The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-11-28
Captain B. G. Cameron Tells
Of Great Wreck on Lake
rs Years Ago
SINKING OF STEAMER JOHNSON
Former Head Of Life Saving Crew Tells
story of Rescue by People of Kenosha
On Twenty fifth Anniversary Of Elk
citing Time on Lake.

Twenty-Five years ago last Tuesday,
one Of the worst weeks known in the
neigbborhood Of Kenosha, occurred and
older citizens Of the city were today
recalling the facts in regard to the
wreck De the steamer Solon Fl. John
son. The story Of the rescue Of the
crew Of the steamer by the members
of the Kenosha Life Saving crew is
one of the most thrilling stories il the
log Of the local life saving station.
Captain 3D. @. Cameron was at that
time at the head of the life saving
crew and he still tells a graphic story
Of the wreck and the heroic work of
the Kenosha life savers and people Of
Kenosha to rescue the members oe the
crew I'm speaking of tile famous res
cue today Captain Cameron said:
AT ten minutes past 10 O'Clock on
Thursday morning a dispatch was ~
ceived at the life saving station that
steam barge and her consort were
ashore off Benton Harbor about IL
miles south of here. In fifteen
minutes after the Dispatch vas
received the crew with the surf
boat on trucks and all their gear
left the station drawn by Frank
Holderness IS big team The first inti-
nation tae general public had OF the
disaster was the dashing Up Main
street OF The boat and crew. They
pulled NO at Waffle u barn FOR an ex
ira team, as the roads were very heavy
and the long-geared trucks which the
boat rested on and cart carrying the.
gearing behind were too much for one.
team to make time with. Chef Watt
ties had his gray team to a lumber
wagon in a jiffy and the cart made fast
behind. BY This time large crowd
had assembled to learn the cause Of
the excitement and when the facts
were made known everybody was wild
to go.
The editor Of the Courier was just
vending his way churchward TO give
thanks for the many new subscribers
gathered in the past few weeks when
the news reached his ears, and IN less
time than it takes to ten 1t he was
tucked in behind John Harvey old
white horse throwing Wisconsin mud
heavenward, at the rate Of four tons
per minute and he was not the only
one, as the livery stables put ou5 every
available team they had and citizens
with their own private rigs soon 3oin-
ed the procession. The boat and crew
left here about IL O'Clock with
nasty, drilling rain falling and the
roads i terrible condition, but the
thought that the lives of twelve human
beings were in jeopardy spurred tlem
on and caused the drivers tc ply the
lash to their horses. After some trou-
Bile getting through swamps and bogs
the shore was reached and the wreck
sighted. The barge laid one mile
north Of due cast Of Benton station
Az : 600 feet from shore. She beach
cd early iii the morning and her cabin
went BY the board between and 10
clock taking clothing, food and
everything belonging to the crew 10
narrowly escaped being washe over
themselves. When reached BY The res
euers the crew were all baddlel in the
bow Of the boat With heavy sea
washing over the deck ana soaking
Them. Owing to the strong current
at that point and the high sea it was
thought best not to try 10 reach them
with the surf boat, and The Isle gun,
for the first time III the history Of Tie
station, was called into service. The
arst shot was fred by g. IL. simmons
in the absence of Captain Cameron,
who had not yet arrived, at Is minutes
past / 0 clock, but the line ms sed The
bow Of the boat by about two feet.
The second shof, fred by the captain,
fell square cter the bow, the line be-
ing caught and made fast 70 The spar
of the barge. III q remarkably short
space Of time al was ready and Tie
work of resening began.
IN the meantime the crowd -of eiti-
zens had swelled TO over one hundred
and anxious hearts and ready hands
had gathered together hlni3es from
the wreck and built sort Of lalf roof
to. act as q windbreak, Nhile ot4ers
gathered wood sad started ! rouslng