Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-24
THE CHICOKA LOST.
All Hope for Her Safety Has Nov Been
Abandoned.
FATE OF THOSE ABOARD.
1t Is AImost rs Hopeless as That OF the
Ship--They Numbered Twenty
Odd.

BENTON HARBoR. MICH, January
2s.-All hope for the safety of the Graham
& Morton screw-steamer Chcora has been
abandoned here by the finding OF
ureckage from the vessel of South
Haven. The fate Of twenty-six men who
are known TO have been aboard when the
steamer left Milwaukee for this port Mon
day morning Is almost as hopeless. Nete-
ran mariners number every man with the
dead.
The Inflated vessel was caught while
crossing the lake, and fell an easy prey
to the seventy-mile-an-hour hurricane
which swept the icy waters of Lake
Michigan throughout Monday. and which
continued with little moderation for an
other twenty-four hours The fears OF all
concerned were confirmed when the fol-
lowing dispatch was received from South
Haven:
Captain Donahue. the lighthouse Keep
or. noticed this morning through the hazy
weather portions OF what seemed 20 bee
wreckage floating abreast and on each
side OF the harbor here, couple or
miles outside, and close TO open water.
Captain Matthews, OF the ltfe-saving STA
ton led a party of volunteers on dan
gerous trip over the moving Ice. until
they came 10 a lot OF fresh wreckage.
Some Of IL was wedged between the ice.
but the greater portion was seen under
meath the ice. The parts which were
brought here were easily recognized By
vessel-mcu as belonging TO the Chicora.
A perilous gale is still blowing, the wea-
.l.. 4 IL, ketaIf In Z
to prevent another search for further
proof Of the disaster"
The number OF dead may be twenty
nine. positive statements being made
that four St Joseph businessmen, in
stead OF one-Joseph Pearl-were the
guests of Captain Stnes. Doc" Baliinger.
"A manufacturer. IL the name of one VINO
is said To be on board.
\ HEAVY BLOW.
The disaster will prove a heavy financial
| blow TO the transportation company, as
there was no insurance. except against
fire.
The following telegram was received
here by the steamship company THIS
morning from South Haven
1--WE have just found some Of the Chi
coras upper works In the ice on this
place. There is no doubt she has foun-
| dered."
The vessel was commanded by Captain
| Ed. Stines. Of ST. Joseph. Mich. Captain
| Stines's son was second rnate.
The loss on the vessel. exclusive OF the
cargo. amounts TO Sl6j.c00. and the cargo
| of thlrty-eght carloads Of flour for eN-
| port was valued al 10000.
The Chicora was screw-steamer OF go
| tons burden, built by the Detroit Dry
| Dock Company two years ago. The era
| ham Il Morton Company carried no IN
surauce on her except for fire. and there
| was no insurance on the -four. The ship
| was strOngly-built one, and well
| manned. II is barely possible that the vic
| tins are adrlft on an ice-held. captain
| Stines is said TO have had iorebodingS
| of impending disaster. and some time ago
| said as much TO friends.
| This IS the first disaster that overtaken
| any steamer from this pore since the
| sinking Of the nl-fated HippOcampus in
| the fall of 1856 from being overloaded.
| James Il. Clark, who vas tllling the
| place of the regular clerk. J. W. Han
| cock. was eX-United States marshal Tor
| the Western District Of Michigan lie
| was born in 1874 az Montreal and had re-
| sided in Michigan two years He was a
| telegraph operator IN the army during the
| war Afterwards he was engaged by the
| Goodrich Telephone Line until 1876. when
! he became deputy sheriu OF Berricn
| county. and at the end OF four years wa
| elected sheriff From 1870 to 1894 he Wa
| United States marshal. with headquarters
I'm this city. Since retiring from Office h.
has been engaged in lake shipping Ht
| leaves a wife and daughter.