Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-05-19
IN A RAGING STORM.
The NJ. J. Cummings Lost in Sight of
Thousands at Milwaukee-six Persons
Drowned

Thousands at MllWaukee-sX IerBonB
Drowned.
MILWAUKEE, Wis, May 1S.-Five
men and a woman perished in the storm
off the beach at the foot OF Michigan
street this morning.
A terrific storm Of wind, snow and
hail broke ever Lake Michigan last
night aud continued through the day.
The wind was fearful, and lashed the
water into foam, and made dangerous
even the sheltered water inside the
government breakwater.
About daybreak six vessels entered
the bay and dropped anchor inside the
breakwater. Five OF them held fast,
but the M. j. Cummings drifted shore
ward till she reached the breakers
and went down in twenty feet of water.
The crew, including the cook, woman,
took 10 the rigging, where they made
themselves fast. The life saving crew
went to the rescue, and drifting near
the Cummings made rope fast and
sent two men over, but the rope
parted, and the two life savers were
left TO share the fate Of the crew. The
boat capsized, but by hanging to 1t, the
life savers landed at Bayview. The
life boat was disabled, aud two OF the
crew were disabled. The Racine crew
and boat came down by rail, and the
two crews made a second attempt TO
rescue the crew OF the Cummings. The
tug, Knight Templar, was prepared for
taking the life savers out.
Six thousand people lined the piers
and the shores OF Jones Island and the
mainland when the tug knight Tenn
plar towed a scow bearing the life saw
ers, left the pier to make the rescue OF
the crew. Oae hundred feet OF line
separated the tug and the scow, and
back OF the scow was towed the empty
surf boat.
With bow TO the waves the knight
Templar permitted the scow 10 drop
down toward the wreck. When the
surf boat was within fifty yards Of the
wreck human figure that had been
clinging TO the rigging Of the mizzen-
mast, was seen 10 throw up its hands
and fall backward into the boiling
waves, being instantly lost TO sight. A
short time before another OF those
clinging TO the ropes had also let go his
hold and perished. A groan wen; up
from the crowd as each body was lost TO
sight, and then all eyes were centered
on the surf boat, as it dropped back
beside the sunken vessel. Two figures
slowly descended the shrowds Of the
mizZen mastS and clung TO lines but
few feet above the waves. Five min
utes passed as attempt after attempt
was made by tho life savers TO swing
the life boat near the waiting men.
A cry went up from the crowd on
shore as one figure was seen to leap
from the rigging and land in the boat
Two minutes later man sprang far out,
and as the boat ascended a wave IL was
seen that there were five figures in the
boat. Then a cheer that drowned the
roaring Of the breakers went up from the
throats on shore.
Slowly the long line that held the
surf boat was paid out and the two
rescued men were permitted TO drift
toward the shore, one moment lost TO
sight in the fOaming breakers and again
alive and sure Of rescue as the boat rose
on the top Of some mighty billow.
Along the beach al the foot Of Jones
Island a crowd ran 10 meet the rescued
men aud willing hands were stretched
out to reach them and they were dragged
to a place Of safety.
Five men AMI q woman perished be-
fore the life saving crew reached the
wreck.
The men who periShed fell from their
Derches in the cross trees TO the water
and sank out Of sight ike pieces OF
lead. The body OF the woman is still
lashed TO the rigging to which she es-
capped when the vessel began to sink.
The dead are: Captain John McCUl-
Tough, Marine City; mate. Timothy
Bosour, Buffalo, \. Y; Thomas Tus-
com, sailor, Marine City; unknown
sailor, Marine City; sailor named Jim, "
Marine City; cook, woman, unknown,
Buffalo, y. Y.
The saved are: Robert Patterson,
Kingston, Ont
Frank Goordes, snrfman No. 6, Mil
waukee Life Saving Station.
Surfman Goordes, as soon as he board
ed the schooner proceeded 10 lash the
members of the crew to the rigging, but
il is supposed they loosened the ropes 10
change their positions, hoping to escape
the force of the blizzard Of pelting snow
and rain. but were so stiff that they conld
not make new fAsteniugs, and be could
do nothing for them
Captain Mccullough was the second
man TO fall. shooting down into II +
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