The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-10-01

Captain Charles Johnson. West Bay
City. Mich
John Burseck. mate of the barge.
West Bay City. Mich.
Ira Purser, cook. West Bay City. Mich
The Arnold Is now n,oored In me har-
Dor. Large crowds OF people are con-
gregated on sheltered spots along the
sAore locking at the wreck. one spar
e. which Is visible above the water.
Last night the wind reached a VETO
CITY OF thirty miles an hour in Miiwau-
kee, blowing straight from the north.
During the night the barometer dropped
to 2s.3S. At O'Clock this morning the
wind was blowing from the northwest
1t the rate OF twenty miles an hour and
the barometer stood al .. 4s-
A RACE WITH DEATH.
The Inflated barge went down with
scarcely a moments notice and Accord
ing TO the statement OF Captain john
son and the mate. the crew did not even
have time to mount the rigging after
realizing that the vessel was foundered
she seemed TO go down ike q lot OF
lead, all inside OF q minute or two, was
The way Captain johnson described it.
The captain jumped into the yawl boat
which drifted rapidly toward the heavy
breakers The yawl was half flLl of
water and was being knocked about in a
desperate manner. In the meantime the
tug Simpson, towing the life boat and
crew, was making toward the wreck
against the heavy sea- Captain Bou-
tin. of the iife-savinS crew. discovered
the yawl rapidly drifting toward the
breakers, and at the risk of losing his
HE. crew and boat, quickly cut the line
for a death chase for the drifting yawt
and her human freight. After lively
run the lifeboat overlook the frail craft
and rescued the single occupant. who
was then found 70 be Captain Johnson
The pursuit OF the yawl was made with
the hfeboat under sail and the members
Of the crew describe the race as soma
thing decidedly exciting. dangerous and
uncertain as TO results.
HALF UNDER WATER
1--WE were continually being about
swallowed I'D in the waves, and every
minute We expected 10 be buned be-
meath the waves said one OF the crew
In speaking Of his trip this morning. The
Nfeboat crew then put about and beat
out Of the breakers, which were break
fng over their heads every moment
finally making the harbor under sail.
'~The hfeboat was under water about
half the time" said Captain Boutin. 81
have never before seen at Milwaukee
such breakers as We encountered this
At times the sea paeed di-
rectly over TIE house at the lighthouse
station and the piers along the harbor
were entirely covered with water at the
time we were out"
Previous to taking out the nfeboat
to the Sumatra, having gone out as soon
a. the warning whistle OF the steam
barge Arnold was heard and rescued
Mate Budrick from the sinking barge.
Budrsck was found drifting among some
HEROIC RESCUERS.
One member OF the Sumatra's crew
was rescued by Robert Serley. the en-
gineer OF the tug Simpson. by pulling
the man on board by the hair OF the
head when Q haevy piece Of drifting
timber struck the unfortunate fellow.
and knocked him beyound his reach and
he sank before the tug could again get
near him. Some heroic work was done
In q short space OF time by Captain Cas-
we'll and his crew on She Simpson, but
tQaey. like Captain Boutin and his life
savers, were NOEhliAS fSd4iASN At%aAAA
odds and were only able 10 save the
neil mentioned
The barge sank at 2;40 o'clock. She
went down just three-auarters OF a mile
on the harbor.
The Sumatra was bound from Chicago
10 Fort William and carried a cargo Of
railroad iron. She had been leaking
badly yesterday and the pumps Were
sept busy Captain Johnson and crew
believed they could make Milwaukee in
safety and would have done 80 had IL
not been for the sudden and increased
severity OF the storm after midnight.
ARNOLD COULDN'T HELP.
T1he steamer Arnold found Il impoest-
bic to do anything for the barge and
had TO make for the harbor without her.
II Is claimed that the steamer could
not possibly have been of any assist
ance to the other after they drifted
apart. as the boat was too large TO ham
lie at the mouth OF the harbor and do
my rescue work
Captain Boutin Placed a patrol all
along the beach early this morning 10
watch for the bodies OF the drowned
men which are liable to be washed
ashore at any time.
The Sumatra was owned by the Mills
Transportation company of Port HUI
ION. Mioh- She had an insurance valu-
ation IN the Inland Lioyd's register OF
I15,0o0.