The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-04
Offered Lives as a Sacrifice.

Offered Lives as Sacrifice.
Those who gave their lives for their
shlpmates were: +"
Captain E. S. Mcdonald, Northeast,
Erie county, Pa.
Ohio.
Second mate, name unknown, shipped
at Cleveland last trip.
Wheelman, name unknown, shipped
at Cleveland on last trip.
Two watchmen, names unknown,
shipped at Cleveland, on last trip.
Wheelman, name unknown, has broth
er named Denny at Buffalo dry dock,
shipped at Cleveland on last trip.
Those who were drowned in the effort
to reach shore were: e.
Fireman, name unknown, shipped at
Cleveland, Aug. %.
- Van Week, oiler, Erie, Pa.
Oiler, name unknown, shipped ut
Cleveland on last trip.
Deck hand. name unknown, from
Northeast, Pa.
Stay by Sinking Ship.
The boats, in the face of the sea
which was running, could not carry the
twenty-five persons from the Savona.
Captain Mcdonald called for volunteers
and more than half of the crew volun-
teered to stay aboard while the rest
tried to reach shore and call for help
wreck. Finally the captain, the two
mates and four others, sailor men who
were 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 vol
unteeers, but Captain Mcdonald refused
dering him to the command Of the
ships boat, which was to take the
women ashore. With Phillippi went
Adam Fiden, Nicholas Fd en-, G. H
Clucky, two firemen and one deck hand
all Of Buffalo.
Hardships Of the Survivors.
The men endured terrible hardships
Suffering from cold and hunger, they
were nearly exhausted at the outset
and were almost forced to give up the
struggle and surrender themselves anc
their women companions to their fate
Among the SURVIVORS were: Miss
Jones, Mrs.; s. F. Spence of Erie, Pa: =
Bay, Mich; Mrs. W. H. Philips, Adam
Fiden, Nicholas Fiden, two firemen anc
one deckhand. all of Buffalo -
/ stru All Night. #. .. ~
The trip ashore of the lifeboat wal
one Of terror. All night the men fought
with the elements in the effort Ito reacl
shore. which was only five miles away
parallel with the beach and 1t was day
light before the boat was washed W
high on shore. So weared were tn,
men from their exertions that they
were nearly swept back into the deel
water by the surf.
In the nj ht while the men were try
ing to reach shore the women were al
ternatelLy despairing and hopeful, A
times they would pray for their lives
the men Joining, and at other time
they would help the sailors bailing tn
the small craft of the spray which cam
aboard constantly.
Saturday morning the storm-tossee
party was washed ashore at Little Sane
bay. Here they found a homesteade
who led them to two farms, two mile
in the interior. The men were 50 ex
hausted they could hardly walk to tn
farmhouse, bue were pressed on by tn
knowledge that the captain and other
on board the wreck needed help.
| Bayfield, Informed.
, Then while the rest Of the party wa
cared for at the farmhouse, the engin
eer and one Of the farmers, Mr.. Thiba
) Only the person who has travelled tina
almost untrodden country can appre
ciate the difficulties Of the trip. Mos
of the way it was necessary to Gu
literally road thru the woods. It tool
until 1 o'clock in the afternoon t
reach bayfield,, twenty miles across tn
peninsula, as the crow flies
Upon reaching Bayfield,, the fishin.
tug Harrow Of the Booth line, startet,
out for the scene Of the wreck with ;
party Of fifteen men, headed by En-
gineer Phillippi. The trip took tw,
hours in the teeth Of the northeastern.
| Captain and Party Lost.
| When the tug reached the scene O.
the wreck Of the Savona, only a few
spars and the after 100 feet of the Graf
were left. There was no trace of tn
captain and his party. No trace wa
found Of the four in the small boat an,
they are undoubtedly lost.
The Savona was steel freigh
steamer Of 1882 tons, built in 1899. I
carried a crew Of fifteen men.