New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-17
FOUNDERED IN LAKE ERIE.
THIRTEEN MORE LIVES LOST.
THE STEAMER WOCOKEN. OF CLEVELAND
GOES DOWN IN HE STORM.
BEATEN TO PIECES WHILE TRYING To MAKE A
PLACE or SAFETY on THE ONTARIO
sHORE-NAMEs OF THE VICTIMS


PLACE OF SAFETY on THE ONTARIO
snoRE-NAMEs OF THE VICTIMS.
Buffalo. Oct 16-Thirteen more victims have
been added to the already long list of fatalities
resulting from the terrific northwest gale that
swept the great lakes Saturday and Sunday
last It is now definitely known that the steamer
Wocoken, from Cleveland, bound for Mil
waukee foundered in ten fatkcms of water
just above Long Point. on the northern
coast of Lake Erie. carrying down
with her all but three Of her crew. The list of
those drowned is follows Albert Meswad,
captain Marine City: Miss Sarah Meswald. his
sister; Captain John Mitchell. Cleveland; Cap
tain David Jones first mate, Cleveland; Matthew
Hasler second engineer. Marine City; Michael
Hinkleman. chief engineer Cleveland; Charles
Minard. steward Marine City; Henry Branch.
watchman. Marine City; John Hinkleman, fire
man. Marine City; George Smith fireman. Ma
rine City: Edmund Eldredge, watchman, Marine
City; Michael Kenny. deckhand Marine City;
William Eachl wheelman. Marine City.
Those saved J. j. Saph. second mate;
Robert Crowding. deckhand, and j. H. Rice
wheelman of Cleveland
The Wocoken was built in Cleveland in 1880
and was considered stanch craft. Her dimen-
depth ls.5 feet. Her gross tonnage was 14Oo.
and she equipped with 1,2oo horsepower
engines. She was owned by John Mitchell, Of
Cleveland.
Port Rowan. near which place she foundered
is on the northern shore of Lake Erie. near
Long Point. which the Wocoken was evidently
trying to make for shelter when she went down
The boat left Erie Friday morning for the upper
lakes.
After she had been swept fore and aft by the
tremendous and had been almost dis
mantled. Captain Meswad saw that further
efforts To combat the storm were useless. HIS
boat being rapidly torn TO pieces, and the
only hope TO seek the protection Of Long
Point. The sea too much for her, and 1t
was soon found necessary to drop the Joseph
Paige. which ,she had i'm tow The vessels had
cluSg together in the hope that If either must
succumb the other might prove the means of
saving the lives Of both crews.
II only last resort that
the hawsers were cut and each set out with
grave misgivngs to make the fight for itself.
The Paige. which picked up by the
Wocokcn at Erie. had thus far weathered the
gale much better than the steamer. and. having
the advantage of position. rode westward before
the storm and found safety behind Long Point
not SO fortunate Her fight had been made.
and although she righted FOR time after the
consort had been cut loose her rigging was
gone and her hull had been badly sprung as
she buneted the heavy The matches
the next TO go and she rapidly
crew vanished. Each made preparations
to save himself single handed ii possible. Life
preservers and portions of the ship furniture
called into ana every provision was
made after The fate Of the vessel became
tain To enable the human beings that We're
about to be cast adrift 10 remain on the sur
face Of the water The boat became water-lOg-
ged. and II became evident that II ques-
ton of but a few minutes until she must 90
down. Tho stronger men began To jump
overheard. with the faint hope Of being cast
ashore without being beaten 10 death on The
rocks that abound in that locality. The women
and tn" most skilful swimmers were an easy
prey tn tho furious waves and were hurled out
Of sigh Of one another by the tremendous waves
that ashod the sinking hull. They went down
I'm quick succession. Thr.e only Of the sixteen
souls who were aboard the Wococken escaped
These were j. +. Saph. the second mat"
Whcelman j. II. Rice. and Robert Crowding.
all hardy and experienced seamen. skilful swim
mers. who succeeded In keeping themselves well
out froD the dangerous coast until the storm
abatcd and they able To- make landing.
Cleveland. and was valued at $50. OoO insured.
Her cargo Of 500 tons of coal consigned to
". l.. Scott & Co, was valued at $4,000; insured.