St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-10-09
DEATH ON THE LAKE
Ten Men Drowned in Lake Mich
igan During a Severe Storm
Yesterday.
st. Patrick's Church at Eau Claire,
Wis.,, Burned to the Ground,
Loss $4,000.
One Of Forepaugh's Men Chawed Up by Two
Tigers-Miscellaneou Casualties.
TEN LIVES LOST.


CHICAGO, Oct. s.-This morning about z
O'Clock an accident occurred at the tempor-
ary crib of the new Hyde Park Water works,
which resulted in the loss of ten ivea. For
some time past gang of fourteen men have
been engaged upon the new crib that is be-
ing constructed for the Hyde Park Water
works about mile from Chattenham Beach.
at the mouth of the tunnel which
leads to the shore and above the crib had
been constructed large platform about
1orty feet square supported by poles which
were bound together by heavy chains. Upon
this platform had been built small cabin,
IN which the men slept and had their meals
they having lived there for the past three
weeks. The platform was supported
by heavy timbers resting on the
piles This morning about 5 O'Clock the
sea became SO heavy that portions of the
platform washed away. The men awoke
about $50 and found the spray with every
wave washing the sides of their hut. They
were not much alarmed, and proceeded to
get their breakfaft. The meal was eaten and
preparations made for the days work. The
sea in the mean time ran higher and higher,
and about z O'Clock huge wave struck
the cabin, tearing it from its
foun dation and carrying it into the raging
water.
Then followed a scene of the most harrow
ing description. FourteensS Snen were strug-
Cling in the debris of the building, and in
short time not vestige of the wreck was Wis
ible. Twelve of the men succeeded in
climbing upon the huge stringers that held
the piles together and lying face down with
their arms around the beam they awaited
the arrival of assistance. Every moment in
creased their danger, and the waves with
terrible force, tore them one by one from
the timbers until only eight remained.
These, with the sight of the assistance that
was coming in the shape of the life saving
crew of the Chicago station, clung with
bleeding hands and waited.
In the meantime on the shore everything
was being done for their rescue. The crew
| OF the Chicago life saving station had put off
| with full sail and made for the scene of the
| accident. They arrived about IL o'clock, and
! when they were within throwing distance a
line was made fast by the almost drowning
| the boot. Then each shivering man,
with uncertain grasp, clutched the rope and
hand over hand worked his way toward the
| boat through the surf. Out of eight men
who made the attempt only four lived to
tell the tale of the terrible hours that they
had spent on the spars. The boat, which
was then about, mile from shore. gave
! way, and in twenty minutes was landed
safe on the shore, where hundreds
| of people awaited their rescue. Those who
we're saved from watery grave are:
| Peter Thies, Cook.
Martin Nelson, Laborer
Hans Christianson, driver.
Robert Chrstianson, laborer
Those lost are:
Lewis Ainsworth, assistant boss.
Andrew Ainsworth, laborer.
| VIII Hean, superintendent.
[ K. Corbyn, boss.
| Charles Manski, laborer.
| Chas. Folk, mason.
ID. Smith, laborer.
Otto Moncofski, laborer
William Moncofsld, laborer.
Klaus Clanson, laborer
When the lifeboat, manned by as gallant
crew as ever rode the waves, drew near the
shore, a crowd Of men rushed into the water
and almost lifted the craft upon the sand.
The cook, Peter Thies, who was the least
affected by intense cold and exposure, told
the following graphic story:
''This morning about 5 o'clock got up to
get breakfast for the fourteen men who con-
stituted the party. After the meal was pre-
pared we sat down to eat Before this no.
ticed the sea was running at terrible gale
rate, but none of us dreamed of the terrible
thing that was to befal us before long.
The meal finished, I went into a
back room, which was partitioned off,
and began washing dishes. 1t was then
about o'clock. had finished my work and
was just about to go out when heard loud
crack, and in a moment the building In
which l stood careened and I was in the
water surrounded by my compan-
ions, who struggled to free them
selves from the timbers. 1 climbed
upon one Of the stringers and helped
to get several others out. Then began g
scene which l hope never to see again
Every wave that came struck us with sucf
force that the flesh was torn from our hands
and we. saw several of the poor men yield to
the terrible power and loosen their hold
When we first reached the water, Bosses Hean
and Corbyn grasped large timber and were
washed away. They may have reached the
shore in safety. When we first saw the life
boat about half mile away new hope wai
given US, and the eight then on the tim ber:
hung on until a line was thrown and VIZ
tried our luck at reaching the boat. Onl,
four Of US were successful, and man more