The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-11-11
MN let cen I'll YES LOST.
Steamer Idaho Wrecked in a Furi.
GUS Gale on Lake Erie.
OF the TNenty-One Souls one board
the Doomed Vessel Only Two SURE
yive-Rescuel by a Pass
Ing steamer.

6u1ialO, N. Y, Nov. S.-Ihe steamer
Idaho, of the Western Transit line (NeW
York CentraD foundered in eight
fathoms Of water at 4:30 Saturday
morning off Long point, on Lake Erie
This point juts out into the lake from
the Canadian shore about IS miles west
OF Buffalo, and its vicinity has been the
scene of many disast ers:. "% 2.
The Idaho, commanded by Capt. Will,
liam Gillies, Of Buffalo, and having on
beard a crew of 81 all told, left Buffalo
Friday afternoon laden with package
freight for Milwaukee. A strong south
west gale was blowing at the time, ano
the weather Office had storm signals ur
for the lake. Capt. GiHies thought be
could weather the gale, and headed
straight up the lake. Shortly afte,
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 lowering the lifeboat
when the steamer gave lurch and went
down on her side, stern first. Two oil
the crew, a deckhand named William
Gill, of Rochester, 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 discovers.
and rescued by the Mariposi, of the
Minnesota line.
The Idaho was an old boat, having
been built in 1868. She was 220 feet
long. and had gross tonnage of lilo.
Following are the names of 16 of the
10 men who lost their lives: 3:
Alexander Gillies, captain, Buffalo
George Gibson, first mate, Buffalo; Will
liam Clancy. chief engineer, Buffalo; Johr
d. Taylor, steward, Buffalo,; Nelson Skin.
ner, first assistant engineer; Louis Gill
more. Waterman; Richard Mclean, wheel
man: Robert Williams, wheelman; "A. j
Richard. lookout; Henry Thomson, look.
out; Conrad Banker, fireman: William
Gregory, fireman; John Healy, assistan,
steward; Frederick Miffort, oiler; Edward
Smith, deck hand. Rochester, N. Y; NJ
the men drowned are unknown to the
steamship company. One was a fireman
another deck hand and the third Dor.
ter.
The Idaho went out of commission
three or four years ago, but this sum.
mer she was thoroughly overhauled
After her overhauling she was placed a,
tine disposal of the Naval Veterans as.
ISOLATION, and by that organiza ton
used as flagship during the G. \. T.
encampment in August. At the close
of the encampment she was put into
commission again as freighter.
The captain of the Inflated steamer
Alex. Gillies, was one of the most widely
known of lake seamen. He was II
years old and knew the lake waters
like book. His brother, Donald Gil.
lies. is captain of the steamer Harlem
The second mate, Louis La Force, told
u narrowing story to the crew of the
Mariposa. He said that in the rush OF
men from the hold one of them, watch.
man, was trampled to death. The crew
was frantic to get out of the place. Six
or eight, he said, must have been
drowned like rats in the hold. They
were not warned of the sinking of the
boat. The first long dip of the stern
was the first intimation they had that
the final danger was at hand and then
they made frantic rush to get on deck,
The hatchway was too small to let them
through together, and the result was
that one of them was trampled to death
and several were left to drown.