Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-20
PROPELLERs FAST IN THE ICE.
Terrible Experience of the Crew that
Left the "Michigan."

Terrible Experience of the Crew that
Left the michigan"
CHICAGO, Feb. 19.-MilWaukee dis
patches this morning state that Lake
Michigan is frozen from shore to shore.
the ice ranging from nine inches to three
feet in thickness. The propellers CITY of
LudingtOn and Wisconsin are frozen in
somewhere in the lake.
A Grand Haven, Mich, telegram gives
full particulars regarding the terrible ex.
perience of the crew of the ice locked
steamer Michigan. On Monday morning.
Feb 8, the Michigan, with Capt. Prindi-
vile and 20 men on board, left this port
in search of the distressed steamer Onei-
da. When off LudingtOn the Michigan
encountered a gale and was hemmed in
by heavy ice. She drifted with the ice to
the southwark, experiencing many dan
gers, but at no time being within 20 miles
of land. She finally got in compact ice
many feet thick toward the head of the
lake, but on account of drifting and
turning, they could not tell their
exact whereabouts. On Sunday
last 1t was decided that owing to short
provisions half of the crew would have to
90 ashore, as the food would last but
week longer. Monday was very stormy.
On Tuesday morning from the cross
trees an arm of land was sighted to the
eastward. Thirteen men were chosen
to remain and seventeen of the
most hardy to make the land.
The mercury was then ten degrees
below zero. At o'clock Joseph Rus
sell, first mate, d. Martin, steward, W.
+. Kenny, clerk, and fourteen of the
crew started with one days rations.
axes, pixies, poles, blankets, etc, expect
ing that they might have to be out over
night, as the land seemed thirty miles
away. When about twelve miles from
the ship Clerk Kenny broke through the
ice cutting his right leg to the knee.
They went on about six miles, when
they found Kenny's leg frozen. All
were badly exhausted, as the ice was
very rough and blocked into nearly i'm
passable ridges many feet high and miles
wide. Each man went for himself,
knowing that his life depended on his own
eXertions-eXceptR Russell and Martin
who helped Kenny. When off land
four miles, Kenny could not stand
and dragged himself along on his hands
and knees for two miles, when he was
completely exhausted and so frozen that
he could not move and
urged the others to leave him and
by this time % o'clock reached shore
and found few houses at West Casce.
They alarmed the neighborhood and the
farmers went out and car
ried the brave but insensible
Kenny to land. The land there rises 100
feet almost perpendicular. All hands
worked like heroes to throw off the in
sensibillty creeping on them and climbed
the steep. Heaying lines were placed on
Kenny, and he was drawn up by those
above and carried to a dwelling. The
men were apportioned around among
the farmers, who willingly cared for
them. Kenny recovered consciousness
and everything was done for him that was
possible. All of the men are able to take
care of themselves, except Clerk Kenny.
Surgeons have dressed his limb and it is
hoped he will soon be all right. The
Michigan is-nOw in no danger. So many
of the crew have lett that the provisions
will last those who remain on board 80
days.