The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-07-20
Wreck of a Steamer on Lake
Champlain.

One OF the most fortunate unfortunate
steamboat accidents occurred on Lake
Champlain about 1880 O'Clock Friday
morning. The steamer Champlain left
Wcstport about IL o'clock bound north on
her regular night trip. Captain Rushlow
was in command. When the boat arrived
at Westport John EIdridge. ono of the
oldest, best and most reliable pilots on the
lake, took his regular watch at the wheel.
The assistant pilot was below in the
dining room partaking of his regular
night lunch. The Champain had Just
passed Steam Mill Point, when terrific
crash awoke the sleeping passengers from
their quiet slumber. There were about
eighty passengers on board including
men, women and children. The ladies
shrieked and the men seemed beside
themselves. One lady, taking in the
situation, tainted, but was soon restored to
her senses. Captain Rushlow, with great
coolness and dignity, ordered the passen.
gers TO quiet their fears, assuring them the
danger had been passed, and that the
vessel was nearly high and dry on shore.
This partially quoted the fears of the
passengers, who returned to their state
rooms, secured their clothes and began
dressing themselves. The vessel had
been run out of her course at least thirty
yards, She lay at an angle with the
shore of iorty-fvo degrees, with over half
her length on land while her stern was in
deep water. The vessel had glided swift.
ly up Hat rock causing the hull 20 break
in two just forward CT the engines amid.
ship. Within five minutes from the time
the Champlain struck the rocky shore, the
stern and promenade deck were complete.
ly submerged in water. while the boats
bow dropped over the rock and on shore.
None of the passengers or crew received
any injury.
After quiet was restored, and the pas
sengers dressed, Captain Rushlow had
the gang planks put out, when the pas
sengers were safely landed on shore.
After securing the safety of the passepg.
ers. Captain Rushlow sent Pilot Rock.
well with a small boot and crew to hail
the Adirondack, Captain Anderson, which
boat was coming in sight from the north.
In short time Captain Anderson step.
ped aboard the wreck and added his as.
sistance to that Of Captain Rushlow. The
passengers on shore were then transported
to the Adirondack, while the baggage OF
the Inflated vessel was also carried
aboard Captain Andersons boat. The
Adirondack then resumed her course,
after bidding farewell to the officers and
crew of the Champlain
Just why the boat had been put out Of
her way thirty rods and run diagoually on
shore is mystery. John Eldridge is an
old veteran pilot. lie has always enjoyed
the confidence OF his employers, and is
said to know every rock in Lake Cham
plain. AT the hour of the accident it was
very dark. The inference is that the
darkness mislcd him, or at the time of the
accident he was laboring under some
temporary arrangement, which made him
unaccountable for his actions.
The Champlain was formerly the Cakes
Amcs aud was built by tho Burlington
Steamboat Company for the Rutland and
Burlington Railroad, TO ferry across Lake
Champlain from Pittsburgh to Burling-
ton; the vessel cost about $3.50, 900, was
three hundred feet in length, and was the
only vessel on the lake containing two
engines. In 1878, she was purchased by
the Champlain Steamboat Company, her
name changed to the Champlain, and
made into a passenger boat She was
placed in the line during the season Of
1873, and was commanded by Capt.
Flagg until his death. Last season Capt
Holt commanded this vessel and this sea.
son she was held as a reserve boat. Two
weeks ago she took the place of the Yer
mont which broke a piston rod and wal
hauled off.-ErchGnge.