Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-29
BRAVE STUDENTS
Rescue Crew of Eighteen Men From the
Waves of Lake BIIchigau-Three
Trips Through the Waves 10
the ainlrinn Knnnal

Waves Of Lake DIichIsan-Three
Trips Through the Waves TO
the Sinking Vessel.
CHICAGO, November 2S.-The students
life saving crew of the North western Uni
verslty at Evanston have again covered
themselves with glory. Last night in furi-
GUS storm the steamer Calumet went on the
beach just opposite the Government bar
racks at Fort Sheridan. 1t was in
succoring the 18 men on the steamer
that thes students added to their
already famous record for heroism. 1t
seems that when the Calumet left Buffalo
she ran foul of submerged anchor which
ripped off her foot. Yesterday morning,
when about 20 miles out from shore, the
vessel sprang bad leak and the water be-
gan to rapidly fill the hold. The engines
were put to work, but to no purpose. The
Calumet was headed for Milwaukee, but as
Captain Greene could see no light nearing
that city, and did not dare to trust himself
to make the harbor in the bowling snow
storm, the vessel was headed for Chicago.
When Fort Sheridan was reached the
water was almost on a level with the
furnaces, and Captain Greene was forced to
head the vessel straight for the beach.
After some delay the crews signals of dis
tress were heard by F. w. Fletcher, who
built roaring bonfire on the beach, reused
the soldiers in the barracks at Fort Sheri-
dan, and then telegraphed Captain Lawson,
ofthe Evanston lifesaving crew. The sea was
running high, and the fierce wind from the
northwest was throwing the waves far up
on the bluff at Fort Sheridan. The men,
bers of the crew were either patroling the
beach miles north and south Of the station,
or had been relieved from duty for the
night and gone to bed. These latter were
soon reused out aud preparations made for
the long trip to Fort Sheridan.
The life-saving crew reached the scene of
the wreck about 4 o'clock in the morning,
and found the helpless steamer and her men
at the mercy Of the waves about ], 900 yards
out. The lighting of several more huge bon
fires were followed by what proved to be
Intellectual attempts to make use of the
beach apparatus. Captain Lawson, having
no alternative, finally gave, reluctantly, the
students orders to launch the life-boat. The
gallant fellows, encouraged by cheer from
crowds on the bluff, and the shivering crew
on the Calumet, started with vim through
through the dashing breakers for the wreck.
The little boat had hardly reached the inner
bar when couple of rolling waves dashed
over its sides and nearly filled it.
By skillful maneuvering, however, the
boat was righted, and in the teeth Of the
gale the crew gradually neared the wrecked
vessel and shortly came up under her lee.
Six men were put into cork jackets and
taken aboard the life boat, and after another
hard struggle with the sea were landed on
the beach. The boat was then taken 900
yards up the beach by the direction of Cap
tain Lawson for more convenient launch
ing. From this point a second trip was
made with much less difficulty to the
stranded vessel, and SIX more of the crew
brought, cold and thoroughly drenched, to
the roaring fires on the beach. The life saw
ing crew were so nearly exhausted that
Captain Lawson ordered brief rest, which,
being over, the work of rescue was COM
pleted without single mishap. Captain
Greene, commander of the Calumet, was the
last man to leave the disabled vessel.