The Detroit times., 1909-12-20
81 SAVED FROM
DEATH ON BLEAK
ISLAND
Crew Of Steamer Wissahickon,
Which Ran Aground on Duck
Island, Is Rescued by Tug
General-Nearly Frozen.
seamen Who Were Exposed to Biting
Cold for Week Given Food
BY Fishermen.

SAULT STE. MARIE. Dec. 2o.--Af-
ter spending one week on the rocky
promontory of Outer Duck island. dur
ing which time they were at the
mercy OF the biting winter blasts that
swept the bleak spot at frequent in
tervais. 80 bedraggled. unkempt ana
unshayen sailors arrived here ON the
tug General yesterday. They were
the crew of the Anchor line steamer
Wissahickson. which went aground a
week ago last night In a binding
snowstorm.
When the sturdy little tug was
sighted the whistles OF the car ferries
here screeched an appreciation OF the
rescue OF the men. who might have
been frozen TO death on the bleak,
dsolate island. or, who, at least, might
have been forced to observe Christ
mas day far from home and friends.
As the rescued seamen left the tug
here, they grGsped the hands OF their
rescuers and grumbled their thanks
for having been taken from the island.
When the Wissahickson's nose
lodged itself among the rocks of Outer
Duck island, which is 90 miles in
Lake Huron, 50 miles below Detour.
the heavy sea swung the craft around
until its bow was six feet out OF water.
rhe rock where IL struck was quar-
ter OF mile from Duck island proper.
The marooned men were forced by a
binding snowstorm TO huddle inside
the cabins. Capt. Miller, to keep the
boat from pounding, ordered one hold
filled with water.
During the time that the men were
on the island the music from a phono-
graph kept them company and helped
| to pass the monotonous hours OF vigil.
All credit goes not TO the crew OF
| the General. Duck Island fishermen
| In tiny but audacious little gasoline
launch, sneaked food to the men dur
ing a lull In the wind on Wednesday
and also carried back Mate Casey and
| the second engineer. who had voiur1-
teered TO try 10 make their way TO a
telegraph CT telephone station.
! II was the telephone message OF the
two crew members from Fernlee
which came 10 the General as she
lay hero waiting for such calls from
December mariners.
Saturday when the General appear
ed upon tho horizon the shipwrecked
men were quick TO espy her.
ITS one of the 500 tugs they
yelled.
A booxmaker couldn't have handled
their money fast enough to suit them
had there been one there.
II was the General, but the lakego
ing tug. unlike her river and harbo
sisters. could not approach the Wis
sahickon. Again the tiny gasolene
fisher boat helped out Back and forth
across the choppy sea 1t puffed and
painted. taking the 80 sailors over IN
twos and threes to the warm boiles
room OF the General and the care OF
its cooks.
The fishermen kept us alive was
the statement OF the Wissahickon
crew.
Capt. Miller. his mates and the en-
eineer and his assistants were order
ed 10 Alpena on their arrival. They
RI fused TO state why, but 1t is pre-
lsurned for the purpose OF accompany
ing an expedition TO get OF the strand
ed steamer before she pounds TO
pieces. or TO salvage portion OF her
cargo
we left Detroit on Saturday az
Iternoon." said Capt Miller, who was
unwilling TO talk. Reaching Lake
Huron We ran into heavy snow
and an easterly gale. The snow be-
came so thick that we could not keen
oud bearings. After my boat struck
the waves washed the decks ami
dashed hsg soyer us until late Mon
dav. when the old lake quieted down
a bit The fshemen saw us. but
didn't dare make trX 10 get 10 US
They'd a been drowned sure II they
had
The bow Of the Wissahickon rests
in II feet OF water and the stern In
I9 feet. There are about l2 feet amid
ships. From outward appearances
she looks 70 be resting all right. II
will be impossible To tell the dam
age without a good examination.
The tugs Reed and Francis Hackett
have cone TO the scene OF the strand
ing.
The Wissahickon is $50 feet long.
i6 feet beam and was built in Du-
luth In 1907. The boat was bound
from Buffalo 70 Duluth with miscei
laneous cargo of freight. II Is said
that With her cargo the boat Is val
ued AT 100000.