The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-12-15
LITE SAVERS LOST.
Three Members of a Crew Lose
Their Lives in Lake Michigan.
One Mans Magnificent Struggle to
Save His Comrades.

The following is e thrilling description OF
the circumstances attendant upon the loss OF
three Of life-saving crew on Lake.
Michigan: Sunday night, when tho wind
began to blow gale from the northwest
the schooner A j. Dewey, of Manistes, was:
lying at Pierport waiting to load lum-
Der for Chicago. The tug A ?. Wright was.i
with her, and when the big seas were driven.
inshore both were compelled toleave. The
tug got line from the schooner and started
to tow her to M1nistee for shelter, but the
gale kept increasing in violence aud the,
vessel labored 80 heavily that she gave
o sudden lurch, and the strain on
the hawser caused it to part One end Was
swept into the wheel Of the tug, rendering It
helpless, and the schooner was lost sight OF
in the binding snow storm. At about
o'clock, after tossing about in the furious
over on her side. Then came the battle
for life. The crew consisted Of fye,
men-Capt Sam Johnson, Engineer Thomas
Vaughan, Lineman Henry Banforth, Fire
man August Hegerson, and Steward Harry
Darrell. The men clung to the wreck as
best they could, urging each other to be
brave and not give up in despair, and at
one time, when young Darrell was about
to re'ax his hold, the engineer put his
arm around hun and held him up. Freez-
ing seas were sweeping over them and.
their clothing became rigid with ice.
After clinging 10 the wreck for three
hours daylight came, but with 1t there
were no signs of relief. The men by this time.
were frozen, and, knowing that they could
not hold on much longer, Danforth yolnn-
teered to make an effort to reach the shore.
His companions begged him not to further
imperil his life, but the brave fellow isilenced.
their entreaties, and after divesting himself
of his heavy clothing, struck out for the.
shore. He was powerful swimmer, but his
muscular arms and iron will were
hardly fair match with the foaming
breakers that thundered along the beach.
But he fought the battle manfuly and
shipwrecled companions, who eagerly
watched the struggling form Of the hero as.
lie rose and fell with the waves until he
gained the shore. Stopping but for moment
to salute those who were still on the wreck
Danforth made his way to farmhouse, and,
after uttering few words. fell fainting to.
fhe floor. he was picked up and kindly cared,
tor, and last night was out of danger.
The farmer made out that q vessel waS I'M
distress and at oace set of for Manistee. He
reached there with his horse reeking with
foam, and in few minutes the ife.saving
crew were hurrying to the rescue with their
beach apparatus. On reaching q point:
abreast Of the wreck the howitzer was trained:
into line and well directed shot sent the:
life line over the tug; It was within easy
reach of the men, and they hauled the hawser
aboard and made it fast. The breeches-
buoy was then sent out and the first to-
come ashore was young Darrell, who Is only
q boy. The hawser had not been made taut'
and the slack permitted the buoy to- sag
through the surf. Darrell was insepsibler
when he was pulled ashore, but is now rcy=
covering. The others were safely taken from
the wreck, one at time, Captain johnson,
being the last. 1t was almost noon when the.
work of saving human life was over. ss.se;5i.sS
In the meantime another thrilling scene
was being enacted sixteen miles south, of Nam
istee. At about eight o'clock the Dewey,
having been driven before the gale, arrived
off Big Pointau Sab.e with flag Of distress.
flying in her mizen rigging The patrol OF
the life-saving station there sighted the sig-
were pulling through the boiling seas. Tbey.
had covered about one-half of the distance be
tween the shore and the vessel when the fag:
was suddenly hauled to the truck Of the fore
mast TIE Dewey then steered away on her
course, and the life-saving crew, realizing
that they had been tricked by vessel that,
simply wanted a tug, started to return to
their station. Iney naQ puueu Dub snctt
distance when their lifeboat struck bar and
capsized. The entire crew was thrown into.
the sea, and the boat did not right again..
Orrin Hatch and John Smith, surf men,
we're drowned. It Is thought that they
must have been struck by the edge Of the
boat, as both instantly sank from sight: Cap
tain Flynn, who was in command, climbed
upon the bottom of the boat with the aid OF
Surfman Ludwig. He appeared to be in
jured, and was gasping as Il in great agony.
The rest of the crew-Michael King, Mat
thew Yore, and Thomas Wishart-caught
hold of the life lines and held on until. the,
boat was dragged ashore. Captain Flynn
was taken into the station, but soon died.