The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1897-04-22
A SCHOONER ASHORE.
THE CONTEST STRIKES BOTTOM
STERN HARD ON
FAILED TO MAKE THE HARBoR
The Life Saving Crew Make Heroic
Effort to Take The Crew Of, After
1t Had Failed to Get Line
Aboard From Tug.

/ The schooner Contest, on her way
from Manistee to Racine with load of
lumber for l.. A. Nelson, was picked up
by the northwest gale and thrown upon
the beach just south of the south pier.
She was in the hands of her owner,
Captain Andrew j. Anderson, and crew
Of three men. Just Jas she was at the
end of the pier she was sighted by the
tug Wau Bun, but in spite Of all efforts
to keep her off the wind was so high as to
make it impossible. The life saving
crew were then notified and the life
boat was manned and brought into
service. In tow of the Wau Bun she
was carried out some distance to sea
with the idea of backing in with the
wind and carrying a line to the schoon-
er, over which the waves were dashing
wildly. For some time the tug and her
tow made efforts to get at the stranded
vessel, but all their attempts were vain.
The sea rolled so high that the tug APP
peared to stand on end and it was folly
to think of it's approaching sufficiently
near to get a line to the water drenched
crew.
In the meantime the news Of the af-
fair had spread and the pier was filled
with spectators. Every available spot
on ground or house top from which a
view could be gotten of the struggle on
the lake was filled with anxious wit
nesses. The wind seemed to be getting
higher and the tumultuous breakers at
times fairly seemed to overwhelm the
stranded boat.
When all efforts of reaching the boat
with the line were given up the two
rescuing parties pulled in between the
piers for consultation. When, as a
result of the conference, Captain Cam
eron took his place at the rudder and
his men gripped their oars with look
of grim determination on their faces the
crowd knew at once that the last resort
was to be used and trembled with
apprehension. At the word from their
captain the men settled to their places
and started on their perilous voyage to
the foundering ship. Itlooked to those
standing about as if no boat could
withstand the fearful force of the waves
as, going at terrible pace and falling
over one another, they broke over the
stranded schooner, taking withEhem
the lumber from top of the piles on the
deck.
The storm tossed sailors, waiting for
help, were woe BECOME sight as they
stood huddled together on the highest
portion of their cabin deck, and
watched with bated breath the slow
but sure advance of the life saving
crew, who, with Capt, Cameron stand
ing steadily at the helm, used their
oars vigorously wherever it was needed
to counteract the effect of the strong
under tow from the shore. Little by
little they approached the wreck, the
little boat at one time sinking deep
into the trough of the wave and again
rising on the crest, which threw it a
rod or two forward only to be carried
back by the fierce under current. After
much skillful maneuvering and many
writings, the boys at last reached the
wreck and one after another the crew
whenever opportunity was presented,
| leaped into the tossing life boat. The
captain was the last to leaYe his ship.
He was finally safely in, and the life
savers started on their return trip
with the rescued seafarerS. The
boys settled down to business, and the
whole party we're soon safe within the
piers, and as they entered the crowd
gave three rousing cheers for g Captain
Cameron and his men,"
When interviewed afterward, Cap
tain Cameron said that it was the
hardest sea he had ever fought, but,
said he in closing we did it," And
they did, and it was heroically done.
The schooner should have stopped at
Racine, but owing to the mist and
snow passed that point at 10'clock this
morning, without sighting land. The
names of the crew are: Captain Andrew
j, Anderson, E. Ellepson, Peter Moe
and Adolph jacobson.
The boat in reaching sight of Keno
sha attempted to make the harbor.
The undertoW was something terrific
and she missed it, her nose turning to
the south. The crew at once heaved
the anchor and the vessel whirled and
dragged the anchor until she struck
stern on. She was loaded with bass
wood lumber, a great portion of the
deckload of which was washed over
board. She filled with water and sank
to the bottom and throughout the
afternoon pounded very heavily on the
bottom.
Capt. Cameron says there is hope
yet of saving her. He thought if the
wind remained where it was she could
be released all right, but if it should
switch to the northeast she would un-
doubtedly go to pieces.