The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-04

away into the lake, and, on account Of its
darkened color. can be seen In the lake
Tor many miles. What / saw to-day may
have been the hull of a vessel. but for all
/ could make out It might just as easily
noating in the lake. 1 saw no sign of life
about II. and nothing that / could sec
looked like human beings; II the tugs in
could nave settled the question whether
Before the tugs sent from the city had
time to get there the wreck, IL wreck 1T
was, had disappeared"
During the day there was great excite
ment in South Chicago. Hundreds climbed
20 the tops of their houses in order to get
wreck of the Chicora. Along the shore as
far as One-hundredth street the crowds
ing snowstorm. which began IN the latter
part of the afternoon. When 1t began to
grow dark a crowd of several hundred on
the shore at Ninety-eighth street built a
huge beacon fire in the hope OF attracting
the attention of the people on the supposed
wreck. IL any of them were living. All
sorts of rumorS were circulated through
found who saw. or said they saw. living
the ice which surrounded 1T. Some had
counted the men. and the number varied
than the crew and passengers of the miss.
ing steamer. There were some who said
they had seen the men On the wreck max,
ing signals, and had even heard snots rieu
as an appeal for help. None of these sto-
ries could DE verified, and they were totally
at variance with the testimony OF the .po--
lice and tug men and others who had
watched the floating object through glasses.
Captain Consaul, of the tug boat Protec-
ton, which went in search of the black
ened object seen two or three miles out in
the lake off South Chicago, said that when
the tug boat had reached a point SIX miles
from shore off the Hyde Park crib, the crew
sighted an object about three mi,cs frrtfet
1nso the lake which he thci ght might be the
hull of the Inflated steamer, They pro-
cceded about two miles toward the object
when 1t was seen that what had the ap-
pearance of the hull Of a boat. was orly
flying about the iceberg, and these from a
distance looked like human beings moving
course southeast and for over two hours it
ploughed through ice in search of the hull
Could co she be sn aeem except ea5 d dpift ise. resembling It
The tug Calumet, Captain Miner, also
went in search of the lost boat, but found
nothing to Indicate that the Chico-a was In
the ice, ard the conclusion is reached that
drifts of ice had been mistaken for a beat
and seagTlisi = for So 5ne crew n circulation. com
ing from Miller. Ind, to the effect that
some persons at that place not only saw
Chicora, but this was not verified.
Excitement mt Benton Harbor.
BENTON HARBOR, Mich, Feb. 3.-This
entire community is in a feverish state of
excitement over the reported sighting of
the Chicora. Large crowds have thronged
every place where any knowledge of the
report could be obtained. Hundreds of peo-
pie are anxiously awaiting particulars. If
the report Is verified special trains will be
sent from here to the rescue. The follow
ing telegram was received by ]. III. Graham
this evening from H. F.. Heath, dated
South Chicago, 7:36 p. M"
'Just returned from Whiting. Parties
there report seeing wreck at 4 o'clock. with
tug working to get to 1t. At $40 the tug
was still there. AS 1t is showing it Is
thought they must have found the boat
TO keep them out after dark"
At IL o'clock tonight the reports of
finding the Chicora are not verified. The
excitement is subsiding here, a feeling of
doubt and gloom taking the place of the
hope aroused by carrier dispatches. The
whole community has been greatly aroused.
no further tidings are anticipated tonight.