Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1905-09-06
RESCUED FROM SEvOKA.
Tug Brings in Additional surviv-
ors in Lake Superior Wreck.
CAPTAIN AND MEN ALIVE,
Boat Which Carried Women Swept Out
in the Raging Sea and
Swamped.

DULUTH, Mimi, Sept. A tele-
gram received here reports that a tug
found Capt. Mcdonald of the Sevona
on his vessel with the remainder of the
crew, consisting of a mate, two watch
men and a Wheelsman. They were all
alive and were rescued.
The missing boat, containing FIVE peo-
pie, has not been seen or heard of, but it
is barely possible that it reached the
mainland or another island.
ASHLAND, Wis, Sept. 4.-The steel
steamer Sevona, bound from Allouez to
Erie with cargo of iron ore, was
wrecked on reef off York island, Lake
Superior, on Friday night and broke in
two. Five people are believed to have
lost their lives by the wreck Sixteen
were rescued, including four women.
Women on Board.
Four women were on board, the IL
fated steamer. including the wife of the
cook, G. II. Clucky. The others were
aboard as guests of the owners, Mrs s.
+; Spencer and Miss Jones of Erie, asd
Mrs. William Phillips of Buffalo. On
Friday the steamer ran into the teeth
OF the northeastern, which prevailed. She
tried to make Roadway against the
heavy sea, but the storm became too
heavy, and she turned and ran for shell
ter.
A Treacherous Spot.
Sand island is in the center of a patch
miles east of the light on the island is
the Sand island reef. The storm was so
severe that the lookout did not see the
Raspberry island light. When the Sand
island lighthouse was sighted, at about
6 o'clock Friday night. it was too late.
MrI trio TO &bo
vana about and get out of the danger
which threatened, but the storm was
sweeping her on the reefs with a fury
not to be denied.
When the steamer finally struck, a
great hole was torn in her bow, and only
halt an hour after the wreck, the waves
had hammered the stout ship in two.
The vessel broke just aft of the fourth
hatch.
Heroic Self-Sacrifce.
When the shock came the captain
found that there was no chance for all
to try and reach shore The boats
could not take all of those aboard
volunteers. and more than half of the
crew volunteered to stay aboard while
the rest tried to reach shore and call for
help for those who were to remain on
the wreck. Finally the captain, one
mate and three others, sailormen who
We're under no obligation to stand by a
sinking ship, were selected to risk their
lives for the safety of the rest
Engineer Phillippi was one % Of the
volunteers. but Capt. Mcdonald refused
to allow him to remain on board. order
ing him to take command of the life
boat, which was to take the women
ashore. With Phillippi went Adam
Fiden. Nicholas Fiden, G.. H. Clucky
two fremen and one deckhand, all of
Buffalo.
Boat Swept to Sea and Lost.
The storm had battered the third boat
to pieces, but 3 small boat sufficiently
large to carry five, took another party.
This boat was driven past the island and
is supposed to he lost.
When the boats left the Sevona
the seven left aboard were huddled in
the wheelhouse, waiting for the rescue
that was to come too late.
A Perilous Trip.
The trip ashore of the lifeboat was
one of terror. All night the men fought
with the elements in the effort to reach
shore. Shore was only FIVE miles away,
but the wind was carrying the craft
parallel with the beach, and it was day-
light before the craft was washed up
high on the beach. So wearied were the
men from their exertions that they were
nearly swept back into the deep water
by the surf.
Safe at Last.
Saturday morning the storm tossed par
ty was finally washed ashore at Little
Sand bay. Here they found a home
steader, who led them to two farms two
miles in the interior. The men were so
exhausted they could hardly walk to the
farmhouse but Engineer Phillippi pressed
them on by telling them of the need to
send help to the captain and the others
on board the wreck.
All the members of the party were
tenderly cared for by the Rabideau and
Smith families, with the exception of the
engineer, who, with Al Thibadeau, a
homesteader, set out with a team for
Bayfield,
This trip took until o'clock this after
noon. as they were compelled practically
to cut way through the forest Upon
reaching Bayfield, the tug Harrow. in
command of Capt. Anderson with a party
Of volunteer lifesavers on board i1nme-.
diately set out for the scene of the wreck
to rescue the captain and five men left
on the forward end of the vessel.
Wreck Slid Into Deep Water.
The stern of the Inflated steamer is III
that can be seen. 1t lies in 16 feet of
water The engines and boilers and all
the forward part of the steamer have
completely disappeared. The stern is
fast to the rocks, but the rest of the YES
sci appears to have broken up and slid
into deep water.
The Sevona was a steel freight steam
er of 1862 tons, built in 1890. J. Nc
Brier of Erie was the managing owner.
UPHEAvAL ON MOUNTAIN SIDE,
Residents of Mexican Villages in Panic,
Fearino Volcano