, 1886-11-20
LAKE DISASTERS.
Terrible Sutferings Through
Wind and Snow.
Vessels Dashed to Pieces in
Sight of Land.
A Thrilling Narrative by an
Only Survivor.

DETROIT. Nov. ia special to the
Free Press from Frankfort says A terri
bic lake disaster occurred last night and
there is LETT not II soul to tell the story.
During the height Of the storm yesterday
afternoon, at intervals through IA binding
snOwstorm, Il three masted schooner could
bc seen about six miles southwest Of
Frankfort. Her poles were almost bare
and her deck seemed clear of cargo. An
attempt was made TO anchor her and she
held Tor a time, but soon broke loose and
driiled helplessly before the gale. The
wind gradually increased in violence and
the seas were gowing every moment
larger, when darkness settled over the
lake. Help was asked from the life
saving station at Manistec, but it was i'm
possible for a tug to live in such "A gale.
After L great deal of trouble the life
saving station, six milesInorth of here,
was reached and the apparatus hauled
down the coast by a few volunteers. Over
steep hills, r%avines, tree trunks and heavy
snow drifts, and pelted by driving snow
and hail, they arrived at the scene OF the
disaster at Herring creek at 1 o'clock this
morning after a twenty-mile struggle
against the elements.
The vessel was totally broken up, and
with her cargo piled upon the beach,
everything being completely destroyed.
Broken masts, shrouds, lumber and deb
rls, all were mixed and piled up together.
Capt. Matthews thinks she must have
had her anchor down and pounded to
pieces on the outer bar. One body was
found, that of Il man about 80 years old,
with black hair and moustache. In the
pocket of his coat was a letter bearing the
address William Lawrey, l3l Madison
street, Chicago. His face was badly
jammed and his hands lacerated. The
vessel yawl with the name Menakaunee
was near by, uninjured. 1t is thought
she had Il crew of nine men and that she
broke as soon as she struck. No other
Douics nave US 90. been discovered.
Another wreck was discovered two miles
south, where the same chaotic wreckage
was seen, by a Free Press correspondent.
The entire stern of the schooner Marin
cite, of Racine, Wis, was discovered.
At Il %neighboring farm house was a
bruised and battered sailor with lacerated
hands, from which the flesh was completely
stripped. and his feet were badly swollen.
He is G. w. Annis, of Port Huron, a
sailor on his first trip. and is the only
survivor of this vessel.
He says: We loaded at Oscoda with
lumber for George Loud, owner of the
lost vessels, and left for Chicago Sunday.
The tow. consisting of the steam barge
Manistuque and the schooners Marinette
and Menakaunee, met heavy weather ON
Lake Huron and was driven Tor shelter to
Presque isle. We then left and made a
favorable passage on Lake Michigan.
Wednesday noon a southeast gale set in,
with rain and snow. At midnight, while
abreast Of Ludington, six miles out, the
gale increased to almost a hurricane. The
barge reached for the Wisconsin shore
and made the Two River light. but could
fetch nothing. At daybreak the Manis-
squared away for Manitou islands
to escape the onslaught of the storm, and
the tow broke up. At 80 the steamer
us to Il fate. We slgnalled them to
stay by us, but she steamed away and was
lost TO sight in the snow squat. The
Marinette pitched and rolled terribly, 50
that we could scarce keep a foothold.
She unshipped her rudder, becoming
unmanageable, then sprung IL leak, and
water logged. She swept her deck load
off, taking both rails and bulwarks with
it. She rolled her mainmast out, and in
falling it took the foremost and mizzon-
head. We saw the Monakaunec drifting
apparently near. She showed no distress
while we tied our colors to the mast.
We sighted Frankfort during the after
noon. We were huddled together in the
where we built a temporary floor
over the water. The captain was washed
overheard and drowned at > O'Clock in the
.E AZ. lAnaral ,I, ,,n a.. F.
o clock and attempted to reach lind, but
in lowering she sprung a leak, rendering
her useless, and we let her 90 adriit. At
1913 she struck the beach broadside and
swung head to. and we rushed out of the
cabin.
Our crew was eight men all told. Some
huddlcd under the lee of the cabin. cling
ing to timber heads. | took to the mlz-
zen rigging. The stewardess. Mary, was
c~linging to me and crying. | helped her
up the shroud and she tried to hold on
until | could iastcn her, but she could not
stand the cold and suddenly let 60 her
hold and fell down across me, nearly car
rying me along, and feel! into the boiling
sea beneath us. Her daughter. aged Is,
the pet of the crew. never left the cabin,
but was drowned there. Clinging to the
rigging with me were French John and
MIR. Cumlrcy. Soon the mast fell across
the cabin and we then chung to the dayits
at her stern, the seas dashing over us.
The others, we thought, were gradually
washed off. one after another.
At O'Clock Mr. Cumfrey and John
said they would try to reach shore, They
each took a loose plank and started. As
they ncared land. | hollered: ''lIow do
you get along?" The answer came: IAN
right. and then all was silent. A heavy
sea swept over the wreck. carrying me
along. ! grapplcd a small piece of deck
plank and after a terrible experience was
flung upon the shore. | crawlcd to the
house of Mr.. Mortenson. who took care of
me.
CHIcAGo, Nov. l9-Particulars con-
corning the great storm which has been
raging ON Lake Superior show that it was
the ~fcrcest gale that ever swept the lakes.
At Marquette the lake was dashed into
seafoam by the terrible force of the wind,
and sea after sea rolled completely over
the breakwator, producing a tremendous
current and undertow in the harbor.
Vessels at the docks snapped their heavy
breast lines like threads and were soon
compelled to 90 out and lie at anchor.
The breakwater harbor light was torn
from its heavy timber lastenings and
washed ashore. The tower was lifted by
an immense wave and hurled top first into
the lake, where it drilted rapidly away.
The rescue of the crew of the Cleveland
schooner Florida by the tug Gillette was a
daring act. and was witnessed by thou.
sands of people who thronged the beach.
The Florida would have made the har-
Dor in safety but for tho binding snow.
When the storm abated a little the cap
tain of the Florida found his boat in inn