New-York tribune., 1905-11-29
GALE SWEEPS THE LAKES.
-FOUR DEATHS ON WRECK.
Great Property Damage = Others
Han Be Lost,

Duluth. Mimi. Nov. 2S.-one life lost, thre,
others believed to have perished and the big or,
carrier Mataafa, OF the Pittsburg STEAMSHIP
Company. wrecked, tells the tale of the mos
thrilling and spectacular marine disaster at tht
head of the lakes in recent years, The steamer
is resting in fifteen feet oe water within 10C
| yards Of the shore. while the remaining twenty
| seven members Of it's crew are being subjected
| to the fury Of the wind and wave until daylight
comes. After the ship grounded three Of the crew
| who were aft made the Journey to the forepart OF
| the craft, followed by fourth, who retreated
| after having been washed off the deck and near
| ly into the lake. He caught a projection, how
ever and crawied back to the deck, thence to the
boats stern. The spectacle was witnessed by
| 10000 spectators Shore Efforts to rescue the
crew were practically abandoned at midnight
by the life saving crew. The night was bitter
cold, a northeast wind blew at the rate of sixty
five miles hour and heavy snowstorm made
it impossible to work to any advantage. Three
times lines shot out to the stranded craft
but the men on board failed TO reach them and
so were left TO their fate.
Huddled In the pilothouse are believed to be
most of the crew. and It is believed that they
will te saved by morning, providing the gale
does not increase.
The Mataafa left Duluth at o'clock last night
severe that she was forced to turn hack. 4
mile or two out in the lake she left the Ma
smyth, which Immediately anchored and came
on alone, endeavoring to make the entry, but
the lateral roll of the waves threw her star
board and she struck the north pier fairly on
the end. almost squarely with her nose, which
was badly battered by the collision. moment
later she veered off slightly with her bow
headed between the canal piers She had swung
quartering to the waves, however and un-
able to proceed more than few yards
At the entrance the waves were almost noun
famous in height. and great clouds of water
kept sweeping the laboring vessel from stem
to stern. 1t soon became evident that she would
be unable to make the harbor. At this point
an effort was made to turn her out into the lake
again, but the attempt was in vain. AS her
PROV headed toward the lake again she turned
almost completely around with her nose toward
shore. She cleared the pier and went on the
beach broadside.
Every wave swept completely over the boat.
There, with thousands of people watching them. |
almost within a stones throw, and unable to |
do anything, the poor fellows huddled on the |
stern of the boat awaiting rescue. The life
saving crew was at the wreck Of the England /
and did not reach the Mataafa until nearly 6 |
o'clock. By that time the stern was almost |
under water
Detroit Nov 2s.-Lake Superior from Duluth |
10 the 500. the upper peninsula Of Michigan, /
he upper ends of Lakes Huron and Michigan |
and the northern counties Of lower Michigan
aave been swept last night and day by a |
errific wind and snow storm. The blizzard !
aged with a velocity of from 40 to 60 miles |
IN hour and all the harbors from Port Huron
north on Lake Huron and from sault Ste.
on TAX filled with
yessels which have run in for shelter.
Marquette reports ar unusually heavy snow
all for this time Of year, with drifts so high
hat train and traction service is inpeded and |
,rsatly delayed.
Tremendous seas are running Lake Su-
,erior off Marquette Harbor and more than
Iozen vessels are riding out the gale inside the
there.
The greatest damage reported from Lake
Iuron a result of the gale is at Alpena. The
raterlogged barge Harvey BisselI, which was
led at a dock. was torn to pieces by the gale;
he barge vinland broke away from her CON
ort and is aground, and the small passenger
nd freight steamer, City Of Holland, went on
he rocks while trying to make the harbor at
togers City. The passengers and crew were
AIKEN from the steamer in safety by crew
rom shore.
More than a dozen vessels are in shelter at
ort Huron at the lower end of Lake Huron.
me small schooner, the J. NJ. Spaulding, was
nable to make the harbor to-day. and went on
ne beach ear Fort Gratiot The crew Of four |
zen reached sk5Fs safely {R their E2Ul boat
From Fort William. Ontario, on the north |
nore OF Lake Superior comes news of the
eaching of the Canadian steamer Rosemount | I
side of the Welcome Islands. Her crew are | :
nderstood to be in little danger.
Milwaukee Nov. 28.-The 1ercest windstorm
many years prevailed the Great Lakes
st night and to-day, causing much damage
shipping and other property.
The government lighthouse and fog signal
1ilding at the end of the Milwaukee Break
ater pier was battered by the high seas and
e assistant keeper. William Foster, i
led with difficulty by the life savers Mr.. u
oster told q thrilling story Of his experiences.
I'm all my experience the lakes-ffteen t
ears-I never saw the like before he said. G
bout o'clock the sea began breaking over I,
e house and the thunder of the waves was
mething awful It about 1880 when S
God at the east window looking out the e
ke I saw a particularly large wave coming
hich saw was certain to hit the house In
,luntariIy grasped the stanchion, and 1t is
that act that I owe my life. The wave struck
@ house with full force breaking in the entire | r
st wall. carrying away with 1t all the windows r
Id doors and bursting open the door the :
est side. Il