Morris tribune., 1886-11-24

Lives.
MAN1srEE, Mich, Nov. 22-During the
terrible gale Of Thursday night the barges
Menekaunee and Marinettee broke from the
tow Of the steambargs Manistique and both
went to the bottom with their crews, with
the exception of one man, c. w. Annis. The
Manistique arrived safely in port at Frank
fort Saturday morning.
Only one OF the bodies has as yet been re-
covered Il b that Of q man who belonged
to the crew Of the Msnekaunee. The was ap-
parently about 50 years old, had black,
stubby hair, q sandy mustache, and was
about five feet ten inches in hight. An en-
velope was found on his person addressed
to William Lewc-y, 13l Madison street, Chi
cego c. ". Annis, the survivor OF the
Marinette's crew, is from Port Huron. He
does not know the name of the Marinette's
captain The latter, however, was Capt W.
F. Mitchell, Chicago man, about 80 years
old He was washed overheard and drowned
at o'clock Friday afternoon.
The Nenekaunee had crew of seven
Capt. Cox, Mates Dan Wheeler and John
Cotton, two young men whose names are un-
known, and Mike johnson, of Port Huron.
The lost barges left Oscoda for Chicago in
tow Of the Manistique last Sunday. They
were laden with $50, 900 feet of lumber,
part Of which was owned by the Oscoda Salt
and Lumber company and part by Robinson
s. Pret+yman, Of Chicago. The barges were
owned uy the Oscoda Salt and Lumber COM
pany. They were valued at $16,OO each
and insured in the hull pool for 81, ,5O0each.
The cargoes were estimated at about 81 800
The ManistiQue was valued at $45, 900, and is
insured in the hull pool for $37, 900.
c. W. Annis, the sole survivor of this dis
aster, tells the following story:
1--WE loaded at OScoda with lumber for
George Loud, the owner of the lost vessel,
and left for Chicago Sunday. The tow con-
sisted of the steam barge Manistique and
schooners Marinette and Menekaunee. We
met heavy weather on Lake Huron and were
driven for shelter to Presque isle. We then
left and made a fair passage on Lake Michi-
gan, passing Frankfort Wednesday noon.
The wind was southeast-a gale 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 Two Riv-
srs light, but could fetch nothing.
At daylight the Manistique squared
away for the Manitou islands to es-
cape the onslaught of the storm. The
tow broke up at 2:30, and the steamer left
us to our fate. We signaled to her to stay
by us, but she steamed away and was lost to
sight in a snow-squall The Marinette
pitched and rolled terribly, so that we could
scarce keep foothold. She unshipped her
rudder, becoming unmanageable, and then
sprung leak, soon becoming water-logged
She rolled her deck load off, taking both
rails and bulwarks with her, and rolled her
mainmast out, which, in falling, took the
foremast and mizzenhead. We were hud-
! died in the cabin, where we built tenn
porary floor over the water. The captain, a
Chicago mani do not know his name-50
years old, was washed overheard and
drowned at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. We
lowered the yawl at s o'clock and attempted
to reach land, but in lowering we sprung a
leak, rendering the boat useless, and we let
her go adrift.
SAT 1890 she struck tho beach broadside
and swung head to. We rushed out of the
! cabin Our crew was eight all told. Some
huddled under the lee of the cabin, clinging
to the timber heads. took to the mizzen
rigging, the stewardess, Mary, clinging to
me and crying piteously; Save me! Oh,
save me' I helped her Up in the shrouds,
| where she clung with her little white hands
while l sought to fasten her. She could not
stand the cold, and suddenly gave up her
hold and fell down across me, nearly carry
ing me along, and fell into the boiling sea be
meath Us. Her daughter, Minnie, our pet,
never left the cabin, but drowned there She
was 13 years old. Clinging to the rigging
with me were French John and Mr.. Cum
| frey. Soon the mast fell across the
cabin We then clung to the davits Of the
stern, the seas dashing over us. The Others,
We think, gradually washed off one after
the other. At o'clock Cumfrey and John
said they would try and reach the shore.
The schooner's deck had broken off and lum-
ber was washing out at every wave They
each took plank. l watched them as they
neared. l halloowed How do you get
alongr The answer came: All rightr and
all was silent. A heavy sea swept over her,
carrying me along. l Igrappled a small piece
Of deck plank, and after a terrible experience
was flung upon the shore. l crawled to the
house of Mr.. Mortenson, who took care of
me-"
A dispatch from Ludington, Mich, an
nounces that the schooner William Jones has
been driven high and dry on the beach at
Big Point au Sable. Considerable excite
ment has been felt for the safety of the Jones,
as among those on board was Capt David
Ddll, Ono VI Gne OIues6 ann nOSb poPuldE "a
Chicago vesselmen The crew stepped ashore,
and are now engaged in stripping the vessel,
which will be allowed to stay where she is
until spring.
ASHLAND, Wis, Nov. 22.-News has just
been received that the schooner Lucerne,
which left here last Monday evening with q
cargo Of ore for Cleveland, has gone to the
bottom of Lake Superior with all on board.
Three men were found lashed in the rig
ging. They were cut loose and brought tc
this city Friday night One is recognized a
being the second mate. The vessel is now
lying in forty feet of water. The Lucernt
left this port with a crew of nine men, al
Of whom are supposed to be lost.