Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-09-25

them, when they cut loose and stecred
toward the land. Most of the boats
filled with water and capsized in the
breakers, and at least twenty-four per
SONS out of fifty on board the propeller
thus lost their lives. The following is
list of the loss, as far as known
G. II. Dcnnison, of Ada, Michigan.
Campbell aud Smith, dcckhands, residence
not known.
John Dris:o!l, Steward of tho boat.
John Hiles, lumber and planning mills, Mil
waukoe.
Mrs. H. A. Valentine and son, five years of
age, Milwaukee.
Captain Harry Swcctman, commander Of the
Ironsides, Milwaukee.
Robert McGIuo, First Engineer OF tue boat,
Charles Wcmeil, agent of S. Z. Harding 4
Co., OF New York.
Joe Smith. OF Grand Haven, Mich.
I. II. Biting and wife, Mr.. aud Mrs. Albion
Hasclbartl,. OF Port Washington, Wis.
Mr.. Harry Hughes, fireman.
Edward FuGlc and James Brown. grcascrs.
A. J. Donclson, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Mrs. J. Il. Y. Dewitt, Milwaukee.
The saved are as follows:
| N. E. Watkins, clerk Of the boat.
Samuel Watkins, Milwaukee.
| Chris. DriscOll, cabin boy.
Dan. Driscoll, head waiter.
NJ. Crosson, first mate.
A. i. Pltmau, second mate.
I Charles Bradford, lookout.
/. Geo. NJ. C0wan, second engineer.
7 VIM. Dolcnson.
Andrew Fals0n, second clerk.
| Riley, first porter.
H. West; A. scnttlcr, VIM, Savage and G..
Orion, deck hands.
Dan. Hines, John Gilbert and Charles VII.
| cox, oilers.
| Maggie Young. stcwarlcss.
| i. Jordan, NJ. l.. Chester, II. N. Ward, Miss
Ward, F. N. Ripley, John Gee, Mr.. Whiting,
II. Krautbauer, O. Kitzingcr.
Seventeen bodies had at last accounts
! been recovered.
The following statements OF survivors
of the disaster are interesting:
STATEMENT OF GEORGE M. CowAN.
II was the second engineer on board the
Ironsidcs. We left Milwaukee at about 10
o'clock Sunday night, with wind about north
west. I came on watch at | O'Clock Monday
| would so up and get lunch, instructing me
~ keep close watch Of the engine. All
went well. At half-nast two McGluo (CAiol
Enginccr) came down and asked how she was
working. All was satisfactory, and continued
SO until about halfpast 3, when the wind
west. At about S O'Clock the water annoyed
me SO that used a blgc injection to forco it
out. This continued getting worse, until a
little before 7o'clock VIC began shipping water
! badly. The sangways were smashed in by the
force Of the waves, the bunkcrs got blocked ny
by the boilers SO that the water couldn't run
aft. Soon VIC began shipping water into the
| tirc.room, l saw something must be done
| Immediately. l sCnt ono OF tho oilers I'D to
tho Chief Engineer, telling him to tell the
Captain that We had better get before the wind
in order to get the water out. The Captain
4 Ntnkfs yk,a{ I
the vessel was in the trough OF tho sea, and it
was impossible to do it. We worked one Gu
ginc back and tho other forward, but it W g of
no use; we couldn't stir her. At this time
the water came in and put out the fires.
This was ut about 10. Previous to this-at
also put up the signal OF distress. When the
fires weat out then VIC began to think of saw
ing ourselves in the small boats. There was
no excitement among tho crew; everybody
knew his place and kept it. 10 tho best of my
knowledge Captain Swc"tman did all that
could be done. He was perfectly calm and
cool. 1t seems queer that some OF the boats
at the Haven didn't come to our relief Some
! say they Saw the signal, others say they din t.
At about II O'Clock We began lowering the
boats. The boat which belonged to our crew
we gave to the rassenscrs.''s also ano',,c
Sand launched her. AS stepped
in, Driscol and several others JUMPED
III. A coal-rasscr jumped after our boat as
W" pushed away. He must have jumped at
least twenty feet. He struck tho side of the
boat and chung to her. When we were about
came mp exactly under her, striking my hca.
against the seats. We ali chung to her for
about an hour and a half. We did not leave
the propeller until just as she sunk. After
We capsized and were c''ng,ng to tho boat WI
looked back, and there was Mike Crosson, tho
fi.Cfr Sfn in hotfv
ing his hard as the ship went down. The mas
broke and lie was struck by it in the face an
across the back, injuring him somewhat
After that We lost sight Of him for awhile
Then We driftcd among some OF the .iriftwooC
. OF tho propeller aud succeeded rlshting on
boat and then chung to her although no on,
got into hor:
We drf!c1 hack toward the propeller While!
was part al"v" water yet, a;l.i got on the llui
rcanc deck. Here we foui.d pail and SON
oars and bal!c'i ont onr boat, an gave SON
oars To few who found a,,t!,er !, ~. The
sc pick i CrosSon oft from the ,n!"t -r""'
r w|ir:, had become detached from I've ,'r":''l
ley, and which he had managed to climb rlNi
We then ale for shore and succeeded i'll Gil
, tc;ing The lar'nr, followed by the other boat
We al -ixtcn in ,"'r i',at. 5 vrh Q
L t!.t.r .:i. l.. fore We ;,rt in and prob
, ably from cxhau~,ion, as Two or tl,,cc wcr
u,UWnci whllo Onc-l. half Of their bodies wcr
in tho boat; They hadn't strength
save themselves when hall washed overheard
Wb.n D,:s'oi was washed ont aud browne
l seized Ills body and iitId ON to it '''! about
/: mile, and then it washed away from me. = Bt
f fore VIC landed SrnI,rr Frry s wife threw lis
l bottle OF brandy winch We drank before grttin
, out of the boat. I'll, citizens Of Grand Have
= did everything in tiu.r power for us. l RI
member cspccir'y l. hl''ian. proprietor I
e the Milwaukee, .Irl-r, where We all stopped
> Mr.. Prrcvai the agent vi tn: d. Il NJ. rua(
| r. Uu,,,,l,rv nvf1n nf the II. ~ linz
y They worked hard tor lis as III TACT I'll
:, everybody. The statements about tho boa
i leaking Friday night arc all false. She wa
n in Il perfectly sca-worthy condition, and :
= considered by all the officers.
o STATEMENT OF PETER RILEY.
s Twas first porter on board the Ironsidrs.
:, got up at about 2 o'clock in the morning. A
v was right ut that time, and seemed so unit
!, about seven o'clock. The sea- had been gctti
= heavier all The time. Finally: the fires wei
Il put ont Ivy tho water AT 10 o'clock, and the
y we took to the small boats. took chargl
e the third boat which, lott the Propeller. Thc1
were - in the boat, includ,lin. Maggie, IL
chanbs rlnald, and $ st,ansc lady, one Of II
= passengers. Our boat did not capsiz
> An were saved but "ne-a''d , that ";
r. Mr.. NinMcl, the New York travelling age,
k He and Mr.. Dun,iasher, tho cook, we're wash'
~ out. Dun.lasilcr swan in all right. b
~ W,mnci seemed exhausted and made no I
l, fort to save himself. When VIC struck Il
n beach Il young machinst ct Grand Have
" whose name l don't know, camo ont to lis
\ til. risk Of his liio AMl tied a rn," to our bo:
" 40 az to haul us in. lie was IL brave fellow.
u saved $500 Of express money. There were t.
t, people in the boat that got ~ ahead OF ,
is There wus,,'t very much excitement; prol
all acted very calmly and did the best tn
conid.
!, Mr.. F. N. Ripley, of Lowell, Mas
IN who was one of the saved, gives t
~ following additional particulars:
t. The sea became 81 rough before mi,lni;
to that could not sleep, though accustomed
;, the water. HcC.r" daylight the boat rolled
. - desperately that every movable thing y
~ smashing about thr vessel, and it WIS imp
IL, siblr to cross the cabin. 1t was hctwt,u
s when We came in sight OF the harh"r, a,lt
WAS rough that 1t seemed unwisr TO
I,a t. n,,t an entrance. W. could sec the lig
49,, house and the vr-scls on the beach, and ",
=" 'critl TINT some ono did not come +" our
&C. lief 1t was sad sight to nee
passengers standing i'll silence W