Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-10-17
LAKE DISASTER
Steamer w ocoken
Goes Down
With All but Three or
the Crew
Swept Before an An
CRY Sea.
More OF the LOSS OF
the Richmond.
List OF the Victims
Growing.

BUFFALO. NY. Oct l6-Ten mors
victims have heen added 20 the already
long list Of fatalities rosoitiDe from the
terrific northwest gale that swept the
great lakes Saturday aud Sunday last
IL is now definitely known thai ihe
steamer wocoken of Cleveland found
cred IN ten fafhoms % water last above
Long Point on the northern coast Il
Lake Erie Ia the rcceni storm, carrying
down with her all bat three - the crew.
The iist u those drownel is as follows.
Albert Mesx sld. captain. and Mlss sss.rah
Aeswald. his Sister. Marine Ciiy: Cart.
John LitcheH ana Capt David Jones,
first mate. Cleveland; Matthew l{asier.
second engineer. Marine Clfs, Michael
Hinkiemsn. chief engineer. Cievelaa.i.
Charles Minard, steward. Henry Brsnch.
watchman; Nike Kenny. deck hand,
and William Eachl. wheelman. Marine
City.
SAVED j. r. Saph. second mate;
Robert Crowcing, deck hand; J. X.
Hach. whceiman. Cleveland.
The WocOkon eas bound from Ash.
tabuia 10 Duluth with q cargo - coal
She sailed on f'rday. on the eve n
point of the III fated Dean Richmon1
and must have encountered the storm
al the height u its severity while max.
ing for shelter az Vas the case with the
Richmond Long Point on the north
shore u Lake Erie Was the hasen
sought by both vessels but both H..
came the prey 10 the dangerous cosst
along that part of the Canadian border.
The Wocoken made her way 90 Ire
with safety. There she picked up his
consort. the Joseph Paige and pro
ceeded up the lake. The resasl had
proceeded well out into the lake before
she MAS struck by the storm. She
faced the gale aud prepared for the battle
for life.
Swept Pore and An
After she had been swept fore and
and aft by the tremendous eoas and La1
been almost dismantled Captain Mes
Maid saR that further effort % combat
tie storm were useless HE boat uas
rapidly being torn 20 pieces aud the
only hope Was 60 seek the projection -
Long Point The sea was TOO much Tor
her and IL wss soon found necessary T.
drop the Page. The vessels had chung
together in the hope that n either must
eUccumb. the other might prove the
means % saving the lives of both crewA
IL was only ~ a last resort that The
hawscrs we're cut and each set out with
grave misgivings o. make the fight it1sif
The Paige had thus Tar westhersd the
gale much better than the steamer. Tke
Wocoken's rigging was eorn ard her
hull had been badly sprung a. ere buf.
feted the heavy seas The matches we're
the next 10 - and a. che RAPIDLY hiied
the iast hope ~ the despairing crew
vanished. Each made preparations %
save himself single hanled y possible
Life proscrvers anu poriions n the shigs
furniture we're cslled into Dse and
every pro,ision uas nafie after their
fate lsecame certaiD. A the boat lle
came waterlcpEed and Il became evi
dent that u Sas question ~ bot . feE
minutes until ehe must 81 down. the
stronger man began - gaAp orefboare
with the fsiut hoTe II beng casf sebofe
without Acing beaten o. death. The
women and the iees sklilfui swin.tDers
uere easy prey q the furious waves and
hurried cuf u sight a one Another l3 the
Tremendous Wates that lashed The siBk
ine hull. thsy sent Cow IN quick sac
crReion. Three only q the siffern aouis
tnat Aeft aitAtA ~ NVl'aFa fe-rIf
Thoee. J. 4. Saph. the s-coud mate.
Wbeelman J. n. Rice AID Robert
Crouding. ali hardy and esferiencrd
eeamen. skillfni swimmers. Eucreeded Ia
keeping themselves asil cut frorb tie
dangerous coast until the storm ahsied
and they wefe si,ie - make q iandine.
The Wocoken was owued - John
Mitchell of Ciestiand and Was rnluud ~
A. coo t.snur.4 mfft tlnel4 Xarrsa -
Miisaukee snd q. Mcdonald A ca of
Chicago 1Isf cargo - $50 tonf ~ rnsl