Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-12-04
TERRIBLE SUFFERING.
THE AWFUL FATE OF THE CREW OF THE
VESSEL ARIADNE.
Frozen 10 Dsath-fhs vessel Dashed to Pieces On
Reef and Only Two Of the Sailors Rescued
The Fearful Suffering Experienced
Tales Of the Survivors

NEW YORK, December "a special
from OswegO, n. Y, gives the following
details Of the wreck of the Ariadne, which
was reported in yesterdays dispatches:
One Of the seyerest storms of wind and
snow that has ever visited this section
swept over Lake Ontario Wednesday night
The wind, which had blown all day from
the southwark, changed around to the
west in the evening, and by nightfall was
blowing at the rate of 60 miles an hour.
Seven vessels loaded with barley were
known to be off this port, and much anX-
iety was felt for their welfare. Rockets
were sent up by the life saving crew from
the piers, and huge bon6res fed by willing
hands, were kept constantly blazing on the
bluffs along the lake front to guide the
storm tossed vessels into port. About
eight o'clock large black vessel was dis
covered through the snow drifting past the
mouth of the harbOr. Her mainmast was
gone, and her crew were burning signals
Of distress from her decks.
The seas were very heavy and the snow
was carried along in binding sheets,
which ut times shut out the lights from
the vessel, which was drifting hOpeleSsly
To DESTRUCTION.
A tugboat tried to reach her, but was
nearly swamped in the endeavor to put
back into the harbor. After considerable
difficulty the crew succeeded in clearing
away the disabled rigging and got por-
ton of her mainsail set, and headed her for
the foot of the lake. About 3 o'clock yes
terday morning the vessel struck on reef
about twenty miles from this port and the
crew laShed themselves to the forward rig
ging, where they were discovered at day
light by farmers on shore. The surf was
very heavy and there were no suitable
boats in the vicinity to 90 to the rescue of
the half frozen men. The nearest life saw
ing station WAS nine miles distant, and
word was sent there for lifebOat. The
roads in the vicinity were blocked with
snow, and it was nearly noon before the
liteboat arrived, drawn by horses.
The vessel in the meantime was
FAST GOING To PIECES,
and portion of her stern, which drifted
ashore, gave her name as the Ariadne,
from New Castle, Ont, bound for OswegO,
with barley. 1t was impossible to launch
the life boat on account of the surf, and
a mortar was sent for. II WAS after three
O'Clock when II arrived, and the only part
of the schooner then out of water was her
bows, upon which could be seen clinSlnS
three men. The body of one Of the men,
which proved TO be that of the captain,
Hugh Mckay, aged twenty-nine years, OF
| Toronto, Ont, dropped from the forward
rigging into the lake aud disappeared.
When the life line was shot over the
schooner from the shore the men were too
much exhausted to make 1t fast for some
| time. At last one poor fellow, who
was seen clinging to the mainmaSt
let 90 his hold, and grabbing
| the life line took turn
! round the Espar. and the life savers were
quickly aboard the ill-fated vessel. The
poor fellow who had reused himself sutfi-
/ GENTLY 10 make the line fast was washed
overheard by huge wave, but grasped \
/ piece of the wrecEage and was tossed IN
| sensible on the shore. His two comp2u-
/ ions were found laShed 10 the fore rigging,
unconscious and badly frozen, and were
sent ashore in the life buoy. Two sailors
were found laShed to the capstan, frozen
dead. and one body WAS seen in the fore
castle. The life saving crew found 1t i'm
possible to rescue the bodies, and with the
/ two unconscious sailors left the wreck.
| The rescued men were taken to a farm
house and physician sent for, but it Is
/ feared they cannot recover. There was
nothing on their clothing by which they
could he identified. one of the dead
sailors frozen to the capStan is thought 10
be Switzerland Mckay, father Of the
Young Captain. He is about sixty years
/ old and has wife in Toronto.