Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 November 1883 — THE LAKE MARINE. [ARTICLE]

THE LAKE MARINE.

It Has Experienced the Most Disastrous Season of Nearly Twenty Years. [From the Chicago Times.] The northwesterly gale which has prevailed almost steadily on the chain of great lakes since Sunday last is the most disastrous to Hfe and property that has occurred in any one gale since 1867. The total number of wrecks are forty, which includes vessels going ashore, as well as those which went to pieces, and the total number of lives lost was sixty-eight, so far as known. Beside these, there are some vessels missing, or, rather, have not been heard from since the terrible gale began to blow. It is probable that all these will turn up, as they" may be safely sheltered in harbors about the lakes. Speaking in this connection, it may be of interest to know that the season, as a whole, has been the most disastrous to shipping and insurance men alike than was ever known before in the history of navigation on the lakes. The whole season has been marked by disasters terrible in their nature and entailing heavy loss upon insurance companies. This was partly due to an unpropitious and stormy season, but largely to the inexcusable mistakes of the signal service. They have missed every gale of wind In such aVay as to encourage vessel masters to leave port on the verge of veritable hurricanes. Such was the case last Sunday, and also last May. To go further back, they made the same mistake before the great gale of Oct. 16, 1880. Then followed the terrible disasters to the Alpena, Wells Burt, and, lastly, the Akely.