Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-09-23
Thrilling Adventures on Lake Mich
igan.

as given by rescued paTIleS. Inc Only
known survivor of the crew Of the former
vessel reached Chicago on the 18th, hav-
ing been picked up by the schooner
Havana. His name is given by one OF
the papers as Charles Burns, and his story
is condensed as follows:
Burns, who was wheelsman, remained
in the wheehouse until five minutes of
the time the Equinox went down. When
the line by which the Maycs was towed
was cut the propeller had nearly eight
feet of water in her hold. Her gangway
had been stove in by the heavy seas and
the salt between decks was washing over
board. She had only two boats One
had been launched, containing Capt
Dwight Scott, the mate, two fircmcn, six
deck hands and another man, unknown.
There were twenty on board in all, in
Guiding two ladies. The propeller went
down by the stern, and just before the
sinking Burns and Capt Woodruff had
been working to get the second boat
launched. The tacklng caught, however,
and neither having knife with which to cut
the guys ii became too late, and Burns
and Capt. Woodruff took to tenders, Of
which the former secured two The up
per works of the propeller floatcd off, and
Burns seeing the deck of the pilot house
within a short distance OF him, struck out
for ii and succeeded in getting upon il,
thus losing sight of Woodruff. The
Equinox went down about ten miles off
Point Saublc, at about two O'Clock Friday
morning, or little after, and Burns feels
quite certain that all, except those in the
boat perished, as also Capt. Woodruff, as
the latter could not possibly live in that
sea on the Tenders. The young ladies, the
daughter and niece Of Capt Scott, were
so overcome 10y fright that they were easy
victims. Besides these ladies there were
left on board five persons. A blanket and
sheet, from the berth below the pilot
house. were secured by Burns, and he
dashed himself to the uprights in which
the wheel was rugged, and SO iloated. He
went through terrible ordeal, and became
so chilled and exhausted that had it not
been for his precaution in lashing himself
he must have been washed off and per-
ishcd. An hour or two after the sinking
OF the propeller the second cook came
drifting in the vicinity Of Burns, who says
no unlashed himself, swan to the man and
got him aboard the pilot-house deck, but
he soon alterward died and washed oft
Later, the boat containing those mentioned
above came along. Capt Scott asked
Burns to enter it, but he preferred not and
the boat and raft soon atterward separated,
the boat going Burns does not know
where. The gale was at its height, and
Burns does not think Capt SCOTS party
weathertd it. At least, if the boat had
outridden the storm or been picked up,
she ought to be heard from by this time.
Burns took to the tenders at about two a.
m Friday and was taken off his raft about
sixty miles off the Manitous the middle of
the lake ut nine p, III. Saturday, the raft
going to pieces soon after,
Eight of the survivors of the Mendoza
also reached Chicago on the 18th. One
of their number, seaman, tells the fol-
lowing story:
There were twenty persons on board the
propeller, including two ladies', the Cap.
tains wife and the Stewards wife. They
had prosperous voyage until they
reached Glen Harbor, on Lake Michigan,
about four O'Clock Thursday afternoon,
when the wind began to blow gale from
the northwest. \ few hours later the
wind changed to the north, and "A fearful
sea was making. They passed Point Bet.
sey ut quarter past twelve Friday morn
ing, and the propeller, though laboring,
went along all night. At about two o'clock
one of the hnrGcs, the Morning Star, broke
pellcr broke away and She began to make
water They then let go the other barge.
This was about eight miles east of Point
Sauble, When it was observed that she
was sinking one of the boats was lowered
The Captain was the first to enter the
boat and the mate the second.
Everybody that could crowded into IT,
The crew were told not to get in it by
the Captain but Ia launch the second
boat, though he knew there was not time
enough 10 do it. Ten persons crowded in
the boat, and when the Captain saw his
wife was not In il he tried TO have her
saved, aud in the effort to do 50 he fell out
OF the boat, and was iammed between the
arch and boom, The Captain got back
into the boat again, and more tried to get
In, hut they were driven back by the mate.
The Captains father fell out, and was
Killed bl being damned between the bul.
warks and the huWsrr-boN In the effort
tn save the Captains wife who was seen
clinging to the hawSerboX, the owners
son, Billy Cro>sthWaite, and the second
engineer were thrown out of the boat No
effort was made Ia save them. and Mr.
troSSthwaite climbed up onthc pilot.houSe
on top of which he was last seen. This
len but eight persons in The boat They
pulled Tor quarter oil an hour toward
the sinking boat, trying 10 save the Cap.
tin's wife. At about three o'clock the
vessel went down stern first Nothing
could be heard from those lei on board of
the wreck, except that the Stewards wife
cried: ooh, my God" The wind was
terrible and the waves were filling the
small boat in which theywere, but 10y bail
ing they managed to keep il aloat They
were ON the boat twenty nine hours, and
were once passed by vessel which he is
confident was the schooner Emma A..
MANNS. md ihnnnh ihnN mane Sirns of