Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-09
A TERRIBLE NIGHT.
ThTiiifnR ESpsrisnee Of a Detroit Girl
I~shed go the BuiyvaFks of n sInLfaz
Prop, 1isr.

ThTbiinE ESpsrisnee Of a Detroit Girl
I~shed go the BuiyvaFts of n Sinking
Props Iier.
The Detroit Free Pres has the follow
ing account Of the experience Of Miss
Beile Johnson, young lady who Was
aboard the propeller Bcrtschy when II
was wrecked on lake Huron:
After leaving Bay City we had much
heavy weather and had become rather
accustomed to the tossing Of the boat.
Thursday night no change was observe 4
and the lady passengers, myself among
the number, collected in the after cabin
To listen TO the stories OF several South
ern ladies-refugees from the fever epi-
dcmic, who had chosen the lake IA a safe
resort. was standing within three feet
oil my stateroom when the conversation
was ended by q tcrable crash which
threw me beadlong across the cabin.
lhe other ladies were crowded in n cor
ner, not ore being able to speak For
some minutes no one moved, and only
heard AN occasional prayer above the
hoarse roar. One lady, like myself, had
had experience in similar emergencies,
and we with difficulty gained the deck.
The night was very dark. and nothing
could be seen except the lighthouse bea-
con, several miles away Our steaIz
whistles had been sounding signals Of
distress. but the water dashed over the
| engine fires and they were put out, and
the only signal on board gradually died
To n moan and then failed quite We
looked for torches. but there were nons
on board. Our lamps had been dashed
| out and we were left groring about in
the darkness Captain McGregor had
been sick in bed, but could distinguish
him on deck, giving directions for the
launching Of boat which was TO make
an attempt at landing in order TO secure
assistance. The boat was in the water
but minute, and then ] knew by the
SCREAMS heard that ii had gone over.
We passed the night in this way,
comforting each other and assisting the
crew rs w ould. The male passengers
on board Al secured their life-preserv-
crs and 81 With them on all night, but
the wome: iiad given everything up and
/ refused - put one on, thinking 10
would on proiong my suffering. Early
Friday mc ming the steward came below
and insisted upon buckling on the pre-
server. II SEEMED like getting into my
coffin, r. had said my last prayer and
was rcany. After securing the belts We
were led TO the upper deck, and, as the
boat threatened to part every minute.
we were lashcd one by one TO the outer
[ Jul" ~ mr. w AflfN'l tue IbuIt1
over me the ropes held me fast. and sAt
tied there three hours looking into the
water and wishing ! could 60 down and
have IL ended.
The captain passed by, and. with his
glass, ! could sec some Of our men cling
ing 20 the foot Of a perpendicular cliff
about forty feet in height. They had
been driftcd ashore the night before.
when the small boat was swamped |
also saw the lifeboat being launched, and
the crowd of men hurrying up and down
the shore rs though bewildered. The
life-saving boat could be seen an instant
then IL would sink in the trough Of the
sea, and we thought il was lost. Il
gradually neaucd US. and line was
thrown out and secured by Captain Kiah.
Then two men were seen climbing out
on tho ruycs and through the water to-
ward our boat. II took them long time
but they were al last on board and knew
how 10 direct our efforts for safety
Through their management the boats
came near 10y and we were hauled on
board ard then taken 10 land. Not until
] stood on solid ground could think
that II was possible for me 10 escape
death
The greatest praise Is due the men ia
tic liicboat. | visited their station
Saturday, and found tile road over
which they carried their boat rough and
sandy. As IL was about five miles from
( the propeller's wreck, il seemed marvel
Gus that they could reach her Al all