Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-11-11
NINETEEN DROWNED.
THE LAKE STEAMER IDAHO
GOES DOWN TO DEATH.
Only Two Of the Crew saved-wonb
Out From Buffalo Ia a storm and
Sank In EndOaVOrlnE to Reach Shell
ter-The Vessel an Old One Ovsrhauled.

+ BUFFALO, N. Y, Nov. S.-The
steamer Idaho of the Western Transit
line New York CentraD foundered in
eight fathoms of water at 4:3O Satur-
day morning off Long Point on Lake
Erie. This point, just out into the
lake from the Canadian shore about
IS miles west of Buffalo and its
vicinity, has been the scene Of many
disasters. Sol .te. rfa
The Idaho, commanded by Captain
William Gillies of Buffalo, and having
on board a crew of twenty-one all
told, left Buffalo, Friday afternoon
laden with package freight for Mil
waukee. A strong southwest gale
was blowing at the time and
the weather Office had storm
signals up for the lake Captain
Gillies thought he could weather the
gale and headed straight up the lake.
Shortly after passing Long Point he
discovered his mistake and tried to
run for shelter. The sea was running
very high at the time, and in turning
the Idaho shipped big sea, which
quenched the fires in the engines and
the boat was helpless in the trough Of
the sea.
The captain and crew were lower
ing the lifeboat, when the steamer
gave lurch and went down on her
side, stern first Two of the crew, q
deck hand named William Gill of Ro-
chester, and the second mate, name
unknown, managed to reach the top
of single spar that stood above the
water. There they chung until eight
hours later, when they were rescued
by the Mariposa.
Following are the names of sixteen
of the nineteen men who lost their
lives on the steamer Idaho, which
sank during the gale on Saturday
morning above Long Point, on Lake
Erie:
Alexander ellis, captain, Buffalo;
George Gibson, first mate, Buffalo;
William Clancy, chief engineer, Buff
falo; John D. Taylor steward, Buff
falo; Nelson Skinner, first assist
ant engineer; Louis Gilmore, watch
man; Richard Mclean, wheelman;
Robert Williams, wheelman; A. j.
Richard, lookout; Henry Thomp-
son, lookout; Conrad Banker,
fireman; William Gregory, fireman;
John Healy, assistant steward; Fred
erick Miffort, oiler; Edward Smith,
deck hand, Rochester, N. Y; M. Bell,
deck hand. The names of three Of
the men drowned are unknown to the
steamship company. One was fire.
man, another deck hand, and the
third a porter.
The Idaho went out of commission
three or four years ago, but this sum-
mer she was thoroughly overhauled.
After overhauling she was placed
at the disposal of the Naval
Veterans association, and by that
organization used as a flagship during
the G. A. R. encampment in August.
At the close of the encampment she
was put into commission again as a
freighter.
The captain of the Inflated steamer,
Alexander ellis, was one of the most
widely known of lake seamen. He
was II years old and knew the lake
waters like book.
The second mate, Louis La Force,
told narrowing story to the crew Of
the MaripOsa He said that in the
rush of men from the hold, one Of
them, a Waterman, was trampled to
death. The crew was frantic to get
out of the place. Six or eight, he said,
must have drowned like rats in the
hold. They were not warned of the
sinking of the boat