Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-12-14
THE WRECKED OCONTO.
She Goes Ashore In n binding Snow
StOrm-A Desperate Struggle in a Sea
of Cake Ice-TeTrible Sufierlngs of the
Passengers and Crew.

DETROIT, Mich, Dec l2.
The steamer Oconto left Oscada on Friday,
Dec. 4, at 4, p. M, and soon encountered a
terrific gale. When the storm set in, it be-
came impossible to see, and the lights went
out. There were % passengers and % men,
bers of the crew on board. At IL o'clock
Friday night. Charity island light was sighted
Within Is minutes the Oconto struck bottom
at the southeast point of the island. Frank
PEPPER, first assistant engineer, who arrived
here yesterday, describes the wreck as fol-
lows: "Our starboard bulwarks were stove
in, and all the upper railings, two of the life
boats and all the light freight on the hurri-
cane deck were washed away. We were ia
gale of wind and binding snow Storm
The sea was so heavy that we could not keep
the boat going. Finally light was sighted
Everybody took it for the Tawas light In
fact, it was the Charity island light. The
captain set the boat around to feel for the en-
trance, and the next thing we knew there was
terrific shock. We had grounded in about
six feet of water, but whether on rocks or
sand we could not tell We could see that
we were about mile from land. AS soon as
the boat struck, the crew began dealing out
life preservers. After we got ready for the
ice bath, in which none of us could have
lived 5 minutes, we discovered that there as
no leak. When day broke, we sat our colors
at half-mast and began blowing the whistles.
AT about 10 o'clock we sighted the lighthouse
keeper and his assistant on the shore. We
got our small metallic liteboat over the side,
and IN it, five of us went ashore. There
we found two fish huts. We then brought
the passengers, % III all, ashore. Two
ladies and child were taken direct to the
lightkeeper's house, and the men began keep
ing house in the fish huts. They have food
enough to last them two or three weeks and
plenty of blankets. On Monday morning a
party came away in large yswl. The party
consisted of John Van Slgke, son of one of
the owners of the Oconto four of the crew
of the steamer, Anthony Potts OF Fosterville,
and myself We took aboard a compass,
two bushels of salt and some provisions. We
started in the midst OF cake ice. Every
minute or two the spray would dash over and
freeze as it struck. When we got within
four miles Of Caseville, we found that the
ice was frozen solidly, yet was not strong
enough to walk on. We hoisted our storm
signal and began cutting our way with axes.
Two boats started out to help US, but could
not reach us, TO add to our dismsy, we
found that the solid ice, detached from the
main shore, was increasing in thickness every
minute anu tuat IL was urItinB uo~n the Day
taking us with it. We cut, pushed, rowed
and struggled, reaching shore at last at
o'clock Monday evening, eight miles below
Caseville having drifted that far in the ice.
Eight more of the shipwrecked crew and
passengers landed at East Tawas yesterday
afternoon. The "a remaining on the island
have enough to eat for few days, but all are
very downhearted. All are in the shanty ex-
cept Capt. McGregor, the first engineer and
one passenger, who are on the boat. The
steward, mate and six passengers walked
from Point Lookout to East Tawas, and are
completely prostrated. just before the
Oconto struck, Charles Brown, a colored
cook, died of fright. He was buried on
Charity island"