St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-15
THE OCONTo WRECK.
Rescue of the Passengers and Gre
by the Tug WinslOw.

by the Tug WinslOw.
DETROIT. Mich, Dec. 14.-William E.
Savage of this city, one of the passengers of
the wrecked steamer Oconto, arrived home
this afternoon. He says:
The wrecking tug Winslow left Big Charity
island at 2:12 p. IN. Saturday with the re-
naming crew and passengers Of the pro-
peller, excepting one man who was left to
keep ship, and Mr.. Fralich, passenger, who
remained to care for the live stock. The
Winslow got within a mile and half of the
Oconto, and the passengers, after weary
walk of three miles over snow and bay ice,
broke their way in two boats through the
thick-forming crust to the tug. None of the
crew or passengers seem to suffer IN health
from their severe exposure. Too much
praise cannot be given to Charles Mcdonald,
the lighthouse keeper, and his wife, who were
assiduous in their attentions to the ship
wrecked party, ten Of whom were cared for
at the lighthouse.
The Oconto is half-a-mile southeast of
Big Charity island and headed little south
of west. She draws seven feet of water
forward, siX-anda-half aft and her keel is
two feet in the sand. The ice at her bow
is solid to the bottom. The vessel is trifle
listed to port, but is solidly frozen in and
bids fair to remain in this position until the
ice moves in the spring. The hull is per-
fectly dry inside. The live stock are doing
well, and the lower deck is complete
barnyard with horses, oxen, turkeys, geese
and chickens. Capt. McGregor of the
Oconto was in this city tonight and said:
The most l can sayl that have sailed now
forty years and been out a great many nights
in what called very rough weather, but that
was the worst night that ever experienced
and never want to go through another like
it, but did not at any time think that
should be drowned. Too much cannot be
said in praise of the conduct of the two en-
gineers. Some of the passengers were very
cool and collected. Many of them put on
life preservers, and 1 laughed when I saw
them. They would have been Of no service
at all on such night. In summer when the
water is warm they would be of some service,
but not on such nights as that. 1t will cost a
good deal to get her Off in the spring, and
am glad we got off so well. Most boats would
have broken to pieces in those terrible seas.
Joshua Dimes, engineer, said;
a week ago last Friday we started out of
Oscoda at p. m., bound for Alpena. When
out about half an hour or so, it began blow
ing strong, and a snow storm set in. The
captain thought best to go back to Tawas
harbor, and when we reached there we could
see neither light or shore. He did not think
he could land and headed the boat out into
the lake again. He certainly had no idea of
what was to happen and had confidence that
the storm would abate enough to show the
light and shore. However, the storm in
creased in intensity and it began to snow
harder. About midnight we sighted Charity
island light and with difficulty reached the
lee side of the island. Soon after the boat
ran aground in about five feet of
water. We kept up blowing our
whistle for help during the night
but none came. The storm continued and it
seemed that it would result disastrously.
Such night as that is simply indiscribable.
The officers of the boat who had many years
experience on the water said it was one of
the worst ever known by them. The passen-
gers and crew were NATURALLY excited over the
prospect of wreck but rem aimed calm and
collected, hoping for the best. The next
morning part of the passengers and crew
reached the island. Sunday night some of
the crew volunteered to go in a small boat to
Caseville nine miles distant. After a dan
gerous trip they arrived in safety. We con-
| fidently expected soon to be rescued but the
week passed until Saturday afternoon when
| the Winslow arrived.