steer one side of her. All at once he saw
the canvas of vessel and heard a bell.
The engine alarm was at once given and
the helm put hard to starboard, but the
boat struck. The steamer was running at
her accustomed speed, the wind was blow
ing hard, rain was falling, the lake was
quite rough, and the night was very dark.
The captain sent mate below to see if the
boat was taking much water The report
was brought that the steamer was filling
fast The boats were ordered out and the
steamer sank in five minutes.
STATEMENT OF CAPT MKAY.
Capt. Mckay of the r. N Rice, gives
the following account: At about quarter
before three o'clock Sunday morning, the
mate heard cries from two persons buta
few rods to the starboard. The night was
very dark. He supposed that the deckload
of some vessel had been washed off and
that couple of sailors we're floating upon
it The boat was stopped and swung
round, drifting into large quantity of life
preservers, mattresses and furniture The
floating parcels indicated that an accident
had happened to some steamboat. Two
boats were lowered, manned and sent out
to pick up all that could be found. The
bark l.. H. Cotton was also near by and
assisted in the rescue He stood on
the deck with glass scanning the hori-
zon and directing the boats until all had
been done to save lives which it was posi-
BILE to do. The Rice cruised around until
o quarter past seven, and then sailed for
Cleveland. The lake was strewn with stuff
from the wreck for ten miles or more. At
five miles from shore picked up q boat
load of persons who had come from the
wreck. At one o'clock he started with the
Rice to go back, at the request of some of
the passengers, and sailed some ten miles,
when he returned at the request of the
same persons, all being convinced that {
nothing could be done. !
When the hurricane deck parted from the
steamer the ladies who were upon it
ushed to the after part and clung to the
lag staff. This caused that part to sink,
md the pressure upon the pole broke it off, 6
md the helpless ladies were precipitated
nto the lake. Some, it is feared, were |
lrowned {
STATEMENT OF CAPT. THos. HARBoTTLE. I
Capt. Thos Harbottle is an old lake cap
ain, residing in Hamilton, Ontario He
'as passenger on board the Morning Star,
nd was smoking on the after-deck when
be collision occurred. He heard the bells 1
1 the Star give the signal for stopping, and
zen for backing, and almost Simultaneous I
I felt the shock of the collision. He went :
,rward at once, and saw that about twenty
1et Of the bow of the Star, on the cabin
eek, was carried away, and about two or !
lree feet of the bow at the water-line. He
ent at once to the hurricane deck and
allied Capt. Viger, who was standing on !,
lie pilot-house, telling him that the bow of y
le-boat was carried away Capt. Viger Il
,sponded "Who are you2" He answer
! by giving his name. Capt Viger then !
tdered the boat to be put around, with her v
ern to the waves, SO that she would take >
| less water. The boat settled rapidly, d
1d went down, Capt Harbottle thinks in y
oout five minutes after she struck, going II II
own bow foremost. Theyawl was launch y
from the hurricane deck, and Capt. Har- u
ottle, with some twenty Others, mainly
embers of the crew, jumped into it. They "
Nd only one pair of oars, and were kept a
lsy bailing, as the sea washed in upon Y,
lem constantly. About 4 o'clock, they =
ere picked up by the R. N, Rice. /, y