Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-11-21
THE TUG FLEET HoRxoa.
Additional Particulars OF tho Disaster on
Lake Ontario.

Lake Ontario.
Oswego, Nov. l9.-The following addi-
tional particulars relative to the lake dis
aster have been received: Two tugs Of the
fleet were seen to 20 down. Tug Becker
came along side the dredge Gordon about
l:3O A. NJ, half full of water. George Pal.
mer, Samuel Logan and Wm. Logan jumped
aboard the dredgs. Immediately thereafter
the tug careened and disappeared. The tug
.: w. Thayer went down about 9 P. M.
Her captain, Henry Heckler was eaved.
Her engineer is supposed to be lost. On
board the dredge Gorden we're Richard
Amald, Patrick Eugan, Billy Logau, 8.
Logan, Geo. Palmer and his wife. The
water in the engine room was waist deep.
At 4:4O A M. the Gordon sank and all on
board were drowned excepting Foreman
Smith and two brothers, named Heather,
who were picked up by the tug Seymour.
Lewis, engineer Of the tug Seymour, says:
About 8 o'clock the wind increased to
gale, and Capt. Logan, of the tug Becker,
came alongside the Seymour and called
out: Some of our scows are sunk" II
was then showing hard.
Thomas Smith. fireman on the dredRe
Gordon, says the tug Becker came alongside
the Gorden at 9 o'clock, striking her stern
and springing plank. broke spar and
also cracked three planks, which then com
menced to open and let in the water 80 fast
that it was impossible to keep her clear.
Had ninety pounds of steam. The Becker
came alongside again at IL o'clock and cal
ed out we are swapping aud wanted to put
out line. Then Mr.. Arnold said: "Jump
aboard the Gordon and let the tug 60, which
they did, and the3tug Becker went down at
once along side the dredge. Smith then
went down forward where the hoisting and
becking chain comes through and took some
old clothes and tried to stop the leak, but
the, heavy sea rendered all efforts futile.
Then he came on deck. Richard Arnold
asked him how the leak was, when he repli.
ed that we could not stop it, although he
bettered it little. Mr.. Arnold asked him
if he could use some Of his clothing, which
were fine and would work to advantage
He said he thought he could. He then
went down again and did the best he could
until the water rose in the forward
bold 80 that it pressed him against
the deck and put out his lamp
Then they cut a hole in the floor of the fir,
hole and used pals in bailing out. Tn,
boat then careened and the water came il
the engine room door. Then Mr.. Arnolc
told me to blow the whistle for the tug Sey
mour to come to our assistance, but coul,
not see her turning around or coming. The,
he said, blow again, which did, but wa
Obliged to leave the engine room, as th'
water was then waist deep. Then Mr.
Arnold says to me, we are gone. says
yes we are gone. We then started for thu
stern of the dredge, Pat Egan pulled of
door and handed it to Mr.. Arnold. He stoo,
still second, then came and took the doc
from Egan'sh hand. Smith then said, come viii
me, and started for the tow line of the Sey
mour and went fifteen or twenty feet on th
line, but he was too heavy, and returne
to the dredge. When he got back he in
quired for Egan and for Arnold, but coul
get no answer. They were gone-carrie'
off by the sea. then got hold of Mrs
Palmer's hand and her husband had he
around the waist. She said: George. VI
must 60. He tried to cheer her to hang O,
few minutes longer. The swell came an,
carried them both away,