Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-04
STORY OF HER0ISM
Thrilling Tale Of Shipwreck
on Great Lakes.
SACRIFICE OF LIFE
MADE BY GALLANT SAILORS FOR
COMPANIONS.
Details of Wreck Off Sand Island
Beach, Bayfield,,
Wis.
OF LIFE

of the crew of the steamer Sevona were
drowned by the wreck of the steel steamer
on Sand Island Reef, on Lake Superior,
late Friday night Eleven others were res
cued including the remainder of the crew
and four women. The story of the dis
aster is a thrilling tale of shipwreck on
the great lakes such as has never been
told
Seven of the dead offered their lives as a
sacrifice for the rest of the twenty-five on
board the Inflated ship. OF those for whom
they gave their lives four are dead. The
rest reached shore after night of buf-
feting by the waves in an open boat and
trip of more than twenty-four hours cut
ting a road through the wilderness of
northern Wisconsin.
Those who gave their lives for their ship
mates were:
Capt E. S. Mcdonald, Northeast, Pa.
First Mate Louis Darwin, Medina, Ohio
Second mate name unknown, shipped at
Cleveland, last trip.
Wheelman, name unknown, shipped at
Cleveland, on last trip.
Two watchmen, names unknown, Shlpped
at Cleveland, last trip.
Wheelman, name unknown has brother
named Denny at Buffalo dry dock, sh1pped
at Cleveland.
Those who were probably drowned IN the
effort to reach shore were:
Fireman, name unknown, shipped at
Cleveland on August %.
Van Week, oiler. Erie. Pa
Oiler, name unknown, Shlpped at CleVe-
land on last trip.
Deckhand, name unknown, from North
east, Pa.
Loaded With Ore.
The sevona, a big ten-hatch vessel was
bound from AIouese to Erie with ore. Four
women were on board, including the wife
of the cook, c. H Clucky. The others were
aboard as guests of the owners, and were
Mrs s F. Spencer and Miss Jones of Erie
and Mrs. William Phillips of Buffalo Fri
day the steamer ran into the teeth OF the
northwester, which is still blowing ter
rife gale Capt Mcdonald tried to make
headway against the heavy sea, but the
storm became too heavy and he turned and
ran for shelter.
Sand Island is In the center of patch
of dangerous reefs. One and half miles
ca st of the light on the island is the Sand
Island reef. The storm was so severe that
the lookout did not see the Raspberry ISL
and light. When the Sand Island light
house was sighted 1t was too late. Capt.
Mcdonald tried to put about and get out of
the apparent danger, but the storm was
sweeping him on the reef with fury not
to be resisted.
When the vessel finally struck a great
hole was torn in the bow and only half
an hour after the wreck, the pounding of
the waves had hammered the stout ship in
two. The vessel broke just aft of the fourth
hatch When the shock came the captain
found that there was no. chance for all to
try to reach shore and called for volun-
teers to stay on the Ship 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, the two
mates and four others, sailors who were
under no obligations to stand by sinking
ship, were selected to risk their lives for
the safety of the rest.
Engineer Philippi was one of the volun-
teers, but Capt. Mcdonald refused to al
low him to remain on board, ordering him
to take command of the ships boat, which
was to take the women ashore. With Phil
lippi went Adam Fiden, Nicholas Fiden, G.
H. Clucky. two firemen and one deckhand,
all of Buffalo
The storm had battered the third boat to
pieces, but a small boat large enough to
carry four took another party.
Boat Badly Battered.
The storm had battered the third boat to
pieces, but a small boat, large enough to
carry four, took another party. The boat
with the women tried to make Sand Island,
but was swept past. Nothing could be done
save to keep the craft anoat 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.
The trip ashore of the lifeboat was one of
terror. All night the men fought with the
elements in the efforts to reach shore, which
was only five miles away. but the wind was
carrying the craft parallel with the beach
and 1t was daylight before the boat was
washed up high on shore. So wearied were
the men from their exertions that they
were nearly swept back into the deep water
by the surf.
During the night while the men were try
ing to reach shore the women were alter
nately despairing and hopeful. At times
they would pray for their lives, the men
joining, and at other times they would help
the sailors. bai1ing the small craft of the
spray which came aboard constantly.
Saturday morning the storm-tossed party
was washed ashore at Little Sand bay.
Here they found a homesteader. who led
them to his farms, two miles in the In
terror. The men were SO exhausted they
could hardly walk to the farm house, but
were pressed on by the knowledge that the
captain and others board the wreck
needed help.
Then while the rest of the party was
cared for at the farms. the engineer and
one of the farmers, Mr. Thibadeau set out
with a team for Bayfield,. Only the person
who has travelled that almost untrodden
country can appreciate the difficulties of the
trip. Most of the way 1t was necessary to
literally cut a road through the woods. 1t
took until 4 o'clock in the afternoon to
reach Bayfield,, twenty miles across the
peninsula, as the crow flies.
Upon reaching Bayfield, the fishing tug
Harrow of the Booth line started out for
the scene of the wreck with a party OF If
teen men, headed by Engineer Phillippi.
The trip took two hours. in the teeth OF
the northeaster.
When the tug reached the scene of the
wreck of the Sevona only few spars and
the after 100 feet of the craft was left.
There was no trace of the captain and his
party. No trace was found of the four in
the small boat. and they are undoubtedly
lost.
The Sevona was a steel freight steamer of
1902 tons, built In 1890. She carried a crew