The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-09-21
EIGHT sAILORS DIE
IN LAKE MICHIGAN
Terrible Tragedy al U. S. Ma
val Training School.
Founderlro Boat Anchored and
Youths Leap Overheard, but Are
Beaten Back by Wind and
Raging Water.

Eight boys at United States naval
recruits al the United States naval
training station al North Chicago. lost
their lives in Lake Michigan tragedy
which in many respects has no par
allel. They were able. all but one OF
them, to swim. and yet they were
drowned within thirty feet OF the
shore.
Out OF the twenty-nine men and boys
who set ont for pleasure sail only
twenty-one bodies have been recovered
showing signs OF life over these two
pulmotors worked steadily for hours
In the hope OF reviying their The
boys who recovered after the use Of
the pulmotor number only four
Petty officer Stockman Is believed
10 have been drowned while trying TO
save others.
Hero May BE Saved by PuImotor
Chief Gunner Mate William Negus
started for shore carrying boy who
could not swim lie lost his charge,
diyed, and did not reappear until two
hours later, when his body was taken
from the water COO yards north OF the
scene of the tragedy lie was ap.
parently dead but under the pulmotor
he showed signs Of life after half an
hour. II Is believed that his life will
be saved
William Stanley, one OF those saved
told a dramatic story OF the tragedy
we left the station about quarter
TO two in the afternoon" he said I'VE
were not ordered out. but were given
permission 10 take the sail The wa.
ter was exceedingly rough, and most
Of the boys were so new 10 water ex
perlence that they became helplessly
seasiok after we had gone perhaps
half mile from the shore
Boys Become eeasick
William Neeus was rs commandHe
saw tba with h0 Gle Lows eastclk
and helpless a would be imrt ibia %
handle the boar as II should De
handled So We pint ii toward shore
we had q DIE boot about TWENTY four
feet LONG Ni.ha maIusall and iib We
hauled down ihe lls % make things
more Mug arid present less surface to
file storm. nhcu We took to thr ORES.
such 81 uE as were able to use them
There was q loi % water ln the
boat and more 81 it coming in an tho
time We were In danger az being
Bwamped at any moment But Nceus
thought dc could save the boat as VOL
as ain the people ID II
When we were within about thirty
feet OF shore tie Dropped anchor. Then
he went overheard 10 see how deep
the water wag Il was only about up
10 his nose II he had been level But
the heavy waves hurled him In water
-four or FIVE feet deep
Gle climbed back into the boat
then. II was plain We would have 10
swim for Il. Neeus called out TO ask
II there was anybody aboard who
could not swim. cne boy said he
couldn't.
so Negus took that boy don't
know who he was ON hts back and
started for shore, calling for the rest
OF us to follow was one Of the last
to quit the boat ] saw Negns swim
o few strokes toward the shore and
then he seemed TO be IN trouble His
arms went ONT crafty and he went
down.
Horrible Struggle n Water.
Gle disappeared only tor moment
md then no came nip and didn't have
the boy with him any more Il look
ed as II a big waye had snatched the
boy from his lrms
"Nefus wouldn't 20 TO shore with
out the lad lie dove into the water
again and | didn't see him any more
All around the boat the water was
alive with boys trying TO get ashore.
II was horrible struggle. They
didn't seem to make any Roadway al
all against the waves and the wind.
Pretty soon saw II wasn't any
use 10 stick to the boat and | Jumped
as far toward shore as ] could and
then tried TO swim There was
nothing doing. couldn't get ahead.
But finally hit something and some.
body dragged me out OF the water"