The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-03
TALKS WITH SEVEN
DOOMED, CANNOT
SAVE THEM
Eighty Feet Below Him Lighthouse
Keeper Frank White, Detroiter,
Sees Crew of George hester
Dashed To Death On Rocks.
Is Injured Himself As He Braves
Death In Vain Attempts To Save
Imperiled Grew.

In letter TO his brother. u. A. u.
Witte, 602 Gratiot-ave., Franl Witte,
lighthouse-keeperr on HuroA island.
graphically describes the fate OF the
consort George hester. the Detroit
boat. on the rocks there last Friday,
and mis- own heroic efforts TO save
the seven men who persisted before his
eyes.
Huron island is solid rock In Lake
Superior, or the Graveyard" as the
mariners call Superior from the fact
that IL never gives up its dead. IL
lies between Houghton and Marquette.
The Island reaches 20 feet above the
lake level With line about his
waist held by his assistant, Witte sto
at the edge of the rock, covered with
ice formed as the sea dashed over
and froze. and vainly attempted to get
the lifeline 10 the poor devils being
blown to their deaths.
Az he threw the line he could talk
to them. but because OF the high wind
the line each time in three trials went
wide and Witte saw the crew dashed
against the rocks and saw the seven
men go down In the wreekage.
The sea threw three OF the unfort-
innate fellows upon the rock, a dis
lance of so feet. but because OF the ice
they could MT keep foothold and be-
fore WiLre could reach them they had
slipped OF the rock and fell to their
doom
Every moment he stood there the
| ighthouse-keeper was in danger of
| the fate he had witnessed the crew
meet. but he bravely and heroically
kept his post until there was no longer
hope Of saving life
AS he turned to go back TO his sta
ton a monster wave carried a huge
piece of wreckage upon him, bruising
and cutting him about the body and
putting his arm out of Joint. The
| MarigoId. government boat. was
fortunately lying at anchor al the sta
ton and Witte was hurried to Mar
quette for treatment and relief.
| He writes In his letter TO his
brother:
Marquette. Mich. May l. 1909.
Brother Pat: The Marigoid took us
to our station April 2s. II was blow
ing when she got there from the east
morning Yesterday. April 80, IL was
blowing severe gale from the east
snd scSsoor, towns the m bs se
| Geo. Nestsr. parted her=towline- fran
! tho heavy seas, close to the island.
Everything was snow and Ice on TIE
| rocks and the spray was coming over
/ the island. thought the Geo. SrEteT
wouldn't clear the island. and. hard
luck luck, s she didn't she hit the the rocks
all hands were lost. right before me.
4 WIS talking 90 them before the boat
smashed and wac trying To hcave
me and every time l would throw ~
line to them II was out of reach. u
heaved the line TO them three. times.
and then her bow hit the rocks and
| the poor souls were I'm the water
amongst the wreckage. The first sea
washed three OF them almost on top OF
the rocks. about so feet from the
water. but they couldn't hang ON until
] could get tn them. The locks were
all ice. One poor fellow struggled
amongst the wreckage In the boiling
sea for about three minutes. and theh
sank. Just think OF u. Psst nae staDss-
Ing about 20 feet above them and see
! like "A beaver. but il was all In vain.
/ I had line on me. and GIN thIs as
sistanp holding me. . was right nm
the edge of the rocks. and every wav~
covering me. You know how the
water is up mere. After the boat was
al smashed TO pieces and no sign OF
whsn a monster wave struck me. and
a piece OF deck plank hit me on the
shoulder and knocked my arm out ~
Joint II was lucky the Marigold was
| lying here 10 anchor. They came 10
the island ami put me aboard and
brought me to Marquette this morn
Ing. We got here about o'clock and
the captain got two doctors They
| stretched me OH the table and gave
| me chloroform and had deuce OF a
| time putting the arm back In Joint
hut IL feels all right now, I think the
Marigold will lay here for a few DAYS
and then take me back to the. island.
The doctor says ] will have 10 carry
my arm IN a sling for about three
| weeks. 7 tell you. Pat I Put In an
| awful time with the pain last night.
but it><sels easief-n0w. My left ankle
il about ~ big as my head. and I am
all barkcd ana bruised up. When that
sea hit me a. Just rolled me like
ball. II was lucky that the hack
| wash didn't carry nc. into the lake.
We'll. Pat, 7 showed them that | tried
hard TO help them anyway. IL was
lucky that | didn't get drowned with
them. / am writing this on the Mari
gold In Marquette. Don't worry. I am
all right. viii be In few dave. any
way. They are doing all they can for
me Haye had all kinds OF visitors
aboard tho boat to sec me and every
body wants TO do something for me.
so you see will he taken care Of
II I need u. Will write you again be-
fore leave here for the station.
| SNEED ~