The times., 1895-11-29
STRUCK ON THE REEF
THREE VESSELS ARE DRIVEN ASHORE
NEAR CHICAGO.

Thirty-Eive Hen in Peril, but All Taken
or Safely In the Teeth of the Gale-Tel-
egraphic Comm unication Re- Established
and the Storm Abated.
CHICAGO, Nov. 27-The most severe
storm of the season has nbated and Chi
cago, which was cut off from the outside
world for nearly twelve hours-from mid
night Monday to midday yestorday-is
again In touch with the world outside, al
though at this writing the connections are
not all complete and dispatches take
roundabout course in some cases. The
most sensational incident of the storm
here was the wreck off Evanston of the
steamer John Emory Owen and her con-
sorts, the schooner-barges Michigan and
Elizabeth A. Nicholson. They were from
Buffalo, bound to this city with coal, and
struck the rev off Evanston at a. m.
Men dashed to the Rigging.
When first observed from the shore there
We're three men lashed In the rigging and
every one thought them dead. The sight
WAS thrilling one as the life-saving crew
got away and was watched by thousands
who lined the shore Over thirty sailors
were on board these three ships when
they struck. The old salts who hang
around the shipping Off oes said it would
be well nigh q miracle If three vessels
were wrecked on an unprotected shore.
in blizzard and not a man were lost.
But that is what happened. The vessels
were first sighted by a hardy longshore-
man, who was patrolling the beach near
Glencoe and Winnetka and caught the
flash Of rocket shooting up from out of
the storm-hidden lake. The signal of dan
ger was repeated several times, always
growing nearer and brighter. At last the
rockets seemed scarcely block away.
Telephone and Telegraph "Busted."
Above tho shrieking of the wind he
heard the rattling of chains and the hoarse
shouting of the sailors as they called to
each other through tho storm. The
guardsman thought only one ship was
aground. But he could SEQ that this was
big one, and he hurried to tho village
and tried to telephone the life-saving sta
ton at Evanston. The wires were down.
The telegraph worked no better. No
trains were running. But harnessing up
a horse the patrolman rodo the six miles
into Evanston through the storm. 1t was
dawn when he reached the life saving sta |
ton. Not minte did the life savers lose. |
The lifeboat was already mounted on its |
rollers But without waiting to draw tho |
heavy boat to the waters edge and then |
pull it through six miles of surf, the crew |
rushed along the beach on foot. The crew |
who ran to the rescue is composed of Cap |
tain Lawson and Students Chambers, Lib |
berton, Sprin ger, Thorne and Perry.
Lifeboat Sent Down on Sleds.
Meantime the lifeboat was put on sleds |
and rushed off after the crew. Still it was |
10 n. III. before the boat was ready to put |
off on It's merciful mission The three |
wrecks were not far apart and about 600 |
yards off shore 1t was perlous pull |
through the heavy sea that was rolling In, |
but the student life-sGvers bent Justify TO |
their oars and were soon under the lea of |
the vessels and in due time had taken off |
and landed every soul on board, all alive |
and not seriously injured by their terrible |
experience.
Just Thrty-fve in All.
The John Emory Owen, was commanded |
by Captain Marion Tcnney, and carried u
crew of sixteen men. The Michigan and |
Nicholson carried crews of eight men each, |
Captain +. j. Cadotte in command of the |
former, and Captain William Smith of |
the latter. Just year ago the Nicholson |
was in collision at the lime kilns cross
ing at the mouth of Detroit river with |
the steamer Charles B. Lockwood. The |
Lockwood went to the bottom and the |
badly battered up, but re-
mained a6oat. The value of the three ves-
sels and cargoes is about $780, 200.
Late yesterday afternoon word was re-
,eived here that the steamers Jay Gould |
and City of Traverse are safe at Mackinaw,
and that tho Peerless is at Detour. All |
are snowbound. The City of Duluth; also |
reported missing, has arrived at Duluth.