People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 September 1895 — ENTIRE CREW LOST. [ARTICLE]

ENTIRE CREW LOST.

VESSEL FOUNDERS WITH ALL ON BOARD. la the Gale of Sunday Night Schooner E. R. Williams Goes Down off St. Martin's Island, Mich. —The Storm in Wisconsin. Escanaba, Mich., Sept. 24. —The schooner E. R. Williams sank in the gale Sunday night and all on board are supposed to be lost, as it would be impossible for them to reach shore in such a furious sea. Following are the names of the crew so far as known: BENNETT, MAGGIE, Cleveland, 0.; stewardess. HUNTON, , Cleveland, 0.; captain. UNKNOWN, mate and four seamen. The cargo of the Williams consisted of 570 tons of iron ore from this port consigned to a Toledo furnace. The Williams was in tow of the steamer Santa Maria, and both boats left at 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon. The sea was running heavily from the south on Green bay, and the schooner, laden deep in the water, made bad work of the head sea. The Santa Maria headed from the Poverty passage into Lake Michigan, and up to 9 o’clock that night the schooner’s lights could be seen by the crew of the Santa Maria. Shortly after that time the tow line parted and the Williams disappeared from sight. The Santa Maria cruised around for some time trying to find the Williams, but it was not until daylight that her mast was discovered sticking out of the water under St. Martin’s island. No trace of the crew could be seen. The Santa Maria returned here and Captain E. E. Rathburn reported the wreck. The Williams was built in 1873, and rated 293 gross tons. She was owned by W. L. Fay of Elyria. 0., and was probably without insurance. The iron cargo was fully .covered. Wind Uproots Trees. Oconto, Wis., Sept. 24. —This city and vicinity was visited by a terrible wind storm and rain Sunday night at 7:30 o’clock. Whole trees were uprooted and the ground was covered with broken limbs. Nearly every lumber pile was scattered and several piles in the Holt Lumber company’s yard, that had been piled thirty-five feet high, were blown over. A great many windows were blown in, and the iron roof to the Donelvy block was blown off and a deluge of rain poured on the inmates below. Reports of the damage from the country came in slowly, but there was a large amount of property destroyed. This has been the most severe cyclone since 1871, when Pensaukee was destroyed.

Moved from Foundations. Trempealeau, Wis., Sept. 24. The atmospheric conditions the past few days came to a windup Sunday afternoon when a terrific storm passed over the city accompanied by rain and sleet. Buildings were moved on their foundations, roofs blown off, barns, trees and chimneys blown down, window lights broken, shutters and signs scattered like pipe stems, and all but one down along the tracks of the Burlington railway. Numerous washouts occurred. The damage in this vicinity will go up in the thousands, but no lives are re-, ported lost. Town Almost Demolished. Eau Claire, Wis., Sept. 24.—Word has been received of a tornado Saturday afternoon in the town of Clear Creek, this county. It cut a narrow path through the town. Following is a partial list of the damage done: David Savarer’s house and barn torn to pieces, George Jackson’s barn gone, Israel Quin’s house partly destroyed, several otljer houses, many haystacks, outbuildings and fences torn down. Reports of Damage. La Crosse, Wis., Sept. 24.—Reports received from throughout the county show that Sunday’s windstorm was very destructive. Damage will aggregate not less than $1,500. Many houses were unroofed and porches swept away. Trees, innumerable ranging up to two feet in diameter, were broken down. Not less than S3OO damage was done at the interstate fair grounds. Cornfields Leveled. Waupaca, Wis., Sept. 24.—A thunder storm accompanied by high winds and heavy rain passed over this region Sunday night. Cornfields and exposed grain stacks were laid low. A dry'cold wave followed, and the roads and fields are dry.