The New York herald., 1868-04-13
THE LAKE MICHIGAN DISASTER
Interesting Narrative Of One of the Survi-
vors-Terrible Scenes ON the Wreck-Only
Three Out Of One Hundred Saved-Names
Of In r

Interesting Narrative Of One of the Survi-
vors-Terrible Scenes on the Wreck-Only
Three Out Of One Hundred Saved-Names
Of the Lost.
(Chicago (April 10Y special correspondence Of the
Boston Advertiser.l
The terrible disaster Of YESTERDAY on Lake Michigan
fills the whole Northwest with mourning. The Sea
Bind Of GoodriHhs line engaged y IN It the coastng
edge and then sunk. or upwards Of one hundred
passengers only three e. were saved. The fol- following
statement OF one OF the survivors, A. q. Chamber
lain of ShebOygan, Wisconsin, tells the whole dread
NARRATIVE OF A. c. CHAMBERLAIN.
When we were Off eight miles southeast Of Wauke-
gan was awakened from sound sleep by an indis-
tnct noise; at first thought the were lighting
and SO hurried with my clothes as last as posi-
BILE When opened d my sateroom a., door found
been set for breakfast and everything was ready for
early meal; the reckless and horrihed passengers
rushing In hot haste to the forward part OF the
boat; tongue can possibly describe the horror OF
the scene at this period. Men, women and children,
many OF them with very slight protection against
towards the forward opening. The terrified wo-
men rushed past en- dishaotue; the cries
OF the children, the heavy imprecatons and
shouts of the men, joined with the cracking
OF the flames the noise OF the engines and
the roar OF wind and water combined to create such
scene OF confusion as had never expected to be
witness Of in this world. Looking round perceived
thatthe after part of the cabin was ed with smoke,
and noticed now and again the quick angry forks OF
flame shooting through 1t. hurriedy returned to
my stateroom and picked up two cork lifepreseryers
flames made such extraordinary headway that 1t did
not seem to me five minutes time before the whole
hurricane deck was afame. ! went down TO the
lower deck, which was yet untouched, TO see what
chance there was for safety In that drectton here
portion Or lion o he crew Nd making trSn great
overheard, with the assistance Of which l suppose
| they intended to make an effort for the shore.
Finding the smoke here insupportable ascended
again to the upper deck and helped the second mate
Leander Packard tear away as much as we could Of
| the bow. At this time II was quite broad daylight
l should say between six and seven O'Clock. There
was very heavy sea- and 1t seemed to be increasing
In volume. ! stood among the crowd that was
huddled together the forward part of the boat
tain Norris without hat and In his shirt sleeves,
talking with some OF the men. lie appeared TO be
quite calm and formed remarkable contrast in APP
pearance to the frightened and panicstrcken men
gathered about him. ! made my way through the
sibe, knowing that that would be the point which
the fire would reach last. Many had Jumped before
chliness, death must soon have terminated their
/ was now on the deck forward of the pilot house.
| on the starboard side and from the direction Ia
which the wind blew was fairly sheltered from the
flames. The mate and tore away the steps leading
TO the pilot house, did all things Of a combus-
| Bile nature that we're manageable which. stood be-
tween ana the fire. On this part OF the deck were
several ladies' and children, whose wailing and cries
very piteous to hear AS as the cry OF IRE
raised and II was found to be making such rapid
| headway, there was simultaneous cry from many,
"ead the boat for the shore head the boat for the
shore ~ In carrying out this order the helmsman,
|
machinery Of the wheel had already received IRE.
parable damage from the fire, put the rudder hard
aport and left In that way This Kept the vessel
circuit before the engines stopped working and
| by this time the hurricane and upper decks were
! completely burned away.
AT this tirne that is about half hour after had
left my stateroom there were not more than ten men
! remaining on the deck. by this time had worked
my way TO the forward part OF the vessel and pulled
| down the hayards from the nagstaf, Intending 10
| lower myselfinto the water when thought the time
|
were holding to the sides Of the bow, were drop
ping OF one after another being overcome by either
the heat or the cold The last act Of the second mate
| was to take down the Flagstaff and Jump overheard
with it. The water was so intensely cold that he
| could have lived but very few minutes.
During all this time there dead bodies floating
around the vessel and many live persons could be
clingng to chairs and pieces OF the wreck Generally
| when man was about to Jump overheard he would
shout aloud, and rising TO the surface or the water
after his plunge he would shout again. but the cold
soon nunbed him and he would sink TO rise no more
| AT this time we about eight miles from land,
the wind blowing from the east, and we noated
! slowly towards the shore Shortly after the mate
| jumped overheard my seat on the forward post be-
| came from the approach of the lames, altogether
too hot. I therefore, with the aid OF the ldlysrds,
lowered myself over the bow Of the boat, holding ON
u the projecting rims OF one OF the vessels tnbers
| with my feet the identical position which many poor
sufferers had occupied before me, and from which,
despairlng of succor, they had dropped hopelessly
into the lake. As near as can Judge, about three
| quarters OF an hour after had reached the for.
ward deck / was surprised on looking around
| Co nnd but one other than myself upon
| tIe wreck This other individual who I think
was one Of the crew, sat on the rim run
! ming around the boat, Just forward OF the
! pangway. The sides OF the vessel were burned up
To where he had placed himself, and the heat soon
| became unbearable. AZ this juncture he cried out
10 me 10 throw him rope, saying that he could not
| swim or he would jump into the water; told him
could not help him as my rope was not long enough
shortly after this he jumped into the water and
swan TO the bow OF the boat, and proved, contrary
to his lorper assertion, thak be was good swimmer
lie caught hold or fOpe which was swinging Ia tie
| water Just few feet below me; he clung 10 this
! benumbed, let go, and saw him no more then
baued up the rope that my last companion had
| rellnql qllsed, and reeyed II through the anchor
chains below the ring, to which | had the
| In this manner, I colled II twice around
| my chest In very few minutes after this
arrangement had been completed what was
| my CONSERVATION on finding that the upper end OF
the rope was burning; reached up my hands and
| blisteled them somewhat In trying TO put the FIRE
! out. Seeing that this mode OF procedure was OF no
avail, and that the rope was likely 10 burn out OF the
| ring, which was beyond my reach, took the other
| end which was coed around my body and fastened
It securely In the anchor chains below the level OF
the fire. The two anchors my head were gradu
ally settling into the wreck and began 10 fear
| new disaster from this cause.
Just at this point espied sail between the wreck
| and the land. Trembling between hope and fear,
| whether she would heaye TO and lend me aid or go
by and leave Inc TO my fate, placed my feet against
the side OF the vessel and commenced waving my
cap vigorously as signal OF distress and to let her
people know that there was a survivor on
| the wreck. This vessel turned out TO be the
schooner Cornelia, Captain Yates, and IL would
appear that he had discovered me some time before.
When within about a mile Of the wreck the yawl
boat OF the schooner lowered and manned by
the first mate and three seamen they reached me In
about quarter OF an hour but owing 10 my state or
| suspense seemed 10 me many hours The rough