Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-05-02
SEVEN 60 DOWN WITH one CRAFT
Steamer Aurania Crushed in Ice and
sunk-Crew Escapes Death BY
Traversino Alternately Ice Jams and
Open Water-Mystery Surrounds
One Deserted Weasel.
(Bv Associated Press.)


vessels lost. one Of them with her
crew Of sefea men Ind Fourth craft
found floating On Lake Michigan with
the fate Of her crew nnknc~n. Is the
days summary OF disaster from storm
and ice Gu the great lake..
On Huron island last night the
schooner George Nester. OF Detroit
was torn to pieces and all OF her
crew Of seven were lost.
On Lake Huron the package freight
er Russia. Ct Port Huron, succumbed
to the waves after her cargo had
shifted. and went 10 the bottom. The
Russia's. crew Of 2, men however,
succeeded IN safely putting over their
small boats and escaping.
Crews Fate Unkn wa.
/. On Lake Michigan the Ann Arhur
Railway Car Ferry Number l picked
up nineteen miles south of Fox II.
land. the big steel lighter Batavia. d.
serted by her crew and win no posi-
aIyo evidence - to whether thar
|Aerishsd nr ,Iere taken on BIZ tlse
ste6mer which 3 believed % hav6
been towing her So
To these fresh storias OF marine
disaster was added from Soult Sta
Marie with the arrival there &c the
crew OF the steamer Aurania, the
irst story OF how she was crushed
by the ice and sank and how the MEM
hers Of the crew made o per:lous wsy
ever nearly four miles Of ice foes to
the steamer ]. H. Brtow.
Vessel found Deserted.
Few days in the history Of navigs-
ton on the inland lake1 have brougAt
such tales Of death and destruction.
1t is . strange story Of marine
mystery which the big Ann Arbor car
ferry boat brought into ucrt with her
todav when abe arrived towing behAHd
her the big steel lighter Batavia which
was built in 1904 for the Lehish Val.
lev Transportation Company. the
car fesry found the lighter tossing On
the waves south Of Fox island with
no crew aboard. In the dining rDom
waS evidence that there had beeu 3
crew. The dining room table was ~
a. for dinner. but no,hing except tse
severed hawser indicated q poesible
solution Of the crews whegeabouts.
Seanen think that the evidence
which the hawser bore Of beiux cot
may mean that the tug, or steamer
which had the lighter in TOW found
IT necessary In the gale IN cast her
faere and II SO. probably took on the
crew before leaving the steel hulk y
the mercy Of the storm. Lshters-of
this style usually carry, marine men
say. crews q fou: or ten men.
Caught In Ice eIos.
Safe and sound after the los q
their ship in the Ice the crew Of the
COrrigan steamer Aurania came into
the 500 sbcard Me J. y. Bartrw ana
told a thrilling story ofStheir expert
ences. Caught fast In . great ice
foe In White Fish bay. they eosa
only watch 1e relentless force bear
harder and harder against the sijes
Of their ship until they we're crushed
and the water poured In. When .
was evident that she Was doomed -
sink. they left the Aurania and took
to the ice. Carrying with them enc
small yawl boat with which to ferry
Themselves over the catches Of open
water in the foe. the men headed ~
Captain Robert G. Pringie. made
perilOns way over to the steamer
Barlow. also held 80 fast In The tco
four miles away that she could nSe
go to the Aurania's assistance. An
arrived unin;ured and we're cared or
aboard the Barlow.
They left sauIt Ste Masse tpdsy Cor