The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1905-09-05
ELEVEN PERSONS DROWNED BY
LOSS OF STEAMER sEvoNA
ON LAKE SUPERIOR.
SAME NUMBER ESCAPE DISASTER
MANAGE TO REACH THE SHORE
AFTER A TERRIBLE ExPERl.
ENcE IN FIERCE GALE.

Bayfield,, Wis.,. Sept. 5.-Eleven of
the crew Of the steamer Sevona we're
drowned by the wreck of the vessel
ON Sand Island reef on Lake Superior
late Friday night. Eleven others were
rescued. including the remainder Of
the crew and four women. Seven Of
the dead offered their lives as sac
rifice for the rest of the twenty-five on
board the Ill fated ship. OF those for
whom they gave their lives four are
dead. The rest reached shore after q
night of buffeting by the waves In an
open boat and q trip of more than
twenty-four hours, cutting read
through the wilderness of Northern
Wisconsin.
The Seyona, big ten-hatch vessel,
was bound from Allouez to Erie with
ore. Friday the steamer ran into the
teeth of a northeaster. Captain Nc
Donald tried to make headway against
the heavy sea. but the storm became
too heavy and he turned and ran for
shelter. striking on the reefs near
Sand island. When the vessel struck
q great hole was torn In the bow and
half an hour later the illfated steam
er broke In two.
When the shock came the captain
found that there was no chance for
all to try and reach shore and called
for volunteers to stay on the ship.
More than half Of the crew volun-
teered 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 sailors were
Selected TO Risk Their Lives
for the safety OF the rest. Engineer
PhiIlippi was one Of the volunteers,
but Captain 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.
The storm had battered the third
boat to pieces, but small boat large
enough to carry four took another
party. The boat with the women tried
to make Sand island. but was swept
past. All night the men In the boat
fought with the elements In the effort
to reach shore, which was only five
miles away, but the wind was carry
ing the craft parallel with the beach
and 1t was daylight before the boat
was washed up high on shore. Here
they found a homesteader, who led
them to two farms two miles In the
interior. While the rest Of the party
was cared for at the farms the engi-
neer and one OF the farmers set out
with q team for Bayfield,. Most OF the
way 1t was literally necessary to cut
road through the woods. Il took
until o'clock In the afternoon to
reach bayfield,. twenty miles across
the peninsula.
Upon reaching Bayfield, the fishing
tug Harrow Of the Booth line started
out for the scene Of the wreck with .
paTty OF fifteen men. headed by Engi.
neer 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 Ii the small
boat and they are undoubtedly lost.
Duluth, Sept "a telegram re-
ceived here reports that q tug found
Captain Mcdonald Of the Sevona on
his vessel with the remainder Of the
crew and al we're rescued.