Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-07-09
Casualties.
TERRIBLE LAKE DISASTER.
Collision ON Lake Erie between the
Morning Star and Cortland-sink-
ing OF Roth Vessels--Over Twenty
Lives Lost-List OF tho Lost and Saw
ed-Full Particulars from Survivors.
ffar,,,, A. 1l.valand Leader Juna 9Q1

| Collision ON. Lake Erie betWeem tn
Morning star, and cortlandrsink
Lives Lost-List Of tho Lost and Saw
ed-Full Particulars from Survivors
From the Cleveland Leader June AL
THE COLLISION.
Ats little before o'clock yesterda,
morning, when about thirty miles from
shore q dim white line was seen at wild
intervals, which the pilots supposed cam
from some vessel steering in the direction
the steamer was going; but to prevent th,
possibility of an accident, the steamer
course was changed to keep clear Of thi
craft Suddenly the canvass OF bark wa
seen only few feet directly in front of thu
steamer, and the ringing Of a bell wa
heard. The helm was Immediately pu
hard to starboard, but too late. With {
fearful crash the bow OF the Morning Stai
struck the vessel about forty feet from thu
stern, breaking open her own bow hori
zontally, and smashing hole in the side o.
the bark.
THE SCENE.
No one who has not witnessed similar
occurrence can imagine the horrors of such
moment. The dreadful shock woke
everybody, and all rushed from their berths
with nerves unstrung by fright, ignonnt Of
what had happened, In q few seconds one
of the mates came up from the hold and
reported that the steamer was rapidly fill
ing with water. Then all was dire confu-
sion. A frightful death stared each one in
the face, Women and children filed the
air with heart-rending shrieks. Men, wo-
men and children rushed frantically about,
grasping life preservers, chairs, and what
ever could be found upon which they could
float, and prepared to consign themselves
to the wildly rolling water.
With all possible speed, the life-boats
were made ready. So quickly did the
steamer sink, however, that, ere they
could be launched and loaded, the lower
portion of the steamer sank in about ten
fathoms Of water carrying with it a few
who had not reached the upper deck.
Among these unfortunates were some ladies
and children who had been advised to re-
main in their state-rooms, as there was no
danger Fortunately, the hurricane deck
parted from the rest of the steamer, and
formed feat, upon which most of those
on board the steamer were congregated.
The wheel chains, running from the pilot
house to the udder, remained fast, and
the sunken part served as an anchor, which
prevented the deck from floating away.
The life-boats we're hauled upon the deck,
and filled with as many as would get in, a
large number preferring to remain on the
deck and take the chances Of being res
cued; others choosing to venture upon the
lake with life-preseryers and boxes, rather
than risk being swamped in an overloaded
boat. One Of these boats, under command
of mate, put off with twenty-five souls,
and made for the Ohio shore. The other
kept in the vicinity of the wreck until help
arrived. ALI Of this happened in short
period of time, the Morning Star having
sunk in few minutes from the moment of
collision.
The bark-which proved to be the
Cortland, bound for Cleveland with a load
of iron ore from Escanaba- the col
lision drifted slowly away, gradually filling
with water. Word was passed from steam
boat to bark to ascertain the. condition of
each craft, but it was found that neither
could help the other. Slowly the bark
sank, and in about an hour and a hall,
when some eight hundred yards from the
she settled and went to the bot
tom, the top-gallant masts only being
above water. The crew, nearly ALL or all,
crowded into the yawl and launched out
upon the lake.
THE RESCUE
About quarter before three the r. N.
Rice, from Detroit, was sailing near the
,cene of the disaster and cries for help
we're heard from the water. The engine
vas Immediately stopped. The steamer
,ut about and a boat lowered. Not far off
we're found gentleman and lady, clinging
o large box They were brought on
,oard, taken care of and asked the cause
f their being in such peril Their story
Tas soon told, and every effort was then
made TO rescue as many as possible. The
rig Cotton also happened to be sailing by,
nd lent boat to assist in the work. All
hose who were upon the floating deck and
5 many rs were found in the water, were
lken to the R. N. Rice, and kindly cared
II by the officers and passengers of the
.eamer Many of those rescued were
,antily clothed, and were suffering from
aving been so long exposed in the
ater. A few were so feeble that it was
ecessary to hoist them on board with
,pes. The dresses of the ladies were
adly torn by the floating fragments, and
ley themselves were injured. Most of
lie men were partially undressed, though a
w had coats The darkness prevented
lie rescuers from Beeing where they should
eer, and they were guided for an hour or
, by the cries. On every hand were frag-
ents of the wreck, mattresses, pillows,
ools, chairs, panels, boxes, life-preserv-
IS, clothing, and thousands of other
lings. No attempt, however was made
save anything but lives. One dead body
as found-the body of Major Hutchin-
IN, of the Detroit Custom House and
rought to this city The r. N. Rice /
uised about the place for miles, until the
Iptain was satisfied that he had done all ;
lat it was possible to do. Then, at quar-
+ past seven o'clock, the steamer headed 3
r rCleveland, arrivinga at about nine o'clock. i
1me five miles from shore the boat which
# the wreck with twenty-five of the pas
myers and crew was discovered, and all '
ere taken on board the steamer.
The news spread like wild-fre, and o )
eat crowd collected along the docks. - a
was done which could be made n
make the sufferers comfortable. +
The total number lost will be about v
'enty, large proportion being ladies. 4
bout seventy have been saved so far as n
ard from. The list of lost and saved,
lich we give, has been carefully prepared 8
d corrected, andis as accurate as It can n
at present. The books of the Morning q
ar we're lost, so that the exact number Of +
ssing cannot be stated, norall the names G.
ven. ff q
At about A O'Clock yesterday afternoon "
e schooner Ada Medora arrived at this R
rt, having on board Mr.. Berry Tietsort, r
Detroit, who.was picked up at about 8 p
lock in the morning. Report was also n
ought that an unknown schooner, bound f
Buffalo, had been hailed near the scene ii
the accident, with four other rescued Il
IN on board 1t is further rumored that n,
other vessel was cruising outside with ii
ne on board, but was not able to get W
o the river at late hour on account of Ii
Ugh weather 1t is also stated that some v,
dies have been washed ashore at Black .