The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-12-05

Crew of Steamer Hebard Are Safe
On Shore.
SUFFERED AWFUL HARDSHIPS
Men Succeeded in Anchoring Lifeline
on Shore, Over Which All Were
Saved-Timely Aid of an Explorer
Prevented Them Freezing to Death.

Sault Ste. Marie, Mich, Dec. g.
Like men arisen from The dead, the
crew Of the Inflated steamer Charles
Hebard, wrecked at Point Mamainse
Sunday morning, reached Sault Ste.
Marie on the tug General Tuesday at
ternoon. They brought with them a
thrilling story of their long battle with
the icy waters of Lake Superior, a
fight in which death seemed for long
time likely to win the victory.
The men tell story of the most aw-
full hardship, which is graphically
worded by Captain George d. Ryan OF
Detroit and Second Mate Arthur Jack
son Of Buffalo, as follows:
"We were bound from Duluth to Buff
falo with three lows of the following
order, Francomb, Aloha, Warrington.
All went well until while running from
Manitou to Whitefish the wind shifted
to west-northwest, and it came on to
snow. We could not see the length
Of the boat and our log was frozen 10,
so that we soon lost all idea OF oui
whereabouts.
Lost the Tows.
"At 1880 Saturday night the Aloha's
line parted and an hour and a haif
later we lost the Francomb. What
became of them We could not tell, Tor
we were in trouble ourselves. We had
little sea room and at $3.50 Sunday
morning, in binding snow storm, we
ran on to bold, rocky shore about
three miles above Mamainse Point and
200 yards from shore.
Fifteen minutes from the time We
struck the Hebard broke in two and
keeled far over, throwing her lee rail
high out Of the water. AS soon as she
struck she commenced going to pieces,
for the seas broke over her. We tried
to lower the yawl boat but the vessel
was listed too much and the attempC
failed. Then We tried the "dinky" and
succeeded in launching her with the
first and second mates on board. To
reach the shore was a difficult matter,
for the surf was running high between
the vessel and the shore and the water
was full Of floating lumber.
After several unsuccessful attempts
We reached shore and made fast the
end of the lifeline we had with us, to a
boulder. The other end was fast TO
the rail of the Hebard, for by this
time masts, smokestack and cabin
were gone. Every wave hove her out
so that it was necessary to keep the
line slack. They rugged bor'ns chair
and one at a time we hauled them
ashore. For the most OF the distance
the men were under water, and every
body's clothes were frozen stiff as soon
as landed.
A Brave Woman.
1--WE got two men ashore and then
Mrs. Barnes was put in the chair and
with great difficulty landed. She acted
like heroine all through, keeping cool
and helping the men to the best of her
ability. All the men were badly used
up by knocking against the floating
lumber.
I'VE never would have succeeded in
landing all, for we were benumbed
with the ice, had 1t not been for Oscar
Carlson and his son. Carlson Is in
charge OF an exploring company and
lives in a hut out there in the wilder
ness, three miles from che nearest
habitation. He saw the steamer
ashore and came down to the beach
with his son and a lot of whisky
which we poured into each man as he
came ashore, to revive him.. He and
his son also worked on the ropes with
us, and after all were ashore took us
to his hut and clothed and fed us untir
the arrival of the General. Had it not
been for him our getting ashore would
have been useless, for We would have
frozen to death right there on the
beach, for not one of us could walk
and Of course had nothing to build a
fire with"
Praise For Captain Ryan.
The men all speak highly of Captain
Ryan, who was the last man to leave
the vessel. He was exhausted and as
slid down the line he lost his hold and
fell into the sea. Second Mate Jack
son went in after him and succeeded
in bringing him ashore. The men all
fear that there Is no hope for the
Aloha, although they will not give up
yet. remembering their own expert
Cnce.