Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-09-17
THE IRONSIDES.
Heart-rending Scenes.
The Clerks Statement.

GRAND HAVEN, MICH, Sept. l6.-N. b.
Watkins, clerk of the Ironsides, says: 1 did
not get up until O'Clock, when the boat
was reeling fearfully. immediately went
below and found the men working at the
DUMPS. The water bad already put out
the fires, and the engines were useless. On
the hurricane deck found the Captain.
He was thoroughly self possessed and the
men obeyed his orders promptly. The sig
nal of distress had been raised at 9;SO.
About 10 O'Clock the passengers all put on
life preseryers. At 11:20 the Captain or
dered the boats to be manned. In the first
boat all the lady passengers, except one,
was placed. In the second boat were ten
or twelve passengers and crew. l took
charge of the third boat which carried seven
passengers, including one lady and two OF
the crew besides myself, all of whom were
saved. After 1 had pushed of, saw two
or three other boats leave the wreck, ID one
of which | supposed the Captain to be. My
boat was hardly half mile from the Iron
sides when she sank, stern foremost, about
five miles from shore, in forty fathom Watsr'
She was estimated to be worth about
$4,000. fsH =-res- -I1a.. = rcT
Details of the Wreck.
The propeller Ironsides left Milwaukee
Sunday night on time, but owing TO the
day being Sunday, the list OF passengers
was not very large, there being but l9 on
the register. There were 81 seamen and
one not registered. The steamer hove IN
sight of this port at Z A. M, but did not az
tempt to make the port on account OF the
high sea aud the number of vessels and
barges which went on beach IN attempting
to make port. The steamer headed sea-
ward again, and at 9 o'clock appeared to be
about 9 miles out. She was seen
TO have fra in her engines until
about 10 O'Clock, when no more smoke
was to be seen from her smoke stacks. The
foresaii was then raised, but she had been
leaking considerably, and water gained on
the men at the pumps so fast that at II
o'cloek il was evident she must 60 down.
The passengers were all supplied with lie
preservers and stood ready at a moments
warning to take to the boats. At 1l:2U
Cant. Sweetmsn, who was commander, or
dered the life boats to be got in readiness
and launched. The first boat contained all
the ladies but one. The second boat
contained ten or twelve Of the crew and
passengers. In the third was Mr. Watkins,
the clerk of the boat, one lady named Miss
Ward, five passengers and two OF the crew.
There were two more boats seen TO leave to
the steamer, the fourth and fifth boats
could not be reached in time TO offer any
possible sucecr, so high was the wind that
the boats were driven ashore before any
person could get to them. As the boats ap-
preached the shore and all were overturned
In the surf, strong men and expert swimmers
70. med lines in the water, and in this man.
ner everybody, 6ead or alive, that was seen
was recovered. So terrible was the sea that
no assistance could possibly fe rendered to
the doome steamer and her living frelght.
All tie bodies recovered, which were not
cared for by friends who recognized them,
we're tenderly cared for and dressed
for burial by committees OF ladies'
and gentlemen of our city, who
voluntarily and willingly offered their ser
vices in taking care OF the bodies until they
should be Unidentified and cared for by their
friends. Every possible means have been
used to notify relatives and friends by teie-
graph of the sad occurrence, and not Few
have answered quickly TO the call. There
has been I'D to this time OF writing 10 bod
les recovered, all have been ldenti-
fed with exception OF one' ihe
little boy of Mrs. Valentine, was dressed
in a sailor suit of blue, had light hair, blue
ewes and beautiful features, ana Win Ihe
exception of the paleness OF the face, looked
as though he had dropped quietly to
his IasI sleep. It was scene
that would have touched the hardest
hesrt to see the sorrow s'rcken hnso3nd
and father who arrived from MilWaukee
this morning, when he recognized ms wie
and little boy and k3ew that bis Wnole IN
ily had been 30 suddenly gr sped from MN
forever. 1t was scene that many Oh our
citizens have never before witnessed ana
r,auar wish To see a9ail. I--u u -