The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-09-23
DRIFTING ON TO DEATH.
The Thrilling Narrative Of a Sur
vivor of the Wrecked Mendoza.
AN EYENTFUL EXPERTENcF


LIFT BY TIE STORM DEMON IN a WASTE OF
WILD WATERS THAT CHILLED THE ILL
FAIED MARINER THROUGH AND THROUGH
The following are the full particulars OF
the wreck of the Mendoza IS related by one
of the passengers 20 the Chicago Evening
Mail: Thursday, the Sth, the sea began to
roll very high, and yet no fears were enter
tanned by the officers but what she could
weather 1t in perfect safety. Up to this
time no danger was noted, but about 2:3O
o'clock on Friday afternoon, when near
Little Point Sauble, it was discovered that
she was leaking, and the pumps were rugged
and manned. The sea by this time rolled
terrifically, and to a person unac-
quainted with such things it seemed as
though every billow must engulf her
Her captain, sleepless and vigilant, stood at
his post, and but for his eagle eve and iudg-
ment she must have broken down sooner
than she did. With five pumps working
constantly, the soundings in her we'll
showed gain from eleven to nineteen
inches in thirty minutes. The barge Morn.
ing Star parted her tow line at about 2:45
O'Clock and greater hesdway was then
made. AT $3.50 O'Clock the water was found
rushing into the boats stern aud.It became
evident that crisis was approaching which
would require all the tact and nerve OF
every man on board to save the vessel. The
steam pumps were dischsrging huge vol
umes of water from her hold and the hand
pumps Were worked with such energy as
realize that life or death was the stake. Cot
rec and food were served to the men to sus-
tain them, and still the cruel
REMoRsELEss WATER CREPT UP INCH BY INCH
slowly but surely working its way toward
its victims. and still the mountainous bill
lows rolled ruthlessly on, seemingly deter
for striving to overcome their force. At
about o'clock it was found that it would
be impossible to proceed with the remaining
barge and the Evening Star, and it was
cut loose and the steamers head turned
toward the west shore, distant about fif-
teen or sixteen miles. The engineers and
hremen then began work which will ever
place them upon the page of history as true
heroes ofa struggle wherein not only skill,
but endurance, pluck and manly courage
were exhibited, such as is rarely seen in this
age. The water began to overflow the fire
hole, and it rose upward minute by minute,
BILE men, faithful to the last.
still fed the huge furnaces with
wood, still worked to raise more steam,
while from their naked bosoms, arms, and
smoke-begrimed faces streams of swea:
rolled of, while they waded around in the
water up to their knees, while the engineers.
one on one side, the other on the other side,
watched each JOINT, bolt, and crank with
ceaseless vigilance, for they all knew that
the only hope was to reach the shore before
the waters should choke the fire. i'More
wood, captain, for GODS sake moro wood"
came hOarsely up from the seething hell OF
fire and water in the freehold. "Give me but
twenty minutes, or thirty at the outside.
and we are saved" Wood was furnished
but alas, too late. The mountainous waves
chasing each otherin rapid succession struck
her with terrific force astern, and all
at once, with report like the neise OF q
cannon, her arch on the port side in the
stern separated from the rest, and her great
IRON RODS SNAPPED LIKE PIPE STEMS.
The floor OF the freehold gaped open, while
the steam pipe connecting her boilers with
her cylinders was drawn about ten inches,
leaving only about one half to three qusr-
ters of an inch of connection. The faithful
Ness, the first, and Hughes, the second en-
queer, still stood to their posts, one with
his hand on the throttle lever and the other
at the engine hole below, fully determined
to push their boat the last inch before thew
left their posts. All the deck cargo in the
after part was being heaved over, and every
thing possible was done to keep her up to
make the shore, but it was not to be. The
noble captain and mate with stern and
manly bearing gave orders TO prepare the
life boats. All at once the throbbing of the
ponderous engines was heard no more. We
knew then that all hope was gone. Look
ing down into the freehold nothing could be
seen but a floating mass of wood. ashes and
chips, while the water was four feet deep, and
rising an inch minute. One great popularity
of the tragedy was the GOODNESS displayed by
Captain Fairbanks and Mate John Harvey.
Not muscle quivered, not an order issued
with haste, not a particle of excitement was
visible to any one upon the faces
of either of these officers, but
with energy and promptness each
obstacle was met, and only when every
thing was done that could be done was the
order given to clear away the boats. The
Ii fe- preseryers were distributed, and all but
one put them on. The vessel was provided
with two good life-bOats, one of which was a
metallic boat, on the port side; the other
wooden yawl upon the starboard. The yawl
was Immediately cleared of her fast6nings,
and an attempt made to remove Mrs. Fair
banks and the stewards wife, but they could
not be induced to ascend to the hurricane
deck. The wheelsman, Frank Fairbanks,
still remained maufully at his post, firmly
braced to hold her on her course, and at this
iuncture the foresail was raised to keep her
running shoreward. In a few moments
THE HUGE CANVAS WAS IN RIBBONS
and a short time a.terward the mast was
swept overheard. All this time the vessel
rolled terribly, so much so that no man
could traverse her deck upright, and we
were obliged to crawl around on our hands
and knees. After her mast went over she
rode little easier, but in few minutes we
looked astern and saw the water close over
the upper deck att, and a jump, scramble,
and a clutching Of articles of support
With a crash and a grOan the noble ship
raised high her head, as If to take one last
look at earth, and with gurgling rush and
moan, sunk from our sight, leaving but
eight men in her yawl, floating upon the
mighty pillows, while twelve others were
left to float upon the chilly waters of the lake.
The first wave threw the yawl many rods
from the wreck. and when we headed around
to go to the rescue, no pen like mine, no
human tongue can express the dire scene
there presented to our view. The few for
as follows: Captain Fairbanks, f. w. Fair
banks, s. l.. Sage, Patrick Monnahan, w.
9 mo Nass Inhn Carraar