The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-24

Treacberous Lake Michigan Claims A. .
of,er Victim.

BENTON HARBOR. MICH. Jan. o.
All hope for the safety Of the Graham
e. Morton screw steamer Chicora has
been abandoned here by the finding of
wreckage from the vessel OF South
Haven. The fate Of twenty-slx men, who
are known to have been aboard when
the steamer left Milwaukee for this port
Monday morning, is almost as hopeless.
Veteran mariners number every man with
the dead.
The ill-fated 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 when
continued with little moderation Tor an
other twenty-four hours. The fears OF
all concerned were confirmed when the
following dispatch was received from
South Haven:
Captain Donahue. the lighthouse keep
err noticed this morning, through the
hazy weather portions of what seemed
to be wreckage floating abreast and on
each side OF the harbor here, a couple OF
miles outside and close 10 open water.
Captain Matthews, of the life-saving sta
ton. led a party OF volunteers on a dan
gerous trip over the moving ice until they
came into a lot of fresh wreckage. Some
Of it was wedged between the fee, but the
greater portion was seen underneath the
Ice. The parts which were brought here
were easily recognized by vessel men as
belonging to the Chicora. a periious gale
is still blowing, the weather is thick,
and the darkness combines TO prevent
another search for further proof of the
disaster.
he number of dead may be twenty
ninc. positive statements being made that
fan IpCpnb hncfpaec i'm of
one-Joseph Pearl-were guests of capt.
Shines. doc" Ballinger, manufacturer,
IL the name Of one who is said TO have
been On board.
The disaster will prove heavy tnan-
clal blow TO the transportation company.
as there was 10 insurance except against
fire.
The following telegram was received
here by the steamship company this
morning from South Haven
I'VE have just found some of the Chi
cora's upper works in the ice off this
place. There is no doubt she has foun-
dered."
The vessel was commanded by Cap
tain ed. Shines, Of st, Joseph Mich.
Captain Shines son was second mate.
The loss on the vessel, exclusive OF
the cargo. amounts to sIGj coo. and the
export was valued at $4,000 The Chicora
was "A screw steamer Of 800 tons burden,
built by the Detroit Dry Dock Company
two years ago. The Graham and Morton
company carried no insurance on her.
except for fire. and there was no insur-
ance on the flour. The ship was a strong
1y built one and well manned. II is bare
ly possible that the victims are adrift on
an ice field. Captain Shines is said to
have had forebOdings of impending dis
aster. and some time ago said as much TO
friends.
This Is the first disaster that has over
taken any steamer from this port since
the sinking of the Inflated Hippocampos
in the fall of 1886, from being overloaded.
James X. Clark, who was filling the
place of the regular clerk, j. w. Han
cock. was eX-United States marshal for
the Western district of Michigan He was
born in lS4i. at Montreal. and had re-
sided in Michigan since two years of age.
He was a telegraph operator in the army
during the war. Afterwards he was en-
gagged by the Goodrich telephone line I'M
iii 1876. when he became deputy sheriff
of BARREN county. and at the end of
four years was elected sheriff. From 1890
to 1894 ne was United States marshal,
with headquarters in this city. Since re-
firing from office he has been engaged
In lake shipping. He leaves a wife and
daughter.