Mower County transcript., 1908-01-29
eager to escape with his life. WI

eager to escape with his life. With
him was Capt Webber of the Fifty
sixth Illinois regiment, and both were
killed when the boat in which they
sought escape was sucked under the
ship and crushed in the machinery.
"Pandemonium broke loose on the
ship as the flames gradually neared
and crowded the people closer and
closer to the edge of the vessel, there
to be confronted by sea, the tu-
multi Of which sang the song of death.
Maj. Fyles, in command of the
Fifty sixth Illinois regiment, made a
heroic but fruitless attempt to quell
the turmoil, and lost his life in at
tempting to help the women and chill
dren escape from the blistering
flames. But all efforts to quiet the
men and women were unheeded at
that terrible moment of common dan
ger to all, and every man worked to
save his own life as best he could.
"'Within half an hour the vessel was
wrapped in flames and those on deck
had in most instances disappeared in
the engulfing waves, very few escap-
ing in the limited number of boats.
Many who had gotten safely into boats
were later drowned by the high
waves or pulled down to their death
by scores of hands. that held onto the
small crafts with the crazed deter
mination Of drowning person. The
waves were running mountain high,
and many Of the bodies were washed
ashore.
"As the boat in which we had es-
capped, with a party of four, washed
farther and farther; away four more
unfortunates were rescued and taken
aboard. They were weak from their
battle with the waves and nearly dead
when taken in. For more than nine
hours we were in the boat, and be-
fore our rescue the four men last
taken in died.
"Only at intervals, when the waves
receded, could We see the burning
ship as she drifted helplessly about
at the mercy of the breakers. The
steam had not BEEN turned off, and,
thus impelled by wind, water and
steam, the doomed vessel, one broad
sheet Of flame, rushed to twofold de.
struction.
"The screams and imploring cries
for help, shouted out in vain, came
more and more family over the waters
and were finally stilled as the last
one met death by fire or buried him.
self in the still of the deep.
George w. Williams, member of
the Forty-sixth Illinois regiment, and
also on the boat on which l had es-
capped, at the risk of his own life at
tempted to rescue woman who had
drifted near our boat. The poor wom-
an died just as he reached her.
"There were rs men of the Tenth
Missouri regiment who went down in
boat, and not one escaped DEATH
The boat had been overloaded.
after having spent nine hours on
the sea we were sighted by the steam
or General Sedgwick. A rope was
thrown to our boat and / fastened II
to my body. The other men were
tossed ropes and the work of rescue
was begun.
"The rough condition of the sea
and the suction of the vessel carried
me under and to the other side of the
boat. In drawing me back the crew
used 50 much force that seven of my
ribs were broken and l was other
wise injured. l was in an unconscious
condition when taken aboard. The
four of us, all members of the Fifty
sixth Illinois, were given the best of
care and soon recovered.
"The others escaping were Isaac
White of Franklin county, Illinois,
who is still living; George Williams
and Jasper Fitzgerald, both of whom
are dead, and myself. -..
Il never heard from my brother,
and, of course, the poor fellow had
met death with thousands. of Others
There were two more persons report
ed to have escaped from the General
Lyon other than us four, but they have
been lost sight of long ago, and are
probably dead.''