Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== THE DAILY ARGUS NEWS CRAWFORDSVILLE, INDIANA WEDNESDAY EVENING, October 5, 1887 VOLUME VI, NO. 133 DISASTER ON THE LAKE ------------ A CANADIAN PASSENGER PRO- PELLER WRECKED ------------ A Number of the Passengers and Crew Believed to Have Perished - Disasters --------- St. Ignace, Mich., Oct. 4. - The Canadian passenger propeller CALIFORNIA, which left Chicago last Saturday night at 10 o'clock, with a full cargo of corn and pork for Mon- treal, was struck by Monday's gale on Lake Michigan, of St. Helena, near the Straits of Mackinaw. The sea washed over her, filled her hold and put her fires out. The crew worked hard, but were unable to keep her fires going. At 1 o'clock the propeller broke up, and a minute and a half later sunk. There was not even time to get the boats down. How many were lost has not been ascertained. A life-boat with seven men reached Point Lee Barbas in an almost life- less state. They are now at the house of Messrs. Neil, Seville and Moses Champin, and are doing well. A doctor from St. Ignace is attending them. Following are the names of those who reached shore in the life-boat. Owen Rorke, of Kingston, wheelman; A. G. Hawkins, of Belleville, Ontarion, watchman; Peter McNallis, of Montreal, deck-hand; Joseph Neayor, of Norway, deck-hand; William Brown, of Scot- land, deck-hand; J. A. Ives, of Montreal, deck-hand; Marcellan Charlebois, of Mon- treal, deck-hand. It is probable that the Captain and others of the crew are at St. Helena. One boat besides the one that reached St. Helena got away from the propeller. The following are missing: CAPT. JOHN TROWELL, of Toronto PETER LAGO, first mate GEORGE FOLEY, purser JAMES ELLIS, first engineer S. A. MILLS, second engineer BELLTOUGH, fireman BOB _____, cook ARTHUR HAZARD, cabin-boy MISS POPPA and MRS. BLOOD, two lady passengers. It is possible that the Captain and some of the crew may have reached St. Helena in the other boat. Search is being made for bodies along the beach. None were saved except those who jumped into the boats as the propeller was going down. LATER - The steam barge FOLSOM picked up a boat in the straits this morning with Capt. Trowell, James Ellis, chief engineer; S. A. Mills, second engineer; Mrs. Blood, and an old woman, one of the passengers of the CALI- FORNIA, and landed them at Mackinaw City. This makes thirteen saved out of twenty-five or twenty-seven who were on board. A terrible sea is running down the straits. City Marshal Stewart and Sheriff Monteith were at the point rendering all the assistance possible to those ashore, and if possible help those who might be still clinging to the wreck. They, with the help of some residents of Gross Cap, went out in a rowboat to where the CALIFORNIA is sunk. A corner of her cabin is out of water. It was impossible to get very close to the wreck, but two bodies could be seen in the cabin. The wreckage is going ashore on the other side of the straits, where the bodies of some of the missing will probably be found, as all had life-preservers. A still later special says: The mate and two other men of the CALIFORNIA landed above Gross Cap, and have just reached this city. ------------------------------------- DISASTER TO MANY CRAFT ST. JOSEPH, Mich., Oct. 4. - The schooner HAVANA, owned by Capt. A. P. Read, of Kenosha, was sighted off this port about 6 o'clock Monday morning, flying signals of distress. There were seven men aboard. Capt. Curran, Steward John Morris, and a sailor named Joseph Clint climbed into the main rigging and the others into the fore-rigging. As the vessel gave a heavy lurch the mainmast crashed over- board, carrying the three men into the breakers, where they were probably drowned. The others were rescued. BUFFALO, Oct. 4. - The wind reached a velocity of fifty-two miles Monday, and has not been below forty-five at any time since. Stones weighing two tons each were swept from the government breakwater, long sections of which were washed away. Many cellars along the water front were flooded, and families on the Island were driven from their homes. No boats have left this port. Several steam barges tried to, but put back after losing their consorts, which were picked up by tugs. The HUTCHINSON is anchored eight miles up the Lake, and tugs have not been able to reach her. CHEBOYGAN, Mich., Oct. 4. - A fearful storm from the West, with tremendous rain squalls prevailed Monday, the wind being almost a hurri- cane. Vessels in the harbor dragged both anchors, and crafts in midlake have suffered severely. It is the heaviest storm in many years.