Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-10-21
AFLAME In A GALE.
Thrilling and Fatal Disaster on
Lake Huron.
NINE SAILORS IN wATERY GRAVES

The Steam Barge Annie Young Burned
on Lexington Lighthouse - Fearful
Peril of the Crew-The First Boat
Launched Swamped and Its Occupants
Lost-A Vain Fight Against Death
The survivors Braveiy Rescued at the
Last Despsiring Moment.
PoRT HURON, Mich, Oct. 2l.-The
steamer Annie Young, of the Lake Snpe-
rior Transit company. took fire and
burned to the waters edge, off Lexing-
ton. at 0 o'clock yesterday morning. The
steamer Ed Smith went to the rescue,
and took thirteen OF the crew off and
brought them here. The latter bore
down on the burning vessel from the wind
ward, and, despite the heavy sea aud
wind ran so close that the endangered
sailors were enabled TO leap over her
rail and escape from what had seemed GER
tain death.
The Flames Discovered.
The Annie Young passed out of the St.
Clair river into Lake Huron shortly after
7o'clock. The wind was blowing rat
Ting gale from the northward, a heavy
sea was running, and once she got beyond
the shelter of the point she made little or
no Roadway. At 9 o'clock just as she was
abreast of Lexington lighthouse, smoke
was seen issuing from the main hatch.
The hatch cover was promptly removed,
the crew sent to fire quarters, and every
preparation made to eXtinguish the
flames, but the latter had gained such
Roadway in the highly inflammable cargo
that it was impossible to check them.
They ran aft through the engine and
boiler rooms, through the cabin and of
ficers' quarters, and in less than five min
utes the entire fantail was ablaze.
The Sails and Rigging Afre.
Once her engines were stopped she fell
off into the trough of the sea, where she
rolled and plunged in a way that threat
ened to send her to the bottom. Sea after
sea swept over her decks; tons of water
poured into the open matches, but the
fire seemed to burn more fiercely than
ever. AS it approached the foremost,
driven on by the gale, it ignited lot of
oil barrels slowed on the main deck
Flames shot up through the matches. set
fire to the sails and rigging and even
threatened the boats that were swinging
from the davits.
Exploding Oil Barrels.
1t was plain to Capt Miller that the yes
sci was doomed, and this conviction was
emphasized when barrel after barrel of
the blazing oil exploded with such force
as to tear the deck planks from under the
feet of his men. The fire spread all
through the hold with the rapidity of
lightning. Flames shot out of the fore
castle hatch and eHveloped everything
about il. When the danger to the boat
first became apparent Capt. Miller or
dered the starbosrd boat cleared away
and lowered. This was done In a jlffy,
and ni"e men took their places in il be-
fore the falls were cast adrift They
pushed away from the burning vessel.
manned their oars. and made a gallant at
tempt to bring the frail craft head 10
the
Loss of the Boats Crew.
Just AS they We're rounding to under
the Goung's quarter terrific sea caught
the boat and seemingly lifting It clear
out of the water threw it end over end
In II moment nine men were struggling
with the waves for their lives. One poor
fellow reached tie capsized boat and was
working with All energy born of despair
to get astride of the keel, when he was
bottom. The catastrophe to the boat
happened in full view of Capt. Miller aud
the twelve brave fellows who remained
with him aboard of the burning vessel.
| They watched the drowning men 90 down
one by one, all the time shouting words
| of en- enlargement to those who were try
| ing to swim to the doomed vessel. aud
SO intense were their interest in the scene
that they momehtarily forgot their own
| danger.
| In Terrible Peril.
They were brought to full realization
| of their peril, however, when they felt
! the scorching heat of the fire, which WAS
| rapidly sweeping down on them from
every side. Then they began TO retreat to
the bows. They could not reach the only
remaining lifeboat, for it was already
ablaze, and barrier of fire flashed in their
way. II looked as if they must all share
the fate of the poor fellows who went off
| in the first boat for inch by inch the fire
drove them forward until they were all
huddled together in the forepeak They
did not know rescue was so near at hand
until they heard the CHEEKY shout of the
| Smiths crew
A FearfulIy Close Call.
Just as the two barges came together
Capt. Miller's coat caught fire The clothes
Of other officers were also burning, and all
hands were suffering so fearfuIly from
the heat that they were about ready to
follow the boats crew AS the vessels
came together with crash. however and
they saw through the binding smoke and
fierce heat the towering spars of the
Smith, they jumped for the rail like ii.
gers, and scrambled over to the deck of
the rescuing vessel. To get the latter
beyond the reach of the flames required
but a turn of the wheel, and the Annie
Young WAS left to burn and sink
| Names of the Drowned.
OF the nine men drowned Capt. Miller
was able to furnish the names of but five,
as follows: George McManus, Port HUI
ron; j. Donnelly, J. Crosby, J. Gallagher,
G. Conley, and four deckhands, names
| and residence unknown.