The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-04-12
A Terrible Night on an lcc.T:oc in
E.MIxe Eric.
From the Cleveland Plaiudcalcr.

Mayor was because he was not in the city
for several days previous to the primaries.
But it is known 10 only few why he was
not in the city or where he was. AS will
be seen further on. but for good Provi-
dence he would not be in the city, or even
Ill existence, to-day.
1t is well known that he is largely inter
csted in Ballast Island. 4 beautiful isct in
the Put-in-R Bay archipelago, which is thick
ly dotted with beautiful summer cottages,
owned by wealthy citizens OF Cleveland an q
elsewhere. In the midst OF these cottages
| is large, tinely-apponted clul house,
where the summer dwel.rs take their meals
| and have their dances. This club house is
| kept by q steward and stewardesS in the
employ OF the club association which owns
! The island. -
! In order to have everything ready for the
season. Mr.. Gardner left Cleveland on Mon
! dav, March q. and on the same afternoon
left Sandusky on the ill-fated little steamer
Golden Eagle, to accompany Dir. and Mrs.
Bixby, the ncwly-enga.ed steward and
s,ewardegs. to Ballast Island. MIR. Warren
| Corning. Of Cleveland, was also on the boar,
which had considerable number Of other
passengers beside crew numbering six
persons. Among the passengers were four
| iades and four children. One oI the ladies'.
the boat-houSe near the Beebc House,, had
| twin laJics and another child. and another
lady, whose name Mr.. Gardner does not
know, was also accompanied bp child.
The other ladies were Mrs. Blybv, who was
on Lake Erie for the first time III her life,
and d Miss Smith, OF Middle Bass Island.
The VOYAGE from SandESky 10 Kcl'ev'S
Island was made without mlShap, and the
passengers and freight for that island were
safely landed The little steamer, which
had made so many voyages aud carried so
many thousand passengers between Putin
Bay and Stacey, then turned about and
started for Ballast Island, all the ladies be-
ing still on board. But she had not gone
lar before she began to have trouble with
the ice. which was drifting with the cur
rent OF the lake and interfercd with the
backing If the boat TO get headway to bunt
into the ice ahead.
When about mile from shore, Mr.. Gard.
ner discovered, by signs which an expo
r;tnced stealnboatDan only would detect,
that the boat was leaking. About the same
| time the cook reported 10 thc Captain that
water was coming into the kitchen. twas
| soon found that the boat would inevitably
sink, and that all that could he done was 10
get the people and freight out on the ice rs
quietly and promptly as possible. 50 Mr..
Gardner informed the ladies that they had
better take their light baggage and get on
the ice, as they would probably have to
walk ashore. The captain then blew his
whistle for aid from the island and caused
lamps to be swung to indicate the where
aboutS OF the party. .. ...'>
| The twenty-five passengers were got out
on cake of ice about thirty feet square,
and were then Informed what the trouble
Il .f,,t 4
Eaolc was also landed on the ice, and the
women and children were put into that.
There were four pcGder. among the pas
senoess. and one OF them attempted TO get
into the boat with bis pack. weighing 125
mounds. but Mi. Gardner slunS it out with
ont ceremony, and informed its greedy
owner that the women and children WCuit
he cared for first, the baggage last. Another
az The pcddicrs tried like trick when i:
change OF boats was made lalcr, and mc1
with The same treatment at the hands OF one
Of the Islanders.
In the course OF what must have seemed
very long time, boat with runners, useC
in winter for transporting the mats 60 ano
from kelley's ISlaEd, was pushed out Il
meet the wrecked party, who were pushing
: along very slowly and laboriously in ne
cessarlv zigzag, roundabout course over tht
ire. Mr.. Gardner ahead in the darkness
feeling with IN oar to AVOID open wafer. a
one time the boat was launched INTO al
opening and showed across, while the mcn
walked around. and with much difficulty
ao,n m,lled the boat up on the ice. Here
II became necessary for the lady in the bow
M the boat. Mrs. Smith. to get out, In or
der to have the craft pulled on the ice. MIR
Gardner offered 20 take the babe she heio
while she was helped out but tie mother
wonld not let her darling go from her pro
tec,ion. and was assisted out, still cllnSlI9
to her little one.
But, as said above, the party OF Islanders,
with lanterns and the mail-hoat, at length
met The wrecked party, and lent thelr alo IN
helping the passengers to shore over TIE
broken and drifting ice.
1t was exceedingly fortunate that no wind
was blowing, or the ice would have Geen
broken in stnaler cakes, and the danger
I(sutlicieutly great as it was on account OF
ihe current constantly heaving, breaking,
and shifting the ice) would have been more
than doubled. =
II was q toiIsome and hazardous Journey
from first to last. accomplished in darkness
except for the light OF few lanterns part
OF the time. Bui, to cut long story snort,
il was safely ended, and all landed "lthoul
serious acClQcOt, On tuc e'SI po1"' W
island, where they at once appropriated
tisb-shanty for the ladies. Aftcrward lhe
inhabitants opened their houses and maze
all comfortable. , co,sor
The baggage was taken from the Golden
Eagle by The crew and by Islanders als.
patched TO the scene, and was put upon the
ice. One worker would take piece OF oag,
gage to a spot where he thought 1t woulo
STAY until some one should take 1t furtnef
ahead, and would then return for something
else. And so it came about that the very
Iust article taken off the boat--a. sewing ma
chine belonging to Mrs. Bixby-was Inc
only article of baggage or freight Which
reached the shore that night; for the Ice
drjfted so that when man. returned 10
where he supposed he had left trunk or
| wbatnot he found nothing, and supposed
some one had forwarded what he had ielt 10
shore. Thus it was that every article (eS-
cent che light "traps" the ladies ana men
took with tbem) taken OIL the Golden Eagle
foatea of down the lake on the drifting ice
except the sewing machine mentioned.
The next day men sent out IN boats Icr
this baggage succeeded In recovering every,
thing. piece by piece, some Of which driited
four and I've miles away, but It took them
really all day 10 do 1t. 80. ,r.