Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1884-06-18
WRECKED ON LAKE
ERIE.

"Tell us how your hair turned white.
said one of the party ct the fireside.
an June, 1851" said the man with
the white hair, Il left my home in
Ohio for Buffalo. Being in a hurry to
return, took passage by the steamer
G.P. Griffith for Toledo, on late Sun
day afternoon. The ship carried over
400 passengers and crew. l must have
slept soundly for about two hours in
my berth, when was awakened by the
sound of hurrying footsteps overhead,
and, looking through the ventilator to
the upper deck, | saw two or three sail.
ors running along dragging hose pipe.
partly dressed and went forward to
the promenade deck. where heard
from the pilot.house above the voice of
the captain crying 'Starboard! Hard
starboard and steer her for the shore :
The ship veered from her course
and headed for the shore, five miles
away. went back to my state-room,
awakened the man in the other berth,
and raped on several Of the doors.
As Icame out again into the cabin !
saw smoke curling out from the side.
The command had been given to call
mp the passengers, and when | again
reached the forward deck they were
crowding upon it, just aroused from
sleep, they hurried out half dressed or
in their night clothes, many carrying
children, bandboxes, bird cages, carpet.
bags, and bundles. all anxious to save
something. l climbed up on the
railing and, taking hold Of stanchion.
swung myself to the main deck below.
stepping over the forms of many who
We're lying there still asleep, went
around to the engine and, looking up.
saw that the fire had broken ont near
the srhoke-stack in a spot SO difficult to
get at that in all probability the
ship was doomed Hurrying back to
the main deck. upon which the crowd
was fast increasing. removed all my
clothing but my night shirt and drawers.
Taking my money and valuables, /
rolled them NJ with my trousers and
laid them carefully away on deck where
| might reco' or them il the ship should
escape desti uction. Climbing up on
the rail near the gang plank, l held on
until the frantic crowd. pressing for
ward, forced me away. crept along
on the gunwale to near the wheel on the
land side, where / chung and watched
the crowd as they surged forward from
the approaching flames.
There was scarcely scream heard.
As the flames drove them further and
further forward whole columns of peo-
ole were pushed into the water. Hus.
bands caught their wives and children,
and, throwing them overheard, jumped
after them. Women with babes in their
arms went about piteously begging
some one to save their children, and
when they were pushed or jumped into
the water held their infants high above
their heads. After they were drowned
their quilted skirts buoyed them up,
and saw babies actually trying with
their little hands to catch the dancing
light of the flames in the water.
The ship grounded at daybreak in
about ten feet of water. o little more
than half o mile from shore. The
water all about the forward part of her
WAS full of drowned and drowning PEG.
pie. Many good swimmers struck out
for the shore, but from all sides the
poor drowning wretches would clutch
'hem and drag them down.
The flames drove me IF at last. In
the water just beneath me was strug-
Cling crowd Of drowning creatures
clinging to each other. Suddenly o
space Of about twenty feet cleared in.
stantly by their sinking out of sight,
dragging each other down. ] deter
mined to jump. swim toward the stern
of the boat until out OF the reach of the
clutches of the drowning, and them
make detour for the shore. Remem-
herring how used to Jump into the
water % boy, when learning to
swim, ! put my feet closely
together. arms straight by my side, and
plunged down like o wedge to the
bottom, with my eyes wide open. For
brief second saw lying ON the bed
o. the lake heaps Of dead bodies in all
positions. On rising TO the surface
struck out with my arms, but to my
horror found my feet bound Tight,
together The band Of my drawer
burst, and slipping down. had bount
nv ankles as securely as il tied. Turn
ing on my back. ! carefully Olsen
tangled them from each foot Thes,
efforts greatly exhausted me, but, one
free. swan toward the stern until
Wa, quite clear Of all distractions, an,
zen struck out for shore. One stron,
WINNER passed me and spoke SOM
encouraging words. ! saw others, VIII,
must have become dazed, swimming
back into the lake.
was not an experienced swimmer
but J had passed, as had judged
nearly half the distance TO the shore
when deathlike coldness and numb
ness came creeping over me. All til,
life l had felt seemed centered in m,
head. which felt like ball of fire.
found that / was turning round AM
round in the water. now catching
glimpses Of the burning ship, to which
even yet Q few human beings wer,
clinging, and now of the beach. Could
ever reach it? Was il worth while I,
struggle any longer Every movement
caused intense pain in my chest ant
lungs. II seemed 10 easy to die now
Il ceased al efforts and raised M
eyes for o last look OF the sky. I We
struck by peculiar golden haze OF tn
atmosphere, and the mir seemed file
with human forms lowering over tn
drowning. The air was filed wit