Year: 1860

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CHICAGO, Sept. "A. M.-The eoroner's jury
yesterday commenced an investigation OF
the wreck of the Lady Elgin. r


Jno. Jervis of Milwaukee, testified that
just before the schooner struck, was stand
ing at the middle gangway; saw the schoon-
er about two minutes before the collision
She appeared to be coming towards US at
about an angle of five degrees. About
half minute before she struck left the
gangway. Capt. Wilson was at the after
gaHgway and asked some one on the schoon-
er if they wanted to come aboard. The re-
ply was they did not think they were in
jured. Afterwards l went down into the
coal hunks and saw the water coming in
very fast. The captain stood at the edge of
the scuttle ordering the men to fire up fast
as possible. Ithen went aft. Capt. went at
the same time and gave orders that every
thing loose be thrown overheard. When /
next saw him he was coming from below
| then went below to see how long we
could keep afloat. When l got to the
engine room the engines had just stop
ped. | went back to the cabin, the hold
then being full of water. The captain and
myself then got twenty to twenty-five la
dies upon the hurricane deck The boat
went down two minutes afterwards. There
were between twenty and thirty children
on the forward part of the hurricane roof.
1t was very dark and raining at the time.


The bell commenced ringing at once after
the collision and the whistle commenced
blowing at the same time. ~. .r..a--rv.


Thos. Cumming, on Lady Elgin, tes-
tilted: Schooner did not strike steamer
quartering, but at right angles-ran square
into her. The steamer running turned the
schooner round. Think we were about out
ten miles from shore. Saw a vessels light,
after we left the steamer. Think I could
have seen light on a vessel three miles off.
Did not see schooner after she got clear of
US. Saw that all lights were up. Schooner
was running about due East when she struck
u.s. There is rule that boats going to
Milwaukee should pass vessels on the lar
board side. | think IA vessel under that
wind and headway could have avoided the
steamer if within twenty rods of her. By
great exertion, even if vessel were only
three times her length from steamer, she
could have avoided doing serious damage by
putting helm hard up. Had the schooner
seen the steamer half mile off she could
not have struck her, except by gross neg
lect. 1t seems to me that the helm of the
vessel must have been put down instead of
up, and that was the cause of the disaster.
The schooner could have laid TO within a
mile of US after the collision with perfect
safety. 1t was not very dark although
raining heavily. -..- ~.


John Vorce, first mate of augusta,
says At time of collision it was the Cap
tain watch. The second mate was on deck
when squall came up, and called the Cap
tain who got on deck as squall struck US.


About one-third of fore sail and one
fourth of main sail were up when We struck
steamer. When l saw steamers lights,
heard Captain sing out hard up" Steam
er then was crossing our bow. The steamer
showed a while light from to IL. Don't
know whether she did at time of collision
OF not Heard helmsman answer d" hard
up" but did not notice any change in ves-
not answer helm readily. 1t was not
two minutes at the outside after the order
until the vessel struck. We heard no more
whatever from the steamer after the COL
lision.


George Nudge, second mate, says it was
Captains watch. was on deck. Vessels
course was south by east and uRder full sail,
except main gaff top sail We showed a
white light. First sa Y the steamers light
about ten minutes before l called the Cap.
tain, about one point on the weather bow.
1t was about twenty minutes before the col
lision when called the Captain. Called
him because it looked squally. When he
came up showed him the lights. He ran
toward and looked at it. He ordered
helm hard up but vessel did not mind her
helm. l did not hear any noise on steamer
after collision. Wind was blowing so we
could not hear ourselves from one end of yes
sci to the other.


One of schooner's crew who was station
cd forward as lookout testified, did not see
steamers lights until Captain ordered helm
hard up.


To this morning 40 bodies have been re-
covered, most of whom resided at Milwau-
kee.