Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-07-10
TOOK A FATAL SAIL
-Four Persons Drowned When the
Chesapeake Capsized.
CAUGHT IN THE BIG sQUAlt
Many Persons Have Narrow t.scApss
From Drowning on or Chicago
In the Hsg Lake

CHICAGO, July q a furious wind and
rainstosm swept over the city between 5
aud O'Clock this evening and caught
many craft on Lake Michigan. Four
persons are known to have been drow ned.
and ia several cases boats were cspslSed
and narrow escapes from drowning were
had BY the capsizing of the sailing
yacht Chesapeake near the life saving
station. nine persons were thrown into
the water and four ~ them were
drowned. Their b,dies were not recos-
cred. The dead are Themistocsrs
Fixmbolis. William Ii. Cornish. Ethel IL.
Chase. Harvey NARROW.
Those who were rescued are: George
Gray. Edith Compton. Fred Avery.
William Avery and William Elliott.
The Chesapeake WAS well built yacht
and Was owned by the Avery brothers.
William aud Fred. The former was
captain and is counted skillful In hand
ling a sailboat. The party had been out
during the afternoon and mad been en-
ioyirg the pleasant sailing. When the
storm struck them they were unpre-
pared TO battle against it's sudden fury
and before any on hoard had time 10
prepare for the emergency. they were all
in the water. Some were able a. swim.
but others were rot and before assist
ance arrived four lives had been lost.
The Avery brothers and Gray swan
TO the assistance IL Miss Compton and
succeeded in getting her back to TIE
overturned bark. where they clung until
Charley May. who witnessed the disas
aster. came to their assistance. Miss
Compton aad Gray were unconscious
when rescued and they were taken To
the life saving station. 1t was feared at
first that both would die but they were
finally revived.
Several Narrow Escapes.
Ethel Chase. the young lady who was
drowned. lived in Boston and was vi.,t-
ing friends in this city. As The vessel
capsized che was caught in the rigging
and held under water till dead. despite
the efforts IL the survivors To rclcsse
her. Her body WAS afterwards carried
away by the force Of the waves.
Ignus Howell was alone in a rowboat
about go yards from shore when the
squall struck his craft and overturned IT,
The tug Flora went 10 bis rescue, but
the waves were so high that il was i'm
possible To get near enough Ia liewel To
throw him line. Seeing that Howell
was about to sink. Captain Doyle Of the
Flora lashed rope 10 the waist III
Albert Herman, deck hand. and
old him t. swim 20 the aid
of the drowrin, man. Herman leaped
overheard and soon had Howell IN his
grasp. Both were hauled to the deck of
the Flora. Howell was completely ex-
hausted. and il Was some time before he
revived. -Four boys, Wentworth Wig
gins. Charles Suddard. Fred Burnham
and Arthur Burnham. had naTraw es-
capes from drowning. Their boat was
overturned. aud they were in the water
forty five minutes before they were
finally rescued in an exhausted condi-
ton by the steam yacht Vision.
Charles Saunders. "A worlds fair visi-
tor from st. Louis. had similar experi.
ence. He was out rowing alone when
his boat was carsilcd. lie chung to IL
for three quarters 81 an hour. and was
losing consciousness when New York
Dutchie." one 81 the crew of the Flora.
swan To his assistance aud held his
head above water until both were res
cued.
just before the storm came up two
boys. each about Ii years of age. hired a
boat al the foot of Barry avenue. They
were about mile from shore when the
squall struck them. At midnight neither
the boat nor its occupants had reached
shore. and it is feared the boys were
drowned