New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-04
WAS IT THE CHICORAi
A REPORT THAT EXCITED CHICAGO AND
BENTON HARBOR.
A STRANGE OBJECT LIKE A STEAMERS HULL AND
MEN ON A RAFT ALONGSIDE DRIFT PAST
soUTl: CHIcACo-TUGs SEARCH
-HE ICE FIELDS.

Chicago. Feb 3.-Great excitement prevailed for
hours this afternoon and evening among the peo-
Die along the Illinois shore Of Lake Michigan
from South Chicago to Whiting, Ind. on account
of general circulation of the report that the hull
of the steamer Chcora was floating outside the
ice fields between those places and that the
forms OF human beings could be discerned moving
on the hull The search 50 far conducted. while
IL has not led to the discovery of anything In the
shape of wreckage or RATS with living persons on
board has not been exhaustive on account OK the
darkness overtaking the searchers on the tugs
which were dispatched to the place or excitement
soon as the news was received
The report was believed by the Graham q
Morton Transportation Company officials, VINO
made arrangements to bring the relatives ana
friends Of the Chicori crew from Benton Haroor
to this city. but when tie tugs returned without
finding anything encouraging the order Tor the
train was countermande1 The hope Of seeing
loved ones again. which had died In the breasts
of the relatives, was born again. only to DO
crushed by the news Of the tugs fruitess trip.
Old lake men who have studied the Chicora dis
aster place no creden e ia the positive state
ments Of trustworthy persons that they saw the
hull OF the steamer and human beings moving
on it. for the simple reason that since the Ill
fated vessel left Milwaukee Two weeks ago to-
morrow for Benton Harbor. with twenty-seven
souls aboard. westerly winds have invariably
prevailed which would GLOW any part OF the
Chicora toward the Michigan shore, where the
wreckage has been found, and 1t Is not possioie.
in their opinion 70: tte vessel to have drifteo
toward this shore However. the tugs Protec-
ton and Calumet. which were sent from this city
70 Whiting to verify the reports, will resume
the search tomorrow norning
The crews on the tugs say they sped In the
gathering gloom which obscu, ed their vision an
object which looked like the hull of a vessel or
raft and that their trip from Chicago they en-
countered hummocks of snow-laden ice with nu-
merous guls thereon, which might easily have
been mistaken for part OF vessel occupied oy
human beings by the hundreds OF excited persons
who lined the lake shores
The object which gave birth to the most In
tense excitement and feverish hope in three
States was first spied off South Chicago at 10
o'clock this morning. 1t appeared to be ten rect
high and $50 feet long. and It was lying between
large ice foes 1t was floating south. The police
were first informed and they called on the liie-
saving crew 10 get out the boat from jackson
Park An attempt to reach the supposed wreck
in the lifeboat frustrated by the pack Ice
which was wedged against the shore for miies:
The ireboat Chicago made a similar elloit, ous
hour At o'clock the tugs Protection and Caiu-
met were ordered from the Chicago River 10
make the trip 10 Whiting. The Calumet re-
NAMED at South Chicago while the Protecion
crunched the ice for several miles peyonu W nit'
ing which is twenty miles south or this city.
At 9 o'clock the Protection returned ana tne
captain reported that the only tahgioie thns
that had been sighted was plank covered WIN
gus and ducks. The coal supply OF the tug was
not sufficient to continue the searcn; ana ana '.s -
compass got out of order so that II nad 70
whistle for help from the Calumet, or the search
would have been continued IN the DARK ior
little longer IA.
Tho most remarkable thing in connection with
the alleged discovery is that scores OF marine
men with glasses and other people equally trus.'
worthy under ordinary conditions, declare posi-
or a vessels hull The object was also seen by
the people Of Hammond. when Is seVerdI iin'es
south of Whiting. A..
Newspaper bulletins in the city added TO the
popular excitement. everybody hopihe' . eNem
against their cooler Judgment, that the report
was true yet at the same time doubling that hu-
man beings could live on a wreck FOR TWO weeks
in the freezing weather which has prevailea: -
relief train was sent on the Baltimore ana ohao
Railroad from South Chicago 10 Whiting AT ''5o
o'cIock The people on board saw what they TOOK
10 be the wreck lying stationary or Wnitins, anu
II remained until darkness smut the OBJECT
from sight. ,,., A., -.
MORT mat the hull OF n, Chicora had been dis
covered on South Chicago reached mere tnere
was much excitement The news spread IKE
wildfire throughout the twin cities. Men Ian
through the streets to make known the gao
,idngs and hundreds soon gathered around the
Graham G. Morton Company's ONCE, ana every
place where the information could be obtained
regarding the vessel Church meetInss sn .mSe
were being held throughout the cities were soon
closed for want OF congregatiohs' ana the s'ee'S
were crowded with people