The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-13
DE IN A GALE ON lake Fri.
Barge Foster Sinks with .He,
Entire Crew.
NOSE FIRST TO THE BOTTOM.
The Storm Was 90 Heavy That the
Captain Of the Towing Vessel Could
Not Put About to Attempt Life
Saving.

Erie, Pa, Dec. 11.-In the midst OF
one Of the most bitter gales that ever
swept Lake Erie, the ore barge Charles
Foster, In tow Of the Iron Duke,
plunged to the bottom at o'clock this
morning ten miles off this port and
eight persons were drowned, as fol-
lows: Capt. John Bridges of Cleve-
Ian. First Mate; name unknown.
Second Mate; name unknown; Sea-
man Robert Wood. Seaman William
Kelly Of Port Austin, Mich. Cook
Mrs. May Of Detroit. Two unknown
deck hands.
The Charles Foster was one of the
deet of James Corrigan Of Cleveland,
and for two months had been running
from Duluth to this port with iron ore.
Her cargo consisted of 1900 tons Of
ore.
Gave No Signal of Distress.
Capt. Ashley of the Iron Duke made
this port in safety. In an interview
he said:
THE Foster was in tow about 600
feet astern. was up all night and
there were three men on watch with
me. The seas were rolling tremen-
dously from the northwest, land the gale
carried with it binding, singing
snowstorm. We made the harbor
light all right. When we turned for
the harbor sea much heavier than
any experienced struck us. l ran to
fhn cfoFn ,cf
Foster plunged in an awful sea and
dove nose first. There was not a cry
from soul Of the crew of eight she
carried. Just as she pitched down I
saw man on her forecastle with
lantern. The tow line parted when
She went down. The storm was SO
heavy that Il could not put about to
hunt for any one. There would not
have been particle Of use anyhow, be-
cause in those tremendous seas no one
could have lived minute, even il
the water had not been icy cc'd. Had
there been cry for help would have
turned and risked my ship, but there
was no use had all could do to
make port in safety myself"
When asked for an opinion as to
tile cause of the sinking of the Foster,
Capt. Ashley said he could not tell. He
said:
Apparently everything was all
right aboard her until she took that
fatal dip. There had not been
single signal of distress from her up to
that time. gave orders for her to
be watched carefully for distress sig
nails. If there had been any trouble
aboard we would have saved the crew
had it been possible"
Capt. Bridges might have been ill
in his bunk when the accident occur
red. The last time he was seen by
the crew Of the Iron Duke was when
they passed Sault Ste. Marie Thursday.
There is from so to 100 feet Of water
where the wreck occurred, and there
is little hope Of locating the spot. The
Foster was valued at $4,000, but there
was no insurance, as it lapsed Dec.
j. The cargo was not insured. The
life-saving crew took trip out to,
day, but could find no traces Of wreck
age.
Loss for the Season 11s Men.
The loss OF the Fosters crew runs
the number Of lives lost on the lakes
this season up to 11S. The previous
total Of ITO was already the largest for
many seasons. The Foster went down
not far from the scene of the loss of
the steamer John B. Lyon earlier in
the season. when nine men were
drowned.
Steamer Welcome Blown Ashore
Good Harbor, Mich, Dec. 1O.-The
steamer Welcome, with part of a car
go of lumber, was driven ashore at
North Unity in the gale, and now lies
on the beach half full of water. The
crew escaped.