The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-09-03
THE LAKE DISASTER.
Particulars Of the Loss of the Marine
City, on Lake Huron.

The steamer Marine City left Alpena, Mich.
on the afternoon of the Goth of August, with a
full load of freight and passengers. At about
o'clock p. m. while off Sturgeon point fire
was discovered in the hold and before any as
sistance could be rendered the fire had gained
such Roadway that nothing could be done to
save her. The crew then commenced to launch
the lfe-boats in order to save the passengers.
The tug Vulcan WIS in sight at the time and
came to the rescue as fast as possible. but be-
fore she could get there many had become
panic-stricken and jumped overl GARD. The
boat of the life-saving Sturgeon Point station,
together with the boats Of the Marine City and
Vulcan, and a number from the shore, picked
up a large number of persons. j. l.. Jones. of
Alpena, one of the passengers gives the follow
ing details of the disaster:
81 was standing at the engine-room door on
the port side talking with another gentleman
fire-room door and saw the hre and flames III
the starboard bunkers, among the wood and
coal. We called the attention Of the fireman
and engineer to the same, and efforts were at
once made to get stream of water OH the fire.
The hose was promptly got out. l then went
up into the cabin. AS opened the cabin door
/ found it full of smoke and Immediately
gave the alarm that the boat was
on fire. The most intense excitement prevailed
and a regular panic ensued. The passengers
jumped into the water long before there was
any need of dong SO. The officers and crew
behaved nobly, with the single exception of the
second engineer, who acted like an insane man.
Boats were lowered as soon as possible and
filled at once"
Mr.. Jones went forward and remained on the
boat until rescued by the Vulcan. He can give
no idea of the number of people on board or of
the lost.
Mrs A. B. Clough, of Marine City. and her
son, Bert, were on board. Mrs. Clough saws
she was i'll the stateroom in the after cabin
reading. She heard some one say Fire y
and soon heard it repeatei. but thought 1t was
used in conversation. Bert then came running
into the stateroom exclaiming that the boat
was on fire. She at once went in
to the cabin and found il full of
smoke. She then went aft. Bert WAS deter
mined b. jump overheard, but she restrained
HIM. She found lifc-preserver, but, before
she could get it on, large, strong man,
stranger to her, jerked it away from her. Sine
then found DIR. Stockton, of Altoona, and. with
his assistance, she and Bert and the doctor
reached the main deck, getting down on the
outside. There she picked up boy about
years old who had been separated
from his parents and who was nearly
frightened to death. They all four got on the
side of the gunwale and held on by the window
of the porter's room. A line was thrown to
them, but the doctor did not catch it, and lost
his balance and went overheard, but was picked
up. The three who were left held on TO their
position until rescued, Bert fainting at one time
from the heat. The fire spread rapidly, and
the boat soon burned to the waters edge.
Contradictory reports are made as to the
number OF lives lost. The trp-sheet il de-
stroyed, and ii is therefore impossible to get
the names of all the passengers. IL was at first
supposed that all were saved, but there il no
doubt now that at least eight lives we're lost.
The steward of the Inflated vessel Rays that if-
teen lives were lost. All accounts agree that
the Captain and crew Of the Marine City acted
with great GOODNESS and bravery az did Capt.
Hackett of the tug Vulcan, and the crews of
the hfe-boats.