The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-09-26
TERRIBLE DISASTER.

Loss OF THE PROPELLER 1RoNsIDEs OFF GRAND
HAVEN, MIcu.-UrwARp OF TWENTY LIVES
LOST.
[Grand Haven sept. 10 Dispatch to Chicago Trb-
The steamer Ironsides, of the Engleman
line, one Of the largest teamers on the lakes,
| foundcred and sunk when seven miles on this
| port, at noon to-day. Her signal of distress
was hoisted at . O'Clock this morning, but 80
terrible was the heavy sea and high wind that
no assistance could possibly reach her. She
labored in the troughs of the sea from 1880 in
the morning till the time she sunk. The pas
sengers and crew-of whom there were nine
teen of the former and thirty of the latter
manned the lifeboats and left the steamer
abont IL a. m, the last boat leaving her at
1l:5O a. m. When the last boa; had got about
4 quarte- of n mile from her, she went down.
There were five boats filed with the crew
and passengers. One of tho boats, having
i've mel and four women On board, ca!n.zod.
and only one man reached the shore. -Four
boats have reached the shore up 10 II p. III.
The boat with Capt. Sweetman, his wife, and
five passengers has not yet been heard from
it is feared they are among the lost. Thirty
two persons are known to have been saved.
Fourteen bodies have been recovered.
The Ironsides was in plain sight of the har-
Dor until she went to the bottom. Senator
Ferry was one OF the first to discover her rig
nal of distress, about 10 O'Clock. but it was too
late even then there Wac no boat here which
could ride the terrible sea to carry relief. The
propeller Lake Breeze brayely undertook the
task, but was herself disabled before getting
half a mile out of the harbor. The following
is the statement Of the Ironsides' clerk, Mr..
N. f. Watkins:
I'VE left Milwaukee at $40 last night with
nineteen passengers and i crew OF thirty men,
and were due in Grand Haven between ) and
6 this morning. The cargo consisted of -. 900
bushels of wheat, 800 barrels Of flour, l25
barrels Of pork, and some miscellaneous ar
ticles. This WAS a very light cargo, since the
boat could carry LOO tons. A moderate
breeze WIS blowing from the southwest, which
constantly increased until it became a terrific
gale before daylight. / did not get up until Q
o'clock, when the boat was rolling fearfully.
l Immediately went below and found the men
working at the pumps. The water had al
ready put out the fires. and the engines were
useless. then went to the Office and got the
passenger register. money, and manifest, and
went on the hurricane deck, where / found
Capt. Sweetman getting the foresail on.
He was thoroughly self-possessed. and the
men obeyed orders promptly. We then
made about three miles toward the shore. The
signal Of distress had been raised at $50.
About 10 o'clock the passengers all put on life
preservers, for it was evident the boat must
go down. AT l1:20 the Captain ordered the
boats to be manned. In the first boat all the
lady passengers, except one, were placed in
the second boat were ten or twelve Of the pas
sengers and crew. l took charge of the third
boat, which carried seven passengers, includ-
ing one lady, aud two OF the crew bcsidss my
self, all Of whom were saved. After | had
| pushed of, / saw two other boats leave the
wreck, in one Of which ! supposed the Captain
10 be. My boat was hardly half a mile from
the Ironsides when she sank, stern foremost,
about five miles from shore. 1t was ten min
utes past g when she disappeared. She was
estimated to be worth about sI15. 900; was
thoroughly overhauled last winter, and was
considered one of the staunchest boats on the
lake"
STATEMENT OF A PASSENGER.
Mr.. +. N. Ripley, of Lowell, Mass, a very