The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-10-21
PERISH ON LAKE STEAMER
Captain Bravely Meets Death While
Trying to Save Women.
SaualI Strikes the f. L. Hackley on Lake
Michigan and She Turns over-Has-
sengers and Crew Drown.

Sturgeon Bay. Wis.-The little steam.
boat Erie L. Hackley. with passengers
and crew to the number Of twenty-one
on board, went down in squall in
Green Bay. Twelve persons, including
three women, were drowned. The nine
others, eight men and one woman, were
saved by a passing vessel, but not until
S a. m. next day, after night Of such
suffering that several of them are at
the point Of death.
The Lost-Lawrence Barringer. Fish
Creek, Wis; Edna Barringer. sister OF
L. Barringer; Frank Fitzgibbons. Jack
Sonport, Wis; Carl Kelly, Fish Creek;
George LIE Clair. Jr., Jacksonport.
brother-in-law to the Barrlngers: Nels
Nilsson, Sturgeon Bay, Wis: Joseph v.
Orus, Fish Creek. captain of the Hack.
ley; Henry Rabitoy. Fish Creek; Free
man Thorp, Fish Creek; -Truchay.
cook, Fish Creek;Miss Frances Vim
cent; Egg Harbor. Wis: Miss Vincent,
sister of Miss Frances Vincent.
Although the Hackney was a small
vessel. with limited passenger list,
the experience of those who rode with
her in the storm that swept her to de-
struction was as thrilling as in any
greater disaster Of the sea. The boat
left Menominee. Mich. soon after 5
o'clock p. M, bound for Fish Creek.
She had proceeded out only about
seven miles when she was over.
whelmed by 4 terrific sQuall from out
Of the southwest.
Angry seas crashed over the little
vessel, threatening to engulf her. and
Captain Orus decided to turn about
and try to make the port she had just
left. In bringing the Hackley about
she fell into the trough Of the sea.
from which she could not get out. The
captain threw the wheel hard down
to port and then to starboard. work.
ing like mad to make the boat obey
the rudder, but without avail.
AS the vessel was thrown up and
down in the deep gulf Of waters some
Of the freight shifted to one side. I'm
mediately the vessel listed and filled
with water, then plunged to the bot
tom, going down within two minutes
Of the sliding over Of the freight.
AS the vessel sank the upper works
and part of the main deck were torn
off, carrying with them most Of the
passengers and crew. Several Of the
passengers were so terrified that they
were unable to help themselves, and
these were instantly drowned.
In the two brief moments before the
Hackley took her last plunge efforts
were made by some of the more self.
possessed to unlash the llfeboats, but
before one Of them could be put over
the side the workers were struggling
in the water. AS the vessel settled
men and women cried and shrieked in
an agony of fear and ran about wildly
and helplessly. If the upper works
had not parted and remained above
water not one person would have been
saved.
All night long those who had sue.
ceeded in getting hold of wreckage
clung to their frail support. but one
after another succumbed and sank be-
meath the waves.
After fourteen hours Of buffeting
about in the storm Captain Asa John.
son, of the steamboat Sheboygan, from
Washington Harbor. to Sturgeon Bay.
discovered the wreckage. with the i'm
periled passengers and crew at 8
o'clock next morning.
Boats were Immediately lowered, and
the now nearly exhausted persons on
the wreckage were transferred to the
Sheboygan. though the rescues were
made with the greatest difficulty in
tho furiouS 500