Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1895-02-09
WAS 1T A MIRAGE?
What Was Thought to he the Wreck OF the
Cntcora Seen by Thousands of Chicago
ans with Moving People on the Deck
Tugs sent to the Rescue Found Nothing
buta Plank Covered with Scagulis.


Chtcora Seen by Thousands OF Chicago
ans with Moving People on the Deck
Tugs sent to the Rescue Found Nothing
but = Plank Covered with soagulis.
CHICAGO, Feb S.--Great excitement
prevailed for hours this afternoon and
evening among the people 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
Chlcura was floating outside the ice
fields between these ports, and that
the forms of human beings conld be
discerned moving on the hull. The
search so far conducted, while it has
not led TO the discovery of anything in
the shape OF wreckage or RATS with
living persons on board, has not been
prodpctive on account of darkness.
The report vas believed by the
Graham Il Morton Transportation Co.
oftciats. who made arrangements to
bring.the friends Of the Chicora's crew
fro4srBenton Harbor to this city by
special train, but when the tugs re-
turned without finding anything en-
couraging the order for the train was
countermanded.
The hope of seeing loved ones, which
had died in the breasts OF the rela-
tives was born again, only to be
crushed by the news Of the tugs fruit
less trip.
Old lake men who have studied the
Chlcora disaster place no credcnce in
the positive statements of reliable per-
sons that they saw the hull of the
steamer and human beings moving on
1t, for the simple reason that since the
ill-fated vessel left Milwaukee two
weeks ago to-day, for Benton Harbor,
with twenty-seven souls aboard,
westerly winds have invariably
prevailed. They would blow any part
of the Chicora toward the Michigan
shore, where the wreckage has been
found, and it is not possible in their
opinion, for the hull Of the vessel to
have driftcd toward the western shore.
However, the tugs Protection and
Calumet, which were sent from this
city to Whiting to verify the reports,
will resume the search this morning.
The crews on the tugs say they spied
in the gathering gloom which OBJ
scured their vision an object
which looked like the hull of a
vessel or a raft and that on their trip
from Chicago they encountered hum
mocls of snow-laden ice with nu-
mersus gulls thereon, which might
easily have been mistaken for part Of
a vessel occupied by human beings by
the hundreds of excited persons who
lined the lake shore.
The object which gave birth to the
most intense excitement and cherished
hope in three states was first spicd off
South Chicago at 10 o'clock yesterday
morning 1t appeared to be ten feet
high and l5O feet long, and it was ly-
ing between large ice foes. 1t was
floating south, The police were first
informed, and they called on the life
saving crew to get out the boat from
jackson park. An attempt to reach
the supposed wreck in the lifeboat was
frustrated by the pack ice which was
wedged against the shore for miles.
The fire boat Chicago made similar
effort, but had to abandon it after
fighting the ice for an hour.
At o'clock the tugs Protection and
Calumet were ordered from the Chicago
river 20 make the trip to Whiting.
The Calumet remained at South Chi
cago, while the Protection crunched
the ice for several miles beyond Whit
ing, which is twenty miles south OF
this city.
At o'clock the Protection returned
and the captain reported that the only
tangible thing that had been sighted
was plank covered with gulls and
ducks. The coal supply of the tug
was not sufficient to continue the
search and its compass got out of or
der so that it had to whistle for help
from the Caulmet, or the search would
have been continued in the dark for a
little longer.
The most remarkable thing in con.
nection with the alleged discovery is
that scores of marine men with glasses,
and other people equally reliable un.
der ordinary conditions, de.lare posi-.
lively that they could see men moving
on raft or a vessels hull. The OBJ
ject was also seen by the people of
Hammond, md, which is several miles
south of Whiting. Newspaper bull
letins in the city added to the popular
excitement, everybody hoping even
against their cooler judgment that the
report was true, yet at the same time
doubling that human beings could live
for two weeks in the freezing weather
which has prevailed.
A relief train was sent on the Balti
more & Ohio railroad from South Chi
cago to Whiting at o'clock and re
turned at 7:3O. The people on boart
saw what they took to be the wreck
lying stationary off Whiting, and it re-
mained so until darkness shut the OBJ
| ject from sight.