Morris tribune., 1885-12-16
Sl1opsio Ipi6u,4e.
Published Wednesdays.
Official Paper of Stevens County.
r. w. RANDALL, !
Publisher.
THE PERHS OF THE LAKE.
THE ;sTEAMER ocohTo WRECKED
OFF CHARITY ISLAND.
seysn Persons Missing and Believed to
Have Pcrished - The Cook Dies OF
Fright-The Mates Graphic De-
scription Of the Catastrophe.

4
EAsx TowAs, Mich, Dec. 1A-1hs ter
xible suiEeriAG endured by the crew and
passengers Of the wrecked propeller Oconbo,
| which went ashore ON Charity island, Lake
Huron, last Sunday, rivals in heartrending
details the most thrilling tales Of fiction ever
penned by Cooper, Marryat or Russell Chas.
Reardon, first mate Of the Oconto, arrived
here Friday in company with the steward,
David M: Leary, having voluntarily risked
their lives to save their shipwrecked COM
panions, who have nothing to shelter them
from the wintry blasts and raging snow
storms but rude hut. For days they have
been eagerly waiting for some boat to come
to their rescue, but as NO assistance has yet
arrived those on the island believe their
companions, who succeeded in reach
ing land Monday night, must have per-
ished. Knowing nothing Of their rescue,
they naturally suppose the world be-
lieyes the Oconto lost with all hands. Finally
it was decided that some attempt must be
made to reach the main land. As the
Oconto's boats were gone and there was a
fifteen-mile stretch Of water to cross, the
feat was considered almost impossible until
q battered yawl-boat was discovered, half
buried in the sand, on the edge of the island.
This yawl was all that remained of the
barge Joseph, which was wrecked there sew
eral months ago.
The yawl was dug out and carefully re-
paired, q set Of oars made, and start made
for land Six passengers accompanied the
mate and steward, and the grip consumed
three hours, during which a binding snow
storm ragged They landed at Point Look
out, and all proceeded to Alabaster on foot,
where the passengers remained. The mate
and steward procured O team and drove
through the woods to this port, ex-
pecting to secure aid. Capt PlougS
and : his brave crew of ife-sayers
Immediately volunteered to go to the
rescue, and at daybreak left here in
wagons with their beach apparatus. They
will drive to Point Lookout and then pull
out to the scene of the wreck in their life
boat, bringing all ashore who desire to
come. Capt. McGregor, who is part owner
Of the Oconto, will probably remain with
the wreck, in company with several of the
crew who have signified their intention Of
sticking by their brave commander through
thick and thin There are thirty-two per-
sons all told on the island. Two are eom-
pietefy prostrated from nervous excitement,
and one, the colored cook, is dead They
have no medicine, and the stock Of provi-
sions Is almost exhausted.
The story-of the wreck as related by the
mate is as follows: "The Oconto left Oscoda
ct o'clock last Friday afternoon with
full lead Of miscellaneous merchandise,
twenty two passengers, including two
women and crew OF twenty-five. That
night we encountered frightful gale. The
Wind blew a perfect hurricane, sweeping
the furious seas completely over the
steamer, and the binding snow
storm that prevailed made it i'm
possible to see the length Of the vessel
ahead. It was the worst storm ever ex-
perienced on Lake Huron. We headed her
into the gale, however, hoping to make
Tawas bay. While the gale was at its
height some Of the cattle and horses on the
main deck, broke loose and created stam-
peds. We had great difficulty in, securing
the terrified brutes, and one Of the deck
hands narrowly escaped death. He was
caught In the teeth Of q frightened stallion
and hurled across the deck, but fortunately
struck ageinst q bale Of goods with no
areAssr in3ary than several bad bruises
The live stock also Jared badly and several
had their legs broken.
Meanwhile the gale ragged furiously and
the passengers became panic-stricken It
did look as If our stanch little steamer would
mover survive the fury Of the tempest As
I started below noticed q strong smell Of
smoke and on entering the cooks galley
found the stove red hot and the woodwork
In da1aea Seizing bucket of water, l.
threw 10 on the fire and extinguished the
flames. The second cook was lying in MsI
bunA yelling like q maniac. I began up
bfs@in8 him and the cook, who was
lyiA6 In the other bunk, for permitting the
steamer to catch FIRE. But the second cook
kept screeching and yelling and the first
cook made not the slightest reply to whatI
said -;
ar grabbed him by the shoulders and
started to pull him out of his bunk, when to
my horror found he was rigid sat him
up In the corner and threw bucket;ofr
waser over him, but he did not revive and
found he was dead. He died Of i
sheer. fright Early Saturday morn
ing we sighted Charity Island light
and scheci1ed down. The vessel struck
severaa times and then she was let go on the
beach Under q fun head OF steam, that being
the only sure way Of saving our lives, as the
steering gear had become disabled. Sum
day all Of us went ashore on the island with
the aid Of the lighthouse-keeper. Seven of
the passengers and crew left us Monday
in the ighthouse-keeper's boat,
promising to send aid as soon as they
reached the mainland, but as none arrived
we thought they must be lost"