Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-13
DLSASTER ON THE LAKES.
Wreck OF Steamer nnd RnnRh Experience
sr Passengers and Urcw.

Wreck OF steamer nnd RnuRh Experience
OF Passengers and Urcw.
fBy telegraph % the Dispstch.l
DETROIT. December 1.-The
steamer 0coDto left 0scada Oh Friday,
December 4th, ut 4 Z. NJ, and soon
encountered a terrible gale. When the
storm set IN it became impossible 70
see and the lights went out. There
were twenty-five passengers and TWEEN
ty-hve members OF the crew on board.
At l. O'Clock Friday night Charity
Island light was sighted. Within IF
teen minutes the 0conto struck bottom
ct the southeast point Of the Island.
Frank Teiper, first assistant engineer.
who arrived here yesterday, de-
scribes the wreck as follows: Our
starboard bulwarks were stove m
and all upper ratings. Two OF the
life-bosts and al the light freight on the
hurricane-deck were washed away.
We were IN 8 gale Of wind and blind
ing snow-storm. The sea was so heavy
that we could not keep the boat going
Finally light was sighted. Every
body took it for Tswas light; IN fact it
was Charity-lsland light. The captain
set the boat around 10 feel for a. en-
trance. and the next thing we knew
there was terrific shock. We had
grounded IN about six feet OF water, but
whether OF rocks or sand we could not
tell. We could see that we were about
aniile from land AS soon a the boat
struck the crew began dealing out life
pTeservers. After we got ready for AZ
lce-bath, IL which none OF Us could
nave lived fifteen minutes, We dis
covered that there was no leak.
When day broke We sci our color al
hali-mast and began blowing whistles.
About 10 O'Clock we sighted the h-ht-
house-keeper and his assistant on
shore. We got our small metallic life
boat over the side, and II II five Of u
went ashore. There we found two fish
nuts. We then brought the passenger
ttwenty-three IN all ashore. Two ladies
and a child were taken direct to the
hght-keeper' house. and the men be
gan keeping house III the tish-huts. They
nave food enough % las them two OF
three weeks and plenty Of blankets.
On Monday morning our party came
away IN & large vawl. The party con
sisted Of John Van Slyke. SOD OF
one OF the owners OF the 0conto Tom
Crocker, John Cavsnsugh, Walter
BOstwick, james Ross, sll Of the crew.
Anthony Potts, OF Eorestvilie, and nv
self. We took aboard q compass. two
bushels OF salt, and some provisions.
We started II the midst Of a cake Of ice
Every minute OF two the spray would
dash over the ice and freeze as II struck.
When we got within four miles OF Case
Vile We found that the ice was frozen
solidly, vet not strong enough t. walk
upon. We hOisted our stOrn-sIgna and
began cutting our way with axes Two
boats started out e. help Ia, but could
not reach Us. To add 70 our dlsmay
We found that the solo lcc, detached
from the main shore, wa increasing ~
thickness every minute and that i wa
drifting down the bay, taking u, with
II. We cut, pushed. rowed, and strug-
eied like mad reaching shore at las, a-
% O'Clock Monday evening. eight nile.
below Caseville, having drilted tina, iar
II tin rec.
LAST TAwEs. MICH, December ..
Charles Reardon first mate Of the
wrecked steamer Oconto, arrived mere
Yesterday with the steward and sly
passengers. keardon reports tina the
crew and passengers OF the Ocouto
numbered forty-seyen. The captain
inst engineer. and passengers are u
shanties OF the island. There are pro
visions for & few DAYS. AL are verv
down-h hearted. They nave one deck
hand and one passenger very slcA.
nut no medicines. The mate and
steward left Charity island II
yawi-boat YESTERDAY morning and
walked from Point Lookou. mere.
There were TWO lady passenger anC
one child. Captain Plough and life
saving crew nave started for the island
The mate saws their experience the
night OF the storm was trIchtiul snd
that the danger wa greatly augmented
by q number Of horses and some cattle
which were OF board breaking from
their stalls ana stampedInc Severai OF
the animals were SO seriously injured
that they had to be killed. There L.
report that seven Of the crew let. thc
islands IL q boat Oh TUESDAY and nave
not vel turned W. but tins lacks cor
.irmatlOu.