Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-11-20
SHIP WRECKS.
Horrible Effects of the
Late Storm.
DISASTERS ON THE LAKES.
The Narrowing Account of the
Sole Survivor of a Lost
Vessel
SHIP WRECKS.
DISASTERS ON THE LAKES.
Special to the Herald ovthe Associated Press

DETROIT, NOVemUtr ia spcCldl W Tie
Free Press from FRANKFORT says: A terrible
lake disaster occurred last night and there
is left not a soul to tell the story. During
the height of the storm yesterday afternoon
at intervals through the binding snow
storm, three-master schooner could be
seen about six miles southwest of Frank.
fort Her poles were almost bare and the
was made to anchor her and she held for
some time, but soon broke loose and drifted
helplessiy before the gale. The wind grad
ually increased in violence aud the seas
were growing every moment larger when
darkness settled over the lake Help was
istec, but it was impossible for tug to live
in such gale. After great trouble the life
saving station six miles north OF here was
reached and the apparatus hauled down BY
few volunteers. They arrived at the
scene of the disaster. at Herring Greek, at 4
O'Clock this morning, after twenty mile
struggle against the elements. The vessel
was totally broken up and with the cargo
piled up on tue beach, every thing being
completely destroyed, Only one BODY has
years old. In the pocket of his coat was
letter bearing the address, "William Laurey,
131 Madison street, Chicago" The vessels
yawl, with the name Menekannee, was near
py uninjured. 1t is thought she had crew
uf nine men and that she broke as soon as
she struck
No other bodies have yet been discovered.
Another wreck was discovered two miles
south, where the same chaotic wreckage
was seen by the Free Press correspondent.
The entire stern of the schooner Marietta,
At a neighboring farm house
was q bruised and battered
sailor with lacerated hands from which the
flesh was stripped and his feet were badly
swollen. He is G. w. Annis, OF Port Huron,
sailor on his first trip and the only sur
vivor OF this yessel.sHe says: I'VE loaded at
oscoda with lumber for George
We lett for Chic igo Sunday, the tow con-
sisting OF the ST cam barge Manistique and
the schooners Marietta and Menekaunee.
We met heavy weather on Lake Huron and
were driven for shelter to Paesque Isle. We
then left and made a fair passage on Lake
Michigan. Wednesday noon southwest
gale set in, with rain and snow. At mid
night, while abreast Ludington, six miles
out, the gale increased to almost hurri-
cane. The barge reached for the Wisconsin
shore and displayed lights, but could fetch
nothing. Atdaylightthe Manistique squared
away for Manltou Is and to escape the on
slaught OF the storm, and the tow Droke up
At 2:30 the steamer left us to our fate.
We signalled them to stay by us, but
the snow squall. The Marietta pitched
and rolled terribly so that we could scarcely
keep foot-hold. She shipped her rudder,
becoming unmanageable, then sprung
load off, taking both the rails and bulwarks
with 1t. She rolled her mainmast and In
falling 1t took the foremast and mizzenhead.
We saw the Menekaunee apparently near US
all day. She showed no distress signals
while we tied our colors to the mast. We
sighted Frankfort during the afternoon.
We were huddled in the cabin where we
had built temporary floor over the water
The captain was washed overheard
and drowned at O'Clock fn the afternoon.
We lowered the yawl at O'Clock and at
tempted to reach land but In lowering she
sprung leak, rendering her useless and
we let her 60 adrift. At 1890 the vessel
struck the beach broadside and swung
head to and we rushed out of the cabin.
Our crew was eight men all told. Some
huddled under the lee Of the cabin, cling
ing to the timber heads, / to the mizzen
rigging. The stewaadess, Mary, was cling
ing TO me and crying. helped her up the
could fasten her but she could not stand the
cold and suddenly let go her hold and fell
across me, nearly carrying me along, and
fell into the boiling sea beneath her. Her
daughter, aged thirteen, the pet OF the crew,
never LETT the cabin, but was drowned
there.
Clinging to the rigging by me were French
John and Mr.. Cumfrey. Soon the mast fell
across the cabin. We then clung to the dav-
The Others, we thought, gradually. washed
off, one after another. At O'Clock Mr:
Cumfrey and John said they would try and
reach shore and they each took a loose
plank ond started. AS they neared land /
The answer came, "All right" and all was
silent. A heavy sea swept over the wreck.
carrying me along. l grappled a small
piece of deck plank and, aftera terrible cx-
perience. was flung upon the shore. l
took care of me. Our crew consisted of
captain (name unknown), VIM. Cumfrey,
French John, of Alpena, c. w. Ann1s,
Norwegian from Capetown,. Norway,
Huron and man named John. l think
the.Menekaunee was waterlogged, did not
see her after it grew dark. She had crew
OF seven, Captain Cox. mates Dan Wheeler
and John Cotton two young men, the cook
The body found is probaly that Of John
Cotton, married, OF Port Huron" While at
the wreck fresh wreckage was discov-
cred out in the lake. Sailor Annis
says snS saw small steam s barge standing on
the outer bar abreast of here. She had
fantop on her smokestack and an exhaust
pipe half way up the stack. She was about
seventy-fvc tons and had tapering mast
with no cross trees, and flag hoisted at the
masthead. She came on broadside, headed
south, and pounded fearfully, and filed
and sank beneath the surface" He saw
nothing of the crew and thinks all were
lost.
ANOTHER HORROR.
ASHLAND, Wis, November 49, News
reached here that the steamer Lucerne,
which left here Monday with iron ore for
Cleveland, had gone to the bottom Of the
lake with all on board. The captain OF the
steam barge Raleigh was sent out after her.
She was found with her spars just above
the water and the bodies OF three men
frozen to them. One OF them was recognized
as that of the second mate. The vessels
crew numbered nine men, all OF whom are
supposed to be lost The bodies recovered
we're encased in from one to six inches of
ice.