The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-05-19
Ru Tne Assoelatei Press

CHICAGo, May l9-Ihe STORM Whicn
swept Lake Michigan yesterday was the
most disastrous of recent years. Eight
vessels were driven ashore within the
city limits of Chicago out OF their course.
Ten men are known To be drowned. and In
every instance boat and cargo are utterly
lost
One schooner the Myrtle, was wrecked
Just outside the government pier, within
half mile of Michigan boulevard. and
six men of her crew went down to death
in plain view OF the hundreds OF people
who watched the awful storm. The
wrecks extended from Glencoe, on the
north, where the Lincoln Dali went to
pieces. to South Chicago. distance OF 40
miles. Following is the list of the wsecks
as near as known:
Schooner Lincoln Dali. driven ashore at
Glencoe, is miles north of Chicago.
Schooner Myrtle. wrecked at the foot OF
Harris street.
Schooner J. Thompson, wrecked of
Twenty-fifth street.
Schooner Evening Star, wrecked of
Twenty-seventh street; crew rescued.
Schooner Mercury, wrecked of Twenty
seventh street; crew rescued.
Schooner j. Loomis, wrecked of Twenty
seventh street.
Schooner Rainbow, wrecked off Twenty
second street; crew rescued.
Schooner G. j. Mizer, wrecked of One
Hundredth street; crew rescued.
Unknown schooner ashore near South
Chicago.
A Captains Error.
The first vessel to go ashore was the
twomasted schooner Jack Thompson.
Hh. hoe oh
and arrived off the breakwater in the
afternoon without a pump working. A
tug offered her line, but the captain re-
fused, intending to sail into the harbor.
The task was too much for him, however.
and he lost control of his vessel. which
crashed into the Rainbow, carrying away
her bow and smashing great hole under
her own bowsprit. and with her foremast
gone she drifted rapidly south. a pitiable
wreck. She struck bottom 80 feet from
shore. The men were rescued by q life
line thrown to them.
The schooner Mercury OF Lexington,
Mich, was wrecked of Twenty-seventh
street. An effort was made TO tow her
into the harbor when she neared the
breakwater, but the wind and waves were
too strong.
The Evening Star and Jack Thompson
were already grinding to pieces on the
break water. As the Mercury came nearer
her crew could be seen huddled together
in the bow. They were frantically way
ing their arms to people on shore. When
the schooner struck, line was finally
thrown from shore to the vessel and made
fast.
The schooner Lincoln Dali of Manistee
was driven ashore at Glencoe, and Anton
Gunderson, one of the sailors, was swept
overheard and drowned. After several
hours of waiting the rest of the crew were
rescued by members of the Evanston life
saving crew.
Brave Havill
The wreck of the Rainbow. lum Der.
laden schooner from Racine, arrived late
in the afternoon and was marked by the
heroic rescue Of her crew when about all
hope of saving them had been abandoned.
She had thrown out her anchors and
tried to ride out the storm from posi-
tion just south of the government pier.
The gale was too strong for her, however,
and at 3 o'clock she began to drift rapidly
southwark, dragging her anchors a.
though they were nothing but fshhooks.
At Twenty-fifth street the sailors cut
loose on a small raft they had made, and
w WuS nci0 WIN a liue
and swan out to the raft. then about 80
feet from the shore. The lumber from
the Rainbow deckload was tossing on
the waves. and the young fellow. at the
imminent risk of being Drained by noat-
ing planks, was a long time in reaching
the raft. He finally made his way to its
side and called to Captain Pew to jump
overheard Pew obeyed. Havill caught
him and the two men were hauled ashore.
A negro named Willis swan out In like
IN amer, and saved another man.
This left but one man on the raft and
Havill went two blocks south to where IL
had drifted and again swan out and
brought off Jacob Knudson, q seaman.
Both men were exhausted. The vessel
drifted short distance and ground to
pieces.
The McLareb was grounded 100 yards
from shore, aud her crew saved by the
lifesaving crew.
The gas launch Ncva, with four passen-
gers. the engineer and his assistant, 10
missing, and grave fears are entertained
for her safety.
THOUSANDS LOOKED ON.