The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-05-06
:sHLANn; OHIO WEDNESDAY Z MORNING, NAY 3. 1865:
The, Loss of fhe. Steamer Sea

The Loss of the Steamer Sea
Bird.
EGhicago tApril o DIS. TtotICin. Gazette
An appalling Disaster which castoa
deep, shade W upon Ch icago, occurred
this morniug about six o'clock on Lake
Michigan, of Waukegan, about twenty
Eve miles north of this port. At that
hour the steamer Sea Bird, running be-
tween ihisport and Manitewoc, Wis
consin, and which left Manitowoc, yes.
terday afternoon. about four lo'ciock,
with p notlfar from one hundred souls on
board, was discovered to be on fire, and
and in ten nhinutesf was -sheet Of
flames, and every person on board,
with two exceptions, perished, eitherin
the flames or by drowning. the names
of the saved are A lbert G. Chamber
lain, of Sheboygan falls, and Edward
Hannebury, sailor from Sheboygan
city who was..on his way to this city to
get work in his calling. The following
is Mr. Hannebury's statement, which
covers the whole ground :" went on
board the Sea Bird, Captain Morris,
about clock There were eight or
ten others beside myself, who left She.
boygan. There were, in all, about one
hundred on board, including the crew.
There were ten. ladies, and seven or
eight children among the passengers.
There was considerable of q cargo.
About five o'clock this morning 1 left
my berth. 1 had been up about one
hour when I saw smoke arising on the
main deck. In the stern quarter, just
below the ladies' cabin. 1 hardly saw
the smoke, when the fire began to blaze
It.seemed TO have been kindled right
On the dec. There were a lot of tubs
and some straw lying near, and the
fire got among them right away. I
Immediately cried "FireW The crew
rushed on deck; the bell was rung, and
the passengers who were net up came
tumbling out from their belths and
state rooms. Instantly there was great
confusion, and the fire increased so rap
idly as to convince me that it must
have been burning a long time before
it was discovered. The flames sprung
up and spread almost instantly into the
ladies' cabin. In five minutes the af-
ter part of the boat was all on fire. I
do not think that all the ladies had
time to get out of their cabin, and sew
eral ladies and children must have been
burned. s ss 1su tGI
s1All rushed; to the forward part of
the boat Some of the crew tried TO
get at the small boats, which were aft,
but failed 1to3reach them. was per-
fectly cool all the, time. 1 kneg the
time. I knew the boat was gone up'
but, somehow, I felt. that I was all
right. In about ten minutes, with the
assistance of others, 1 showed the gang
pl ank overheard, and in a few moments
the engine stopped working. Ali the
passengers were crowded into the bow
and were crying, wringipg their hands
and moaning piteously.
81 waited until the gang-plank had
f1ated past the wheelhouse, and [
Jumped overheard, and swan to the
gang, plank, and ten or fifteen others
me. There were SO many on
he plank that it sank, and We had
bard work to keep it ourselves above
1ater. I got along pretty well, until
:hree or four, seeing that I vas holding
ny own, got around by nee and took
hold of me I shook them al of ex-
,ept a colored boy, He put both bis
rms around my neck, and 1 could not
,hoke him off I then helped him on
he plank, and also, one man who was
,bout twenty five years old. l helped |
.wo or three others on the plank. We |
'tr lggled hard, but mot a man said a
gord. 1 could see around me men
laYing hold of boxes, chairs, fenders,
ind two men I saw clinging to bag
IF wool. There was heavy sea, and
lfter we had been in. the water fifteen /
IT twenty minutes the plank was cap
iized by q wave, and all who were on
t, except me, were washed away and
we're seen nc more The water was al
most at freezing point, and was near
" chilled through, but managed to get
IN the plank, and was all alone. 1
,ot hold of the gang plank ropes, and
teadied myself with them while l stood
in n'the plank. L had no thought oof
leath; tho sane confidence 1 all along
,ad felt in being saved, still clung to
he. [ lookd about me, and could see
he lakes surface covered with pieces
If the wreck, to many of which men
we're clinging. About half mile sway
t saw woman clinging to fender.
soon saw her disappear The wreck
vas steadily drifting toward the west
hore. About twenty minutes after Il
lad left her, saw the passengers gath !
red on the burning deck. many of
he men were stripped to their shirts,
md nearly all had life presorvers on,
,r were lashed to tables. planks, sc.
This was abeut the last / saw of the
,oat / did not hear any screaming
II crying. The waves deadened all
hat. L watched her until she was
burned to the waters edge.
DAT about 9 O'Clock saw schooner
,earing south, about two miles away,
md under full sail ; and although L am
ure they saw me and the burning
wreck, it kept straight on and offered +
10 .assistace.. ABOUT ten O'Clock, |
Ehen / was about ready to give up, i
aw schooner four or fve miles to
he windwgd. 1t bore down toward
ne, and proved to be tho Cornelia, ]
She sent out her small boat, and first
ook off Cham berlain from the forward
letting, where he had -lashed himself,
md then t,ok me aboard about il
,,clock. Iwas nearly frozen, but was
DON made eomfortable." Hsi
:. As. have stated, HanneberIy aad
chamberlain are the only ones saved
'ut of abou one e4h1ndred' d'souls. ScIl
. -IHha G on REL Z. y