The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1868-04-24


stone throw from this point to the south,
and not more than a dozen yards apart, lie
the two ponderous deck projections They
had been held to the sides of the vessel by
four inch supports, which, when burnt oil,
let them into the water, and with them
came, of course, the paddle boxes. Then
follows, at short intervals, parts of the up
per-deck ratings, 6sh boxes, &c, and sand
wiched between these lie stranded cords
ppon cords of wood.
During the night watchsires are kept
brightly burning along the shore at inter
walls of four or five hundred yards, all the
way from Waukegan to Lake Forest, dis
lance of ten miles, and even to an ordinary
spectator this sight is gloomy and peculiar
beyond expression. Should any bodies
strand upon the shore during the night,
they would be observed almost as readily
as by day.
From the Chicago Times, April IA.
About three quarters of mile of the
shore, and about four miles south of Wau-
kegan are buried in about 20 feet of water,
the remains of the Sea Bird. The morn
ing of the disaster reporter was dispatch
ed to Waukegan to gather there such de
tails OF the confagration as circumstances
many bodies might be washed ashore, or
that some survivor of We calamity would
be waited in by the high east wind. Moth
ing was known in the town of the affair, be
yond what was already known to every enc
in Chicago. The fire had been seen, but no
knowledge of the name or character Of the
boat was protested by any one. The hull
was supposed to be drifting southwark.
Under these circumstances ride down the
beach was necessary. JT3-H5. eas
Three miles below Waukegan parts of
the boat, charred and perforated like char
coal, lined the shore. The very water was
blackened by the presence of the burned
pieces Further down the debris began to
accumulate immense timbers, with iron
bolts broken abruptly off OF twisted, dotted
the shore at intervals Here and there
were piles of burned cordwood, charred
boards, planks rent ia twain, in fact ell the
indications of a great disaster. Out upon
the waters boards, sticks, and planks con-
trasted their blackened surfaces to the
foaming Wilderness of the waves. The
largest piece of the wreck was the side Of
tue paddle box which had escaped un-
touched by the flames, The painted side
was underneath, but the formation indi-
Gated what it was. The side was entire,
and, if used as float, would have supports
ed 20 persons in the water. Why it was
not used for such purpose is matter of
conjecture.
The presence of so many embers and
timbers indicated that the hull of the Sea
Bird must be in the vicinity A close scan
ming of the water discovered long, black
streak about mile outside, which, as it
rose and fell, was recognized as the hull.
Its surface was scarcely above the water as
it appeared to be drifting shoreward. A
half hour afterwards it was much nearer
the land, and from high bluffs in the vicin-
ity its shape and length could easily be seen,
but it then seemed to remain stationary for
long time, neither moving out or in. as
though stranded on sand bar. Suddenly
the south end of it raised about ten feet in
the air, and remaining poised for an instant,
the whole suddenly darted beneath the
waves. Whom the waters are calm, with
the naked eye black projection indicates
where the hull of the steamer Sea Bird lies
buried.
Several hundred barrels of -four compris-
ed part of the cargo Not barrel, how
ever, has reached the shore, although
Jumps of -four in quantities lined the beach.
The outer surface was wet and hard like a
dough ball, but within the -four was per
fectly dry. Yesterday several farmers wer e
engaged in the vicinity collecting and hard
ening the Jumps.
Crowds of persons from Waukegan,
Chicago, and Milwaukee, yesterday visited
the shore near where the hull is sunk, in
the vain hope of finding the bodies of their
friends. Not particle of clothing, much
less body, came to the land during the
day or the preceding night. The agony of
many of the visitors was painful to witness,
coming as they did expecting to find some
clue to lost friends or relatives, but disap-
pointment awaited them. The shore for
miles along was eagerly searched 70. relics
of the passengers.
A large plumber of the citizens of Lake
county have organized patrol for the pur-
pose of protecting the persons and proper
ty of such bodies as may be washed ashore.
This is rendered necessary by the supposed
presence on the bodies of vauablss Sus-
picious characters have also been seen in
the vicinity, whose visit was without doubt
occasioned by desire to plumber.
The coroner of Lake county holds himself
in constant readiness to perform the duties
of his Office when needed. If bodies are
identified, or clue Afforded to friends or re-
lations, they will be Immediately notified
1t is expected that either to day or to ;
morrow some Of the bodies will be washed
ashore. The high winds of the past two or
three days must have a material effect in
preparing them for the surface of the wa
ter. Ali the beach from Waukegan to
Evanston is bounded by high bluffs, at the
base of which, when the lake is rough, the
waters dash their strength. In calm
weather. about twelve feet of pebbles and
sand afford good walking. The only ap-
prehensioD to be felt is that, when the
waves are rolling, the bodies will be dashed
against the bluffs, horribly mutilated, and
then washed back again into the lake.