The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-05-19
THE TORNADO 5
AWFUL WORK
@any Lives Lost Along The Shore Of Lake
Michigan.
The TEMPEST LASTS 4S HOURS
Twenty-Five or Thirty Men Exhausted
in the Storm Heroic Working of
Life-saVing Crews - The Waves
Rolled Mountains High-Signals of
Distress-Drowned in Sight of Land.
CHICAGO, May IS.

CHICAGO, May IS.
n AXE MICHIGAN has not been
lashed and churned for months
as she was today by the fierce
u wind that has been sweeping
down from the north for thspast thirty.
six hours. Late tonight it is believed
that twelve or fifteen lives have been
lost along the shore off this city, and
its suburbs The only other point re-
porting loss of life is Milwaukee, where
six Of the schooner Cummings crew
! were drowned this afternoon before
they could be rescued by the life saw
ing crew.
Half a dozen schooners and smaller
craft have foundered off this city dur
Ing the day; score or more are dis
mantei and stove in, making an al.
most hopeless fight against the gale
and the huge waves that every few
minutes swept over them. endsugering
the lives OF those who are still aboard
1t has been a day of heroic effort and
great suffering for the life saving
crsws scattered along the shore. At
least thirty vessels are anchored out
side the harbor waiting for the storm
to subside. All are more or less dam
aged and the Signals OF distress that
have appeared among them from time
to TIM during the day have kept
the life savers busy. Twenty-Five
or thirty men have been brought in,
all exhausted and suffering intensely
from the exposure aud cold. In several
places help arrived too late and corpse
was found among the half conscious
sailors who benumbed by the cold and
unable to protect themselves, were al
most beaten to death BY the furious
waves.
SCENES OF HORROR.
Scenes of horror that chilled the
blood Of thousands of spec tators were
enacted in the har Dor for two miles
below the Illinois Central dspot in the
early evening As the storm increased
in violence during the afternoon. the
waves grew mountain high. dashing
over the breakwster. deluglng the
tracks and snvsloping the passing
trains with torrents OF spray Out in
the harbor dozen three-masted
schooners. heavily laden with lumber
from Michigan, were riding at anchor
A few minutes after o'clock three
Of the number hoisted signals Of dis
tress and citizens on lore telephoned
TO the police and fire departments as
we'll as to the life saving station at
jackson park. A few minutes later
the thres-masted schooner Evening
Star, of this city, parted her chains
and came for the shore like rocket.
She struck the heavy piling Of the
IL hur
in as though they were egg shells.
As the vessel struck the ak sailors
aboard jumped for their lives. Five
landed on "a pile OF scrap iron, but the
sixth missed land by y couple Of feet
aud went down into the waves. The
next moment a succession of monster
waves had cleaned the deck Of thous-
ands Of pine planks which covered the
surface Of the water and made any at
tempt to rescue the unfortunate men
impossible.
Hardly had she struck before another
three master had parted her ropes and
was coming ashore. This WAS the Jack
Thompson, also lumber laden. She
followed the path OF the Star and came
helm-on the previous unfortunate. The
shock precipitated into the water the
heavy timber on the starboard side
and upon which the FIVE members Of
the crew were standing Four Of them
cIung to a big plank, yelling at the top
of their voices for help. The fifth man
could not be seen for moment, but
WAS finally discovered hanging by one
hand to a spar couple Of hundred
yards north.
EFFORTS TO CAST A LINE
Several unsuccessful efforts to cast
lines were made, but finally rocket
was thrown across the raft and the
benumbed men were helped ashore.
The other members of the crew were
pulled ashore by some Of the specta-
tors. Shortly after o'clock the two
master Murphy, lumber laden. came
ashore within fifty yards OF
the Thompson. She was driven
20 close to the land that the crew
had little difficulty in jumping ashore.
Another big three muster which had
been riding at anchor about n mile out
parted her chains and commenced TO
come for the shore. BY this time fully
100. 600 people lined the lake front for a
distance Of mile and tens OF thous =
ands more occupied the windows and
roofs of the private residences and fiat
buildings that command view Of the
lake.
1t was seen that eight men were
clinging to the rigging. The life.
saving crew had made ready their lines.
The first rocket took effect and one by
one the men were brought ashore,
while the thousands made their voices
heard above the roar Of the storm. One
OF the crew was caught on the vessel
and drowned
At 8 o'clock the schooner Myrtle was
seen drifting ashore. Six half frozen
men were clinging TO the rigging. The
lifesaving crew was busy mile away
at the other wrecks and could give no
assistance The sailors were washed
overheard one by one In full view OF
the thousands on the shore until but
one was left He took off his clothes
during lull In the storm and jumped
overheard. striking out for the shore
He had gone but few yards. however,
when he was carried under by the
waves and did not re-appear. The
schooner foundered 200 feet of Thirty
fifth street.
Forty lives were saved by the crews
of the life saving boats and the tugs OF
the Chicago companies during the day,
including the firemen.