Evening star., 1909-05-02
LOST IN LAKE STORM
Three Vessels Wrecked and
One Abandoned.
CREW OF SEVEN PERISH
Go Down With Their Ship During
Furious Gale.
STEAMER CRUSHED BY ICE
Grew Saved After Perilous Journey
Over Dangerous Floe-Lighter
Found Deserted.
STEAMER CRUSHED BY ICE

DElhOII, MICH, May l.-lHFee NeSSeiS
lost, one of them with her crew of seven
men, and a fourth craft found floating
deserted on Lake Michigan. with the fate
OF her crew unknown, is the days sum-
mary of disaster from storm and Ice on
the great lakes.
On the bleak and rocky shores of Huron
Island last night the schooner George
Nester Of Detroit was torn to pieces by
the furious gale that swept over Lake Su-
perior, and all Of her crew of seven were
lost.
On Lake Huron, lashed by the same
gale. the package freighter Russia of Port
Huron succumbed to the waves after her
cargo had shifted. and went to the bot
tom The Russia's crew OF twenty-five
men, however, succeeded in safely putting
over their small boats and escaping in
them.
On Lake Michigan the Ann Arbor rail-
way car ferry No. / picked up. nineteen
miles south of Fox Island, the big steel
lighter Batavia, deserted by her crew and
with no positive evidence as to whether
they perished or were taken off the lighter
by the steamer which is believed to have
been towing her.
To these fresh stories Of marine disaster
the arrival there Of the crew of the
steamer Aurania, the first story of how
she was crushed by the Ice and sunk. and
how the members OF the crew made a
perilous way over nearly four miles of
ice foe to the steamer J. H. Barlow.
Entire Crew Perished.
Few days In the history Of navigation
on the inland lakes have brought such
tales Of death and disaster.
Bound up Lake Superior for cargo, be-
hind the steamer Schoolcraft, the schoon-
er George Nester met the full force of
the terrific gale. on Huron islands, the
went on the rocks. The furious waves
made 1t impossible to launch small boats
from either the Schoolcraft or the light
house tender ~Marigold. which was close
behind. to go to the rescue of the seven
men aboard the schooner.
The Nester went to pieces rapidly and
every member Of the crew was lost. The
Marigold made efforts to take the i'm
pertled men OF the wreck with lifelines,
but unsuccessfully.
First Trip Of the Season.
Tho Russia was bound for Duluth on
her first trip Of the season with full
cargo Of freight. When twelve miles of
Detour the Russia's cargo shifted. Part
of tho declload Of cement was jetti-
soned over the side, but shortly after
ward the cargo again shifted, and the
steamer began to fill. Capt. John Nc
Lean Of Port Huron and his crew Of
twenty-five launched their small boats
into the raging sea and succeeded in
saving their lives. They arrived at De-
tour today. The Russia was built in
1872, and was owned by c. o. Duncan Of
Port Huron. For many years she sailed
IN, Ann 1iro Aoaf nP
boats, and was one of the best known
craft on the lakes.
1t is a strange story of marine mystery
which the big Ann Arbor car ferry
brought into port with her today. when
she arrived towing behind her the big
steel lighter Batavia, which was built in
1904 for the Lehigh Valley Transporta-
ton Company. The car ferry found the
lighter tossing on the waves south of
Fox Islands with no crew aboard. In
the dining room was evidence that there
had been a crew. The dining room table
was set as for dinner. But nothing ex-
cept the severed hawsers indicated pos
siDie solution Of the crews whereabouts.
Crew May Have Been Saved.
Marine men think that the evidence
witch the hawser bore of being cut may
mean that the tug or steamer which had
the lighter In tow found 1t necessary in
the gale to cast her loose, and If SO
probably took OF the crew before leaving
the steel hulk at the mercy of the storm
Lighters Of this style usually carry, ma
rine men say. crews Of four to ten men.
Safe and sound after the loss of their
ship In the fee. the crew Of the Corrigan
steamer Aurania came into the 500
aboard the ]. H. Barlow and told a
thrilling story Of their experience Caught
last In a great ice foe in Whitefish bay
they could only watch the relentless force
bear harder and harder against the sides
OF their ship until they were crushed and
the water poured in. When It was evi-
dent that she was. doomed to sink they
left the Aurania and took to the ice
Carrying with them one small yawlboat
with which to ferry themselves over the
patches Of open water in the foe. the
men. headed by Capt Robert c. PrinkIe
made q perilous way over to the steamer
Barlow. also held SO fast in the Ice four
miles away that she could not go to the
Aurania's assistance. All arrived unin-
1ured. and were cared for aboard the Bar
tow. They left Sault Ste Marie today for
Cleveland