The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-29
INDIANA ANDILIINOIS NEWS
Capsizing Of an Overloaded Ferry-Boat
in the Harbor at Michigan City.
An Unknown Number Of Persons Drowned
Tive Bodies RecoVered-Fire at BlOOm-
ington, Ill-State GIeanings.
INpIANA.
An Overloaded Ferry Boat apsizes~- Two
Persons known Re Be Drowned


An Overloaded Ferry Boat Capstzes-- Two
Persons known To Be Drowned
speciar to the Indianapolis Journal
MICHIGAN Cry, Sept. % "A most distressing
accident occurred in this city, on Saturday even
ing by which several persons were drowned and
many others narrowly escaped wateFy grave,
from overloadinga ferry boat, which was upset
while crossing the harbor, throwing the pas
sengers into the water The ferry is at the foot
Of FtanKlins street, which runs north and SOUTH
and is maintained by the city for the accommo-
dation Of some ten or Rftaen families who live
on the north side of the harbor, and also for
about one Rundred employees working IN the
| lumber-yards located there, but having their
homes in the city. The ferry is the only con-
venient means of reaching the city from the
north side of the hasbor; and theme are
from 200 to 300 persons crossing daily each
way The ferrYboat is an old seow.
provided with railing and three or four boards
placed crosswise for seats. tits only calculated
to carry with safety twelve persons, and sixteen
at The most; but at the close Of working hours,
6 o'clock IN the,evening--at which time the aeci-
dent occurred-it has been the custom of the
workmen engaged in the lumberyards to make
break for the boar, all anxious to get to the
other sideo on the first trip. The boat is guided
by small cable chain, which runs on two
sheavas,s one at each end of the boat revolving
between upright bars, and is propelled by
the ferryman pulling on the chain.
The chain has several times broken,
and frequent protests have been made
against overlooking the boat from fear
Of accidents. On Saturday night the usual rush
was made for the boat, and, as result, between
thirty and forty persons, instead of sixteen,
jumped aboard the boat was pushed out from
the landing. but hadsnos got twenty feet from
the shore when the severe strain on the chain
snapped it, and instantly the boat capsized,
throwing its human freight into the harbor in
depth of some fourteen feet Of water For a
short timeth scene was appalling The screams
Of alarm from those on shore and the cries for
help from those struggling in the water pro
duced the widest excitement In a moment,
however, those on shore were doing all they
could to assist the struggling people
in the lmrBor, which at this point
is about fifty yards wide, by throwing in boards
! from piles Of lumber on the edge of the docks.
These we're eagerly grasped and were the means
of saving several The schooner c. o. D., which
was unloading on the ether side of the Harber,
soon put off a boat in charge Of seaman Dan
Mulyaney, who succeeded in rescuing most of
the Inflated passengers. A pile-driver was
moored just above where the accident occurred
which proved life-saver to many After those
not drowned were taken outof the water; steps
were at once taken to dragsthe harbof for those
who were missing BY O'clock the bodies
of two young men, Charles Rehbeck and I'd
Lambke, employees in A. r. Colhorn & Co. s lum-
I ber-yard, were recovered This morning Will
lam OTTO the government diver at this point,
began thorough search for other bodies, as
more were thOughtte be missing batafter div
ling several hours and finding no one, the search
was discontinued. tits thought if there areany
other casualties than those discovered, their,
friends will miss them, and it will be made
known to morrow.