Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-05-17
SANK WITH THE SHIP
Nine Persons Are Drowned in
Lake Superior.
THE SCHOONER NELSON FOUNDERS.

Captain Haghney IL Saved, but His via
Child and Seven Sailors Go Down with
the vessel-The Doomed Boss Ges'
Down So Suddenly That the Crew Hal
No Time 10 Lower y Boat--Causs Of tn,
Disaster.
Sault Ste. Marie, Mich, May 15.-The
schooner Nelson foundered in Lake Su-
perior off Grand Marais and at least
nine persons were drowned. A report
from Deer Park says the captain of the
vessel was saved. Seven sailors and
the captains wife and child are almost
certainly lost, although 1t is Just posi-
BILE that some of them may have got
ashore. Those on board the lost vessel
80 far as known here, were: Captain
Andrew Haghney of Toledo; captains
wife and 2-year-old child: Fred Haas
sailor, residence unknown; six sailors
names unknown.
The Folsom, Mitchell and Nelson were
laden with coal for Lake Linden. They
passed through the locks here at noon
on Friday last and headed out into
Lake Superior. The weather was not
threatening at the time. but Friday
night a severe northwest gale developed
and at noon on Saturday it was blow
ing gale OF nifty miles an hour from
the northwest and freezing hard.
Vessels Coated with Ice.
Captain White headed the tow into
the sea, when the gale first developed
and the Folsom steamed into the wind
all the morning. Shortly after noon.
however, the wind and sea became too
heavy to face. The three boats were
coated with ice, and this added to their
coal, made them ride very low IN the
water. Seas broke aboard constantly,
and the force of the gale was driving
them toward the beach. despite the best
efforts of the ngines OF the steamer.
At o'clock in the afternoon the situa-
tion was becoming very grave. The
miles under the lee. and Captain White
determined to try the dangerous expert
ment Of turning the tow Ia the sea and
running before II for Whitefish point.
Watching his opportunity. he selected
favorable time when there was lull
in the seas and turned the steamer
about. The Mitchell, which was second
in the tow, dragged heavily on the
towline as she fell into the trough OF
the sea, but finally rounded
Dives for the Bottom.
Captain White stood on the stern Of
the Folsom and with his marine glass
watched the two schooners. Suddenly
he noticed that a space was widening
between the Mitchell and the Nelson.
wider than the length Of the tow line.
The Nelson was then seen to turn to-
ward the shore. and II became evident
that the line had parted under the strain
or had been cut. No signals Of distress
had been displayed from the Nelson UP
to this time. and 1t was supposed she
was apparent that she was sinking.
There was no chance Of rendering any
assistance, however. The crew Of the
Folsom had their hands full in taking
care Of their own craft and the Mitchell.
INA few minutes the Nelson threw her
stern into the air and Owed straight for
the bottom. Where she sank there is
900 feet OF water. F
No Time to Lower q Boat.
The sinking ship disappeared so sud-
denly that her crew had no time to even
lower their yawl boat, which hung on
the davits at the stern. Not vestige OF
wreckage was left ON the surface to
mark the spot where she disappeared
and not single struggling man showed
his head in an effort to keep afloat on a
piece of wreckage. The ten persons on
board had gone down with the schooner
Their canvas had all been taken in
when the boats were headed into the
gale, and the sails, booms, and gaffe
were doubtless frozen in a solid mass
from tn ewater which had broken on
board. The Folsom and Mitchell ran be-
fore the gale and arrived here safely
They are covered with ice and show
marks OF the heavy weather through
which they passed.