Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1873-09-26
The IrOnsides Disaster.

AN Associated Press dispatch of the
10th gives the following detailed account
of the recent Lake Michigan horror:
The propeller Ironsides left Milwaukee
on Sunday night, September IS, on time,
but owing to the day being Sunday the
list of passengers was not very large,
there being but nineteen on the register.
There were thirty-tWo seamen, and one
not registered. The steamer hove in sight
of Grand Haven at a. m, but did not at
tempt to make the port on account of the
high sea and number of vessels and
barges which went on the beach in at
tempting to make the port. The steamer
headed seaward again, and at 8 o'clock
appeared to be about nine miles out.
She was seen to have fires in her
engines till 10 O'Clock, when no more
smoke was to be seen from the smoke
stacks. The foresail was then raised but
she had been leaking considerably, and
the water gained on the men at the pumps
so fast that at II O'Clock it was evident
she must go down. The passengers were
all supplied with life preservers, and stood
ready at a moments warning to take to
the boats. AT II 30 Capt. Sweetman, who
was commander ordered the life-boats
to be got in readiness and launched
The first boat contained all the
ladies but one. The second con
tanned ten or twelve of the crew and pas
sengers. In the third there was Mr.. Wat
kins, the clerk Of the boat, one lady named
Mrs. Ward, five passengers, and two of the
crew. There were two more boats soon
to leave the steamer after the third had
left, but it is thought that the last one did
not leave in time to get far enough from
the steamer before she went down, and was
drawn in the whirlpool and swamped.
The steamer sank at 1920, going down
stern first Tie first boat which left the
steamer containing the majority of the
ladies was capsized, and only one of the
passengers succeeded in reaching the
shore. The second and third boats sue
ceeded in reaching the shore, but only
with the assistance of those on Shore who,
hearing of the terrible calamity, rushed
to the beach by multtudes on tugs which
voluntarily carried all persons back and
forward across the river as fast as pos
ible.
The beach was lined with people for
about two miles, but the fourth and fifth
boats could not be reached in time to offer
any possible succor. So high was the
wind that the boats were driven ashore
before any person could get to them. As
the boats approached the shore, and all
were overturned in the surf, strong men
and expert swimmers formed lines in the
water, and in this manner everybody,
dead or alive, that was seen, was recov-
cred.
So terrible was the sea that no assist
ance could possibly be rendered to the
doomed steamer and her living freight.
The propeller Lake Breeze, which was in
port and owned by the same company,
made an attempt to go to the assistance
of the boats, but was disabled in the
attempt, and narrowly escaped going on
the beach. Among the barges and vessels
which went on in the morning she drop
ped her anchor and lay there till tcwed
off in the afternoon. All the bodies re-
covered, which were not cared for by
friends who recognized them, were ten
derly cared for and dressed for burial by
committees of ladies and gentlemen of
Grand Haven, who voluntarily and will
! inglly offered their services in taking care
OF the bodies until they should be identi-
I fed and cared for by friends.