The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-11-20
Iosl ON The Lake.

Peter j. Thornum, sailor, and the
only survivor of the crew of the schooner
Lcynnt, which was wrecked ON Lake
Michigan, has arrived in Chicago, and
gives the following account of the terri
bic disaster;
The Lcyunt left Chicago and proceed.
I'd to Manistee, where she took on board
q cnrgo of shingles. The schooner was
owned by Mr.. Owens Of Chicago, and
was considered sufficiently scaworlhy for
the lumber trade. The captain was
Patrick Lyons OF Toronto, and the mate,
Robert Brown of Chicago. Besides
these and the steward, a German named
Kloss, living in Chicago, there were four
sailors-l}ill Shills, Peter linmt, man
whom We called Charlie, and myself
in ull seven persons on board.
All day Saturday the wind had been
very stiff from the south.southwest, but
after dark 1t increased to furious gale
At about 0 o'clock ut night, when we
were about midway between ShcbOypln
and Port Washington, u squat struck
the schooner, which was wuter.loggcd
and capsizcd in IN instant The men,
who were all on deck working the ship,
ran for the side, and all hands climbed
up and dashed themselves to the rigging.
The sea was ruuningvCry high, and the
water was ice cold. For two hours We
kept in the rigging, and ut II o'clock We
sighted vessel to the lccwnrd not moro
that 100 feet away. All hands set up Il
loud cry Of distress, but it did not seem
to be heard, rs the ycssclpassed on with
out noticing MS.
About IL o'clock, the mute, Brown,
became dclirious, and letting go his hold,
dropped down into the water, and was
drowned, although he WIS still fastened
to the rigging, About M hour later
Captain Lyons and Bill Shills both lost
their senses, and were washed overheard
and drowned, their bodies hanging to
the wreck. At about four o'clock in the
morning, Kloss the steward lost his SEN
scs and was drowned, leaving only three
Of us alive. Twice during the night pro-
pellors passed within mailing distance of
lis, but the noise of the gale was so loud
that they couldn't hear our cries for
help, and they passed on and left us.
A little after daylight the schooner D..
p. Dobbins hove in sight This time
our cry Of distress wns heard, and they
made preparations to lower the boat. BY
this time Charlie and Bmnt, though still
alive, had both lost their senses. 1t mp.
pears the DObhins' boat had been stove
in, md she stood past MS about 4 mile,
in order to tx itup, and Il en- put about
and came back to us. When abreast OF
the wreck her boat waS lowered in charge
of the mute, John BOlin, and they pulled
over to us. II was found TINT Charlie and
llrant We're unable to help themselves,
and so Bolin threw line to me, and !
tried to tie it around Charlie, but he got
cntanglcdin the rigging, and was drown
ed before our faces md in spite Of nll we
could do. I then managed to get the
line united from Charities body, got 1t
around myself, cut loose from the rig
glng, and was hauled into the boat near.
ly dead with cold and fatigue.
After several fruitlcss efforts TO get
the line to Bnnt, WHO was out of his
head, he hung there and stared ut us
with set and CLASSY eyes. Bolin finally
madea lasso, threw it over his head, ind
hauled him into the bout. II was no
use, Poor Braut was so far gone that he
died in the boat in ten or fifteen min.
utcs. and before we got bnck to the
Dobbin. | want to say something about
the skill and experience displayed by
John Bolin in his efforts TO save the
survivors. He is IL brave salOr md a
noble hearted man. Ialso want to NELL
ton the kind treatment and care which !
received from the captain Of The Dobbiu
after | was taken on board. Bmni's
body was taken into Milwaukee and left
with the authorities. Shills ind Charlie
were both married men, aud lived in
Chicago.