Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 December 1896 — LOST IN A HEAVY SEA. [ARTICLE]

LOST IN A HEAVY SEA.

SIX MEN DROWN ATMUSKEGON, MICHIGAN. Schooner Waukesha Wrecked in the Storm—Only Snrvivor Tells a Story Blaming the Captain—Report of the Poatofflce Department. A Watery Grave. Under cover of the darkuess anil in the midst of a fierce storm, six men met their death off Muskegon. Mich., harbor Saturday night . from the three-mast schooner Waukesha. The story of the only survivor lays the blame upon the captain whose name is not definitely known. This survivor is Frank Dulach. He does not know the names of any of the other members of the crew, which consisted of the captain, mate, cook and four sailors, a total of seven. After being rescued Dnlach was so weak that it was night before an intelligent story could be obtained from him. It was taken in the form of an affidavit before a magistrate at the station iu order to show the full circumstances. Dulach says the boat loaded with salt at Ludiugton for South Chicago, and went out Friday about 4 p. m. Almost immediately she began to feel the heavy sea. and the minds of the sailors were not in tho least reassured by the fact that the captain commenced drinking liberally. When off Little Point the Waukesha '.vJh leaking so badly that all hands had to go to tin? pumps. After it was shown that pumping would be necessary all the time, the sailors begau to beg the captain to beach the boat, but he refused and kept on south. When they saw the piers at Muskegon about 3 o’clock Saturday afternoon they were in doubt as to where they were. The efiptain hoisted a signal for a tug, but, no tug coming, he went to anchor, angrily declining to make an attempt to enter the harbor, saying he did not know where he was and how much water there was. He said he would stay there during the night, fix up as best he could, and in the morn-, ing slip away. The men told him the boat, which was old and rotten, couiil not stand tlie strain nnd would go to pieces; that his only safety was to beach her. Dulach says the captain locked up the torches, so they could not signal, and when ho, Dulach, tried to flash a lantern the captain struck it down. About 9 o’clock the boat began to yield under the pounding of the constantly increasing sea, and the captain redoubled his drinking. In desperation Dulach and his “watch partner” tried to slip the vessel’s cables and send her ashore. They succeeded in loosing the big anchor, when the captain, hearing the noise, got life-preservers for himself, the mate and a snilor by the name of Fred, who, according to I)u----laeh's story, were all drunk on liquor he had furnished them. Tlie other four secured preservers from the forecastle, aud the entire crew went into the foremast rigging. Pulled down by the little anchor, which was dragging, the boat gave a great lurch, to port, and under the test, the three masts snapped one by one. The colored cook was killed by the fall of a yard and fell into the sea. The others climbed onto a rude raft, which Dulach and his partner constructed. A Swede, who was by Dulach, kept up the fight as long as he could, and the^ dropped off. The unite was washed away. Dulach and his partner supported this captain as long as they could, and finally, when he fell over helpless into the water, they had to leave him to his fate. Dniaeh kept up the courage of his partner ns long as he could, but just before dawn he, too, fell into the chilly water. When the lifeboat came in sight Dulach was just able to motion them where to come.