The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-09-13
Disastrous Lake Storm - Pro-
pelleF Equinox Sunk-TWenty.
Two Lives Lost.

NAneHtEA beNhAGu Ih 44Hhu NAAGLlBtu GdA
yesterday morning, which has just been
reported here. The propeller Equinox,
on the way from Chicago to Bay City,
Michigan, with cargo Of salt, and tow.
ing the schooner Emma L. Mayes, loaded
with lumber, was overtaken BY the storm
about | o'clock yesterday morning, near
Point au Sable, ls0 miles north Of Chi
CagO.
Captain Woodruff, OF the Equinox,
came to the stern Of the propeller at that
time and called out to cut the lines. This
was done, and the propeller careened and
sunk in a few minutes after. She had on
board crew OF nineteen men, and Cap
tain Dwight Scott, Of Cleveland, we'll
known lake Captain, who was accom-.
panied by his wife and granddaughter,
making total Of twenty-five. The first
intimation the schooner had of the ca.
taStrophe was the shrieks Of the drown
ing.
The Mayes could render no assistance
whatever in the terrible sea that was
raging, and the entire crew Of the Equinox
went down. The Mayes arrived here this
morning.
DETAILS OF THE DISASTER.
The Chicago Posi- &c Mail publishes the
following account Of the disaster to the
propeller Equinox; A most terrible dis.
aster, arising from the great storm OF
Thursday night, comes to light this morn
ing-a disaster involving the loss Of the
steamer Equinox, with all on board,
Twenty-Five persons were on board not
One.of whom Is known to have escaped.
The angry waters Of the lake swallowed
the great vessel at one gulp, leaving no
sign Of where II had been a few minutes
before. There were two passengers on
board, the other nineteen being the cap
tain and crew. The drowned captain was
Dwight Scott, Of Cleveland, and was for
merly oWnsr OF the lrOnsides, S. D. Cald.
well and Governor Cushman, the last
named having been blown up Nt Buffalo
three years ago. The passengers were
Miss Minnie Scott, his daughter, aged
10, who was home on vacation from n
convent, where she was being educated,
and Miss Hattie Scott, aged II, n grand.
daughter, who lived in Cleveland, and
was travelling for pleasure in the Equi'
nox, and was also drowned. Captain
Scott was about sixty years Of age, and
has son in business in Cleveland. The
names OF the crew are not yet known. The
Equinox started from Saginaw bound for
Chicago Sunday evening last, laden with
salt consigned to Mr.. Stewart, Of the Ex.
change Building. She was near Port au
Sable, about 1870 miles from Chicago,
when she went down.
The story of the disaster Is told by
Captain Lusk, OF the schooner Emma A.
Mayes, which arrived of the harbor at
s o'clock Inst night, md was brought in
this morning. Ills schooner was being
towed by the lost propeller up to within
n few minutes before she wentdown. The
storm struck the lake with great force,
but the two vessels plowed their way
through without misfortune until about
9 o'clock Friday morning. The crews
Of both vessels were ready for duty, and
on the schooner were constantly engaged
about the sails and rigging. The fury
Of the storm was terrible, and 1t seemed
several times as though certain destruc.
ton awaited them. No sign, however,
came from the Equinox that all was not
right on board. Her speed was very
much retarded, but she held her course
and steamed ahead. The night was pitch
dark, and the water was running high.
The storm created fearful din, making
II almost impossible TO hear anything but
the warning of the elements. Az the
lightning flashed across the scene 1t gave
the only idea to the unfortunate mariners
as to the looking Of things. As to what
was likely to happen at any minute
they were only too forcibly impressed.
They were of Point Nu Sable at about 2
o'clock Friday morning, when Captain
Lusk heard d voice from the propeller
Cast of your line which was
followed by the shrieks Of
women. In few seconds all was still,
the crew OF the Mayes meanwhile loosing
the line. The voices Of the women from
the propeller were again heard, and II
seemed to those on board the Mayes as
though they cried, we are drowning
Tho line was already loosened and the con.
neCtiOn between the two vessels severed.
Suddenly,while Captain lusk was peering
through the darkness at the receding pro.
pellor, itappenred to tip, and, almost be.
fore he could make a motion, the im.
mense craft went down, the Kissing and
bubbling Of the water only telling Of
where sllc had been. II was 40 quiet that
no ono on board the schooner seemed 10
have an idea Of the true state of facts.
For moment II seemed as though II
might be that the propeller had steamed
away and was lost to sight In the storm,
but the spectacle Of the sinking steamer
was too plainly impressed on his mind.
There could be no mistake. The steamer
had been swallowed up. There had been
no warning, no sign that anything was
wrong, until the orders came to cut loose,
and from that instant all seemed to have
been lost
Captain Ltisk wenthered the remainder
Of the night rs best he could, and, last
evening, arrived In the harbOr, con-
the worse for wear. Captain
Edward Lusk, Of the Emma Mayes, said
to a reporter that he had not known the
propeller but n short time, but considered
her seuworthy, or he would not have kept
her in tow 80 long. She gave no sign Of
distress either by whistling or showing
lights. Captain Lusk says; u had scarce.
ly noticed the careenihg Of the propeller
when Captain Woodruff shouted to me,
cast of your tow lihe.' As soon MS I had
done this I noticed she was sinking. l
heard the women shout, we're drowning,
we're drowning and the propeller sank
completely out Of sight. II wasn't five
minutes from the time the Captain told
me to cast of before she disappeared be.
meath the waters. We could render no
assistance, as n small boat could not live
in such a sea, and to try 10 bring the
schooner along side would have been GER
tain death to all. II was all l could do
to weather the gale; as IL was, my foresail
was badly split, and my cargo was shift
ing some. She went down 80 quickly
that there was no chance for any escape.
The propeller must have opened her
seams at once and been literally swallow
ed up by the great suction caused there
by.
"a have no doubt At all but that every