River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-09-26

save themselves when halt washed overheard:
Whom Driscoll was washed out and drowned
aoizad his body and held on to II for ABOUT
mile. and il then washed away IRON me. pc
fore We landed Senator Ferrys wife threw ~ a
bottle of brandy, which we drank before getunB
ont Of the boat. The eiuzehs OF uiahu HS' ~
ala everything in their power Tor u.s. re-
member especially Ed. Killian, proprietor OF
tbo Milwaukee House, where we all stopped,
Mr. perciyai the agent 81 the ID. ~ NJ. Road,
and Sir. Humphry, agent Of the Il. 1. Line.
Thew worked hard for us-as ~ TACT dld
everybody. The statements about the boat
leaking FRIDAY night are all false She was
ia a perfectly sea-worthy CONDITION, ana so
considered by an the officers
STATEMENT OF PETER RILEY.
was first porter on board Ironsides.
got M al about 2 o clock in the morning. All
vros rioht at that time and seemed so until
about seven o'clock. The sea had been getting
heavier all the time Finally, the fires were
mt ont by the water at 10 O'Clock, and then
We took 10 the small boats. took charge Of
tho third boat which lett the propeller. There
were 10 in tho boat, including Maggie, the
chambeTmaid and strange lady, one OF the
passengers. Our boat did not capsize.
All we're saved but Oue-and rat was
Mr.. Wrmmel, the New York travelling agent
He aud Mr.. Dundasher, the cook, were washed
ont Dundasher swan ia all right, but
Wimmel seemed exhausted and made no eff
fort 10 save himself. When we struck the
beach young machlnest OF Grand Haven,
whose name / don't know, came out to us at
the risk Of his life and tied n rope to our boat,
80 as to haul us in. He was brave fellow. /
saved 500 OF express money. There were zen
people M the boat that got in ahead Of us.
There wasn't very much excitement people
al acted very calmly and did the best they
could.
Mr.. +. n. Ripley, of Lowell, Mass,
who was one Of the saved, gives the
following additional particulars:
The sea became no rough before midnight
thar | could not sleep, though accustomed TO
tlo water. Before daylight the boat rolled so
desperately that every movable thing was
smashing about the vessel. and ii was impos-
able to cross hocabln. IL was between and
when we camo in sight Of The haroor, and il
fas so rough that 1t seemed unwise TO at
Fmpt an entrance. We could see the light
louise and the vessels on the beach, and won
dred that some one did not come to
our relief. IL was sad sight 10 see
ihe passengers standing in silence, with
hem hte-pr servers on, knowing that
y few moments they would all be- at the
lbefcy of the breakers. But all were calm aud
sell-possessed. Captain SweetmaR behaved
with the utmost GOODNESS and courage, and
the crew obeyed every order readily. We were
al washed out OF the boat when within thirty
rods OF the 81 ore, but were rescued by those
90 the beach IA most gallant manner. | was
picked mp unconscious, but am all right now.
The Captain said it was the toughest sea he
lad eyeriseen on the lakes.
Those familiar with the shore saythe Iron
slles went down in not less than forty fatn-
cans OF water.
AN AFFECTING SCENE.
When the ORDER was given for the
passengers to prepare for danger, great
excitement prevailed, naturally, and
yet but few became thoroughly un-
manned. Mrs. Valentine seemed to
think only of her little boy. She ran
to Mr.. Kitzinger and cried, " For
God's sake try and save my little boy
at least, if you can't save me. Save
ny darling boy y aud this request she
repeated many times. When the first
boat was launched she and her child
we're put into it, the boat being in the
hands of Hazelbarth, who was a splen-
did seaman. But as has been already
told, the boat capsized, and all were
lost except Sam Watkins, who swan
ashore; remarkable feat.
The propeller was differed as fol-
lows:
Captain Harry Sweetman.
First Mate Mike Cross0n.
second Nate-Alfred Pittman.
letting PUser-N. h. Watkins.
Sel0drd-John Driscoll.
FIRST Eagiseer-lfobert hicGlue.
sec0Rd Engineer John NJ. Cowan.