The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-10-01
LAsHED TO THE BuLwARKs.
The Experience of a Young Woman Who
Was Wrecked on Lake Huron.

WAS Wreckcu On Lake huron
Detroit News.
Among the passengers who arrived on
Saturday night from Lake Huron was Miss
Belle johnson, principal saleswoman in the
confectionery establishment of Thrope, Haw-
ley s. Co., of this city. She gave the fol-
lowing description of her experience on the
i'll fated Bertschy:
"After leaving Bay City we had much
heavy weather and had become rather ac-
customed to the tossing of the boat. On
Thursday night no change was observed.
and the lady passengers, myself among the
number, collected in the after cabin to listen
to the stories of several Southern ladies'
refugees from the fever epidemic who had
chosen the lake as a safe resort was stand
ing within three feet of my stateroom when
the conversation was ended by terrible
crash which threw me headlong across the
cabin. The other ladies were crowded in
corner, not one being able to speak. For
some moments no one moved, and | only
heard an occasional prayer above the hoarse
roar. One lady, like myself, had had expe-
rance in similar emergencies, and we with
difficulty gained the deck. The night was
very dark, and nothing could be seen but the
lighthouse beacon, several miles away.
Our steam whistle had been sounding signals
of distress, but, as the water dashed over the
signal on board gradually died to moan,
and then failed We looked for torches, but
there were none on board. Our lamps had
been dashed out, and we were left cropping
ing about in the darkness. Captain Nc
Gregor had been sick in bed, but 1 could
distinguish him on deck, giving directions
for the launching of boat which was to
make an attempt at landing in order to Sc
cure assistance. The boat was in the water
but minute, and then l knew by the
screams 1 heard that it had gone over.
We passed the night in this way, comfort
ing each other and assisting the crew as we
could The male passengers on board had
secured their life-preservers and sat with
them on all night, but the women had given
everything up, and / refused to put one on,
| thinking it would only prolong my suffer-
ing. Early on Friday morning the
steward came below and insisted upon
buckling on the preserver. 1t SEEM
ed like getting into my coffin, for
had said my last prayer, and was ready. After
securing the belts we were led to the upper
deck and as the boat threatened to part every
minute, we were dashed, one by one, to the
outer bnlwarks. Whenever the sea poured
over me the ropes held me fast, and l sat tied
there three hours looking into the water and
wishing l could go down and have it ended
1ne captain passed Dy, ana Win MS glass
| could see some Of our men clinging to the
foot of PERPENDICULAR cliff about 40 feet in
height. They had drifted ashore the night
before when the small boat was swamped. /
also saw the life boat launched and crowd
of men hurry;ng up and down the shore as
| though bewildered. The life-saving boat
could be seen an instant; then it would sinh
in the trough of the sea, and we thought il
was lost. 1t gradually neared us, and Il line
was thrown out and secured by Captain Kiah
then two men were seen climbing out on the
| ropes and through the water toward our boat
1t took them a long time, but they were a
last on board, and knew how to direct our eff
forts for safety. Through their management
the boats came near by, and we were hauled
on board and then taken to land. Not unit
l stood on solid ground could l think that
was possible for me to escape death.
The greatest praise is due the men in tn
life boat / visited their station Saturday
and found the road over which they carries
their boat rough and sandy. As it was abou
five miles from the propeller's wreck, il seem
ed marvellous that they could reach her a
.1 ~