Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-07-23


John E.dridge, the pilot at the wheel at
the time Of the wreck Of the steamer Cham
plain. arrived az his home in this city u
Sunday, having crossed tie lake to P4uton
anu thence driven home lie can not, how
ever, account in any manner for the acc.-
dent. All reports Of his insanity are ground
less, we understand.
Among the thousand and one absurd ru-
mors aa1at il regard to the disaster, the
most absurd Is tina: circulated jy persons
who ought 70 have known better. that the
wreck was an intentional one. in order that
the Company might obtain The insurance
The folly Of this rumor Will he seen when
it IS stated tina; there was no Insurance
whatever upon the Champlain (,aya against
ire), the Company never having taken a
marine risk on any OF their vessels.
The work of dlsmantling the wreck pro
crossing as rapidly as possible, but it Is
probable that at least month will be con-
samed in the process.
The Vermont, at the earliest, Will not be
out until the end Of the week. and in the
meantime the Company Will run only two
boats. as already announced in this paper.
CAPT. RUsHLow's STATEMENT.
The Champain left Westport at mid
night Of Thursday. the night be-
ing almost a. bright as day. Here
she changed pilots, MIR. Rockwell going off
and Mr. Eldridge coming on. At the time
OF theaccident Twenty minutes past twelye),
which occurred close to the New York
shore at Steam Mil Bay, about three miles
north Of Westport. was asleep. and was
awakened by the shock. On coming on
deck ! found that the vessel was on the
rocks. about 10 feet Of her bow on the port
side being out of the water. ! Immediately
got the passengers forward who all behaved
well, and landed them and their baggage on
the shore, which was easily done. | then
sent Pilot Rockwell to intercept the AdIron-
daek on her up trip. to take off the pa>sen-
gers. She came alongside about , a. III.
the steamer meanwhile kept settling.
and her stern was soon submerged IN
about thirty-six feet of water. | did
not see Pilot Eldridge after the accident,
but vas informed by TromblY, the ongin-
eer. that he saw him going mp the noun
tain about daylight with his vall>e and
coat on his arm. There were sixty-three
passengers on board, among them Judge
Palmer and Hon Smith VI. Weed of Platts-
| turgh, and Jacob Cole Of BROOKLYN. with
their families. The only persons injured
was 4 lady passenger who was thrown cut OF
/ her berth in one OF the forward stato-roOms,
who lost tooth; and a man named Dewing
who had his hand cut by breaking the glass
/ of one OF the state-rOOm doors. | cannot
account for the accident, "a E.driige was a
trusty pilot. had been in TIL employ of the
company about twenty years. and had been
on duty bat fifteen minutes The regular
course Of the vessel is no, forty rods at this
point from the shore
The Sentinel says that E'drldge. the
pilot, knew every rock in Lake Cham
plain. Ii is supposed that he lefl because
he did not have the heart u face those
whose lives he had put in peril. As soon
as the vessel struck, Capt. Rushlow ordered
the fires extinguished and the lights put
out as far as practicable. after the passen-
gers had got of. The crew behaved with
that admirable discipline for which the
Lake Champlain steamers are noted
At the time of the accidens Valentine q.
/ HUT, baggage master, was in his Office.
The baggage office Is situated at the place
where the vessel pzsted. Broken timbers
gage master. causing him to perform many
agile acrobatic and gymnastic evolutioGs,
while lodging the huge splinters which
threatened his life. Fortunately the bag
gage and freight were out of water, thus
preventing loss IN that direction.
Great credit Is due to Capt. RushlOw for
bis presence OF mind after the accident.
This and the orderly discipline on board the
boat. no doubt saved many lives When
the panic took possession OF the passengers
many tried TO get out of the saloon. The
cracking of the heavy timbers, and the great
conclusion .oi the vessel at iull heacway,
striking the rocky shore. was sufficient to
appall the strongest hearts. That steam
explosion did not take place Is due to the
noble efforts of engineer Trombley. After
the wreck the engineer began hauling the
fire AID opening the escape valves, allow
sng the steam to escape. He and the other
engineer. Peter Forent. did not forsake
their posts until all danger from an explo-
sion was over.
The engines are not materially damaged,
and about two loads of the furniture and