The record-union., 1895-02-04
Special to the REcoRD-UN1ox.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
CHICAGO, Feb. 3.-A rumor that the
lost steamer Chicora had been sighted off
South Chicago created the greatest ex-
element in this city to-day. Tugs were
sent out in pursuit of what q number of
observers had declared was the hull of
the lost Chicora, and when darkness came
on the lake was being searched in the
hope that the story would prove true.
The report that the wreck Of the miss
ing steamer had been seen reached the
city through the medium Of the Fire De-
partmeRt. 1t was telephoned to Chief
SWenle's office in Chicago by Captain NJ.
j. Powers of Engine Company No. "A,
which is located at South Chicago.
Shortly before IL o'clock in the forenoon
the attention of Captain Powers was
called to dark object far out in the lake
and about opposite the mouth of the Cal
umet River. The object, d long black
line like the hull of vessel, rose and fell
with the swell OF the sea.
Ihe rumor spread rapidly in South
Chicago that the wreck of the Chicora was
IN view, and III very short time crowd
gathered along the shore and glasses were
focused on the object, which was drift
ing rapidly toward the southeast Cap
tain Powers sent a message to the Chief
OF the Fire Department. The fire. boat
Calumet was sent out early in the after
noon, and mum ber of other tugs, among
them the Protection and the Morford, left
the mouth of the Chicago River and
steamed as fast as possible to South Chi
cago to search for the wreck.
In the meantime an effort was made to
send out tugs from South Chicago, but il
was unsuccessful on account of the ice
The freboat Chicago was lying in the
Calumet, but between it and the open
lake was over half-mile of river frozen.
The Chicago could make no impression
upon the ice. 1t was aIterward Joined by
the tugs Holiday and Heisler, but the
three combined were unable to make any
heauWay, and the attempt to reach the
lake was given up.
While these efforts were being made
the supposed wreck had passed out Of
sight. " hen last seen it WAS in mass of
floating ice, which was being carried by
the current toward the southern end of
the lake, It's course being slightly toward
the east.
At P. NJ. the Baltimore and Ohio Of
fered to place a train at the service of the
authorities TO carry reScuing parties to
the stations along its line in Indiana,
which are close to the lake. Captain
Jenkins and detail of policemen and
several fTemen from South Chicago COM
panleS avalIed themselves of the offer of
the railroad company. and shortly after t
o'clock an engine and one car started for
Miller, Ind, which lies close to the lake
and Is about ten miles east Of Whiting. Ii is
believed that from the direction in which
the supposed wreck was drifting, as seen
from South Chicago. it would come ashore
IN the nelghDOrhOod of Miller.
CaDtlin pOwarS in
scribed the supposed wreck as a long
black line against the white field OF ice
II do not say that 1t was the hull of the
Chicora," he said; "but it had the ap-
pearance of the half-su bmerged hull of a
vessel. 1t was about the length OF a
vessel like the Chicora, but l could not
see 1t distinctly enough to make out
definitely what position IL WAS in. 1t ap-
peared to be null and the upper works
gone, and IN 1t could be seen several black
objects which might be taken for human
beings, but there was no sign OF life. |
thought at the time it was the hull of the
ChlcOra, and l think SO yet. 1t seemed
to be drifting fast. aud when [ saw it first
1t seemed to me about thirty miles out. |
have seen several persons this afternoon
who saw II, and declared that living men
could be seen on it, but l saw nothing to
indicate that there was anything on ii
that was alive"
mouse at the mouth OF the Calumet
watched the object for more than an hour,
but be was unable TO say whether it was
the hull OF a vessel or not
During the day there was great excite
ment i'll South Chicago. Hundreds
climbed to the tops OF their houses in
order to get view OF what they believed
TO be the wreck of the Chicora. Along
the shore as far as One Hundredth street
The crowds stood in the bitter cold wind
and the binding snowstorm which be-
gan late In the afternoon. When it be-
gan to grow dark a crowd of several
hundred on the shore at One Hundred
and Eighth street built huge bonfire in
the nope OF attracting the attention of the
people on the supposed wreck, ii any OF
them were alive.
All sorts OF rumors were circulated
through the town, and scores of persons
could be found who saw or said they saw
living men on the wreck, aud walking
about on the ice which surrounded il
Some had counted the men, and the
mum Der varies from fifteen to twenty
five, or nine more than the crew and pas
sengers OF the missing steamer. There
were some who said they had seen the
men OH the wreck making signals, and
had even heard shots fired as an appeaI
tor help. None of the stories could be
verified, and they were totally at variance
with the testimony Of the police and tug
men who had watched the object through
glasses.
Captain Jenkins Of the Vessel Owners
Towing Company at $3.50 O'clock reported
that the tug Perfection had just returned
from the search, and, quoting Captain
ConSauP5 words in making his report.
Captain Jenkins said 1--WE found moth
ing at all. Saw nothing but seaguIls and
ice."
y report, however, is in circulation,
coming from Miller, Ind, to the effect
that some persons there not only saw the
wreck, but could make out the name
Chicora, but this is not verified.
Captain Consaul of the tugboat Protec-
ton. which went Ill search OF the black
ened object seen two or three miles out
iD the lake off South Chicago, said that
when the tug had reached point about
six miles from shore, off the HYDE Park
crib. the crew sighted an object about
three miles further in the lake, which he
thought might be the hull OF the ill-fated
steamer. They proceeded about two
miles toward the object, when it was seen
that hat had the appearance of the hull
OF boat was only drift OF ice. Hun
dreds of sea gulls were flying about the
iceberg, and these from a distance looked
like human beings moving about.
THE BROOKLYN STRIKE.
Police Kept Busy in Their Efforts to
pra=ary-a