Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1868-06-27
Terrible Lake Disaster.

1ufly plsScHSeiS, d CieW vi lhliGl anu
200 tons of pig iron and bar iron, with
light freight additional.
At about eleven o'clock, when about
thirty miles from Cleveland, and some
sixteen miles from shore, she collIded
with the bark Cortland, bound for Cleve-
land, and having on board crew of l3
persons. and a cargo of 900 tons iron ore.
The night was dark and the weather
thick. Lortheast wind blowing and a
heavy sea rolling. The Morning Star
was struck about forty feet from the
stern. with such force that both vessels
sunk in five minutes.
The boats of the steamer and all her
upper works foated off. Many of the
passengers clung to the floating pieces,
and were picked up by the boats. The
bark's boat was smashed in the collision.
In this manner the passengers and crew
sustained themselves through the night.
Between and o'clock Sunday morn
ing the steamer r. n. Rice, running In
the same line, and OH alternate nights
with the Morning Star, came along bound
for Cleveland She saw the boats, and
Immediately gave assistance, bringing
the saved to that city.
The boats remained through the night
as nearly in the vicinity Of the wreck as
possible, but by morning were scattered
several miles One boat is unaccounted
for. but it has been blowing gale, and
nothing has been heard from 1t.
Both vessels went down in sixty feet
of water, the spars OF the bark being
visible above. One of the crew Of the
bark was injured by the collision, but no
one was killed.
The loss of life is estimated at twenty
or thirty. All of the officers of the
steamer were saved except Mr.. James
Morton, the clerk, who lost his life in at
tempting to save Mrs. Hackett, wife of
Capt. H1ckett of Detroit, both of whom
were passengers.
The following are known to be miss
ing: Mrs. Hackett, Detroit James
Morton, clerk Morning Star; Major
Hutchings Miss c. Patchen, Miss NJ.
Patchep, Troy, N. Y, Albert Iddings,
Cleveland, Mrs. Wamlett, Cleveland /;
Mrs. Parker and child Marietta, 0. Capt.
Ballentine and wife Detroit.
The portion of the wreck separated
from the hull of the steamer with the
furniture and baggage was found strew-
ing the beach, above and below Black
River, for nine miles.
The friends Of those who were lost in
consequence of. this accident will feel
very grateful for any information leading
to The recovery of bodies, and trust the
citizens from Black River to Fairport
will observe the service of the lake each
day, more closely than usual, believing
all the bodies may be recovered. Any
information sent or telegraphed to this
office will be promptly published.
CAPT vIdER-s STATEMENT.
Capt E. A. Vigcr makes, substantially, the
| following statement: He met with some de-
tention in Cleveland on Saturday night, in
connection with the receiving of freight, and
did not leave until half past ten o'clock. The
night was very dark, and although there was
no fog, the weather was rainy, and peculiar
mist pervadcd the atmosphere. The weather
was not very cold, but the air was raw and
piercing. 1t was not SO dark but that the
light of a vessel could be seen for distance of
two and half to three miles, and he was sat
isfied that he could see far enough to enable
him to make a progress of ten or twelve miles
an hour, which was the rate of speed at which
the Star was going at The time of the occur
renee of the deplorablc casualty, and which
was slow in consideration of the late hour at
which she had got out of Cleveland. He was
on watch, as usual, together with the second
Mate, and lookout, besides the man at the
helm, four in all. The collision occurred off
the mouth of Black River, which puts into the
Lake about % miles above Cleveland. The
first warning of danger was the sound of the
fog bell of the COurtland and before the steam
CT could he stopped, the crush came. From
the time the fog bell was heard until the vessels
come together not more than three seconds
elaspcd. As soon as the motion of the engine
was reversed, he hailed the vessel and inquired
if -he was in a sinking condition, to which an
affirmative answer was returned. He inquired
as to what her cargo consisted of and was
told il was iron ore The captain of the vessel
then inquired of Capt " if he was in sink
ing condition, to which the latter replied that
he was, but did not exactly know the state the
boat was in, although he should no doubt
soon ascertain. Capt. V. jumped back on the
pilot house and started the boat ahead, in Or
der to clear the vessel. The bark received the
shock on her starboard quarter. The latter
was nearly close-hauled to the wind, and the
conclusion was so terrible that the bows of the
Star were twisted off, and the bark swung
round in the wind, and struck the Star num-
Der Of times at right angles on the paddle-box
her davits ripping up the steamers wood work
at every crash.
Capt. Figer ran down and caused every
state-rOom door to be opened, and the passen-
gers were got into the cabin. He then sum-
moned to his aid Capt Hackett, Capt. Blanch-
ard, and Mr.. Gagnon, the steward, and reuues-
ted them to place life preservers upon the pas
sengers. The first mate came running out of
his room, and Capt, V. ordered him to clear
away the boats, get them ready for use, and
prevent the crew from getting into them until
the safety of the passengers was assured In
asmuch as contradictory opinions have been ex-
pressed as to whether these instructions were
carried out to the letter, we will only state
here that Capt. Viger is, positive that so far as
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