Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1885-12-16
THE PERHS OF THE LAKE.
THE STEAMER ocohTo WRECKED
OFF CHARITY ISLAND.
Seven Persons Missing and Believed TO
Have Perished - Tho Cook Dies or
TriRht-The Mates Graphic De-
scription OF the Catastrophe.

FAST TowAs, Mich, Dec. 1.-The ter
ribie suffering endured by the crew and
passengers Of the wrecked propeller Oconto,
which went ashore on Charity island, Lake
Huron last Sunday, rivals in heartrending
details the most thrilling tales of fiction ever
penned by Cooper, Marryst or Russell Chas.
Reardon, first mate Of the Oconto, arrived
here Friday in company with the steward,
David NJ. 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-
leves the Oconto lost with all hands Finally
it was decided that some attempt must DO
made to reach the main land AS the
Ocontos boats were gone and there was a
fitteen-mile stretch Of water to cross, the
feat was considered almost impossible until
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, set of oars made, and start made
for land. Six passengers accompanied the
mate and steward, and the grip consumed
three hours, during which 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 q team and drove
through the woods to this port, ex-
pecting to secure aid. Capt. Ploug2
and his brave crew of Ife-savers
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 COIN
pietely Frustrated 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
at o'clock last Friday afternoon with q
full load of miscellaneous merchandise,
twenty-five passengers, including two
women and crew Of twenty-fv 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 inn
possible to see the length Of the vessel
ahead. It was the worst storm 1 ever ex-
perienced on Lake Huron. We headed her
into tho gale, however, hoping to make
Tewas bay. While the gale was at It's
height some Of the cattle and horses on the
main deck broke loose and created a SIAM
peds. We had great difficulty in securing
tho terrified brutes, and one OF the deck
bands narrowly escaped death. He was
caught in the teeth Of frightened stallion
and hurled across the deck, but fortunately
struck against bale of goods with no
greater injsry than several bad bruises.
| The Tive stock also Jared badly and several
had their legs broken
Meanwhile the gale ragged furiously and
the passengers became panic-stricken. 1t
did look as if our stanch little steamer would
never survive the fury Of the tempest. AS
started below noticed strong smell of
smoke and on entering the cocks galley
| found the stove red hot and the woodwork
| In haAlea Selling q bucket Of water,
threw il on the fire and extinguished the
flames. The second cook was lying in his
| bunA, yelling like a maniac. l began up
brsHing him and the cook, who was
| lyiAk 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 what
said
~ grabbed him by the shoulders and
started to pull him out Of his bunk, when to
my horror found he was rigid. I sat him
! MP In the corner and threw bucket of
water over him, but he did not revive and
found he was dead. He died of
sheer fright. Early Saturday morn
ing we sighted Charity Island light
and checked down. The vessel struck
severai times and then she was let go on the
beach under full head Of steam, that being
the only sure way Of saving our lives, as the
! steering gear had become disabled. Sun.
| 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
morning in the ghthouse-keeper's boat
promising to send aid as soon as they
reached the mainland, but as none arrived
! we thought they must be lost"