Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 October 1907 — DOWN LIKE A STONE [ARTICLE]

DOWN LIKE A STONE

Freight Steafner Cyprus Goes to ( the Bottom in Nineteen Fathoms of Water. ALL GO WITH HER EXCEPT FOUR Three of Those Are Lost from a Life Raft in the Breakers. Leaving but One Alive of the Twen-ty-Two on Board Hatches Not Properly Covered— Liat of the Lost. Sault Ste Marie, Mich., Oct. 14. Recovering consciousness after hours of constant nursing Second Mate Pltz, of the steamer Cyprus, which foundered off Deer Park life-saving station in Lake Superior Friday night, gave a graphic account of the last moments of the crew on board the 111-fated vessel. The mate said that the Cyprus was making fairly good weather in the storm when suddenly tne cargo shifted, giving the craft a heavy list. This was about 7 p. m., when the vessel was off Deer park. In the regular course of vessels bound up and down. Water began pouring In the hatches end a panic ensued, many of th* crew putting on life preservers.

Went Down Like a Stone. Captain Hucky. boowever. felt confident be could reach shelter behind Whitefish point, and the boats were not lowered. Both engine and pumps were working, and the crew felt sure the vessel would not sink without warning. But suddenly the big freighter rolled over on her side and almost Instantly plunged to the bottom. When the vessel rolled over the first and second mates, a watchman and wheelsman, were close to a lift raft which they cut loose and cast off Just In time to escape the whirlpool caused by the Cyprus as she plunged beneath the surface of the wtaer. Only One of the Four Saved. The boat sank about 7 In the evening, and until 2 a. m. the four men clung to their frail support, while the waves drove them towards shore. Five times In the angry surf of the rocky ' shore the raft was upset, the men each time having to fight the heavy under tow for their llvea. Each fight weakened the benumbed and disheartened sailors, and after the fifth battle with the surf only one of the quartette remained upon the raft But the next time the raft was caught upon the surf it was thrown upon the beach. Mate Pltz had Just strength enough left to crawl out of reach of the waves before he fell exhausted where he was later found by the patrol of the life-saving station

LOOKS LIKE LACK OF CACTION Hatches Said to Have Been Not Properly Covered—Liat of LostThe vessel Iles in nineteen fathoms of water. Nineteen bodies have been recovered. There seems now to be little doubt that the sinking of the Cyprus was due directly to the failure of the captain and crew of the wrecked vessel to cover the hatches with the canvas tarpaulins designed fdr that purpose. The story of Second Mate Pite confirms largely the theory of toss given out by Captain Harbottle, of the Pittsburg Steamship company steamer Stephenson, the last vessel to sight the Cyprus before she sank. This means that the Cyprus took In so much water through her uncovered batches that her pumps were unable to carry it off. Second Mate Pits for hours after be was discovered by Coast Guard Ocha, of the Deer park life-sav-ing station, was so terribly exhausted by his struggle with the waves us to be unable to give a coherent story of the wreck. Following are the names of the drowned: F. B. Huyck, Sheridan, N. -Y.. ctpf.aln: J.N. Smith Cleveland, first mate. Chester Anderson. Jamestown. N Y., and George Dwjtlie. Kelly's island, 0.. wheelsmen; George Thorn. Sault M«. Marie. Mich., and Charles Reuterberg. watchmen; J. J. Norcross, Tonawanda, N. Y., chief engineer; W. L. Smith, second engineer. Cleveland; Wm. Chambers and Spencer, oil* era, and Myers, fireman, homes unknown; Wm. Dundon, Niagara Falls, steward: Mrs. Wm. Dundon, Niagara Falla, second cook; Frank Eisen ba ch, Barney McConville. Gene Marquette and Tom McCarty, deck hands, homes unknown: two deck hands from Canton. names unknown; two firemen, names unknown. The bodies of Captain F. B. Huyck and two firemen, whose names are not known, are still missing.