Year: 1868




Just as our paper was nearly all print
ed last week the astounding intelligence
came to hand that the favorite old steam
er Sea Bird had been burned to the wa
ter's edge, and that all or nearly all had
perished. So terrible was the news that
very few could be made to believe it.
Almost every person in the place had
some friend on that boat-some brother
some a father, or husband, wife or
child. An hour after the wires told Us
of the fact our streets were crowded with
people whose startled, anxious looks told
all too plainly Of the struggle between
hope and fear going ON in their hearts.
The telegraph Office was soon packed so
full the floor broke down, and every click
of the instrument was listened to with
the most intense interest At first the
news came that it was supposed all were
saved, a special to this paper reading
thus. We had out an extra in few
minutes announcing the fact. but they
were hardly distributed ere another came
saying that they were all certainly lost
but two. IF ever we were called upon
to do sad duty it was when we added
that postscripC to our extra which blotted
out all hope and told anxious friends that
their loved ones lay beneath the cold
waters Of Lake Michigan. The next
morning-Friday published an extra
with additional particulars, but for some
unaccountable reason there was much in
it which could not be explained. They
had things terribly mixed in Milwaukee.
Saturday morning we published still an
other which contained definite informa-
ton. and left no doubt as to the cause of
the disaster and the terrible results which
followed


On such an occasion as this the first
inquiry is, after people become little
calm, who is to blame? Was the owner
of the boat, was the captain, the wheels
man, the engineer or the passengers them
selves? la this instance it is hard to an
swer Were we called on for our opinion
we should not hesitate to reply the Sea
Bird disaster was the result of unmitiga-
ted circumstances over which no human
agency could have control any more than
with the hurricane or the earthquake
The boat took fire just ho:7 no one will
probably ever know to a certainty, but
probably from Goals In ashes thrown over
the side of the vessel being blown back
on board The fire was in very COM
bustiblc materiul IN the most combustible
part of the vessel, and right beneath the
small boats. The wind was blowing al
most a gale, the hands were probably in
a distant part of the boat at breakfast
aud the captain asleep in his berth, as
this was the only time he would have for
rest The great distance to the shore
some eight miles-the water at freezing
point and the small boats burned, what
hope was left for those on board? Had
the lake been calm a raft might have
been constructed which would have saved
some, but there was a heavy sea-so
great indeed that the tmid, chicken
hearted people of Waukegan did not
dare to trust themselves in the govern
ment life boat to go to the assistance of
those drowning men, We do not believe
let us say right here, that we have had a
gale this spring which would have pre-
vented our boat from going oct in such
an emergency. No, it does not seem to
us that any blame can be attached to
Mr. Goodrich his men or the passengers
| Wherever We are on earth. we are in
more or less danger. When we awake at
morn we do not know that the setting sun
will leave us here when we retire
at night, we do not know that we shall
ever see the dawn of another day, so un-
certain is mortal life We know that the
| Sea Bird is destroyed, t,aC many valu-
able lives were lost, and il 1t we cannot
/ fail to see the hand of an over ruling
| Providence. Let US meekly acknowledge
that Power and prepare ourselves for the
| change which awaits us, for it may come
| at time when we think not, and sud
! denly.


| 'Leaves have their time TO fall


And flowers to wither at the north winds breath,
| And stars to set-hut all.


Thou hast all seasons for thine own, death -