Lake Ship Lost 20 seamen perished

Sault Ste. Marie, May 9 – In the fierce gale that swept Lake Superior yesterday, the little wood and steel steamer S.R. Kirby, broke in two, four miles off Eagle Harbor and midway between Ashland and the Sault, and went to the bottom.

“Twenty members of the crew went down with the ore laden vessel. Two men were saved, Joseph B. Madra, Cleveland, second mate, Otto S. Lindquist, Pequaming, Mich., fireman Madra was taken to Duluth by the steamer Joseph H Block, and Lindquist arrived here today on the steamer Berwind., which picked him up.

Story of a survivors

”I was standing the captain's watch,” said Mate Madra. The captain had gone below only a few minutes before. We were making good headway past Eagle Harbor. The Kirby broke ion two without any noise, quickly filled and settled. There was no explosion. I saw No.1 hatch begin to crumple up, crack and part. Then the ship commenced to sink at the center, both ends rising. The cargo of ore ran out of the cracks in her middle. Then the vessel plunged. Two of us were picked up.”

The barge Hartwell, which the Kirby was towing, broke loose and was piked up by the steamer E.H. Utley, which towed her to shelter behind Keweenaw point.

The Kirby left Ashland Sunday evening, ore laden for Cleveland, She ran into a terrific gale on Lake Superior early yesterday. According to Lindquist, the steamer made for Keweenaw bay, but the storm increased in violence and at about 10:45 a.m. yesterday she broke in two. Lindquist was thrown into the water, and clambered onto floating debris.

“I saw Capt. Girardin swimming 100 feet away.”said Lindquist. “I saw no other persons. The captain raised his hands, waved and sank. The ship's mascot, a dog named Tige, which was swimming near the captain sank a moment later.”

Names of the Victims.

Cleveland, May 9, Harvey H. Brown, Cleveland manager of the steamer Kirby, announced today that two men had been rescued when the ship went down. Twenty were drowned. The value of the ship was place at $100,000. Those rescued were Joseph B. Madra second mate. Chicago; saved by the steamer Berwind; Otto S. Lindquist, fireman, Pequaming, Mich., saved by the steamer Block.

Those drowned were; D. Girardin, master, Detroit; E.M. Douglass mate, Detroit; John Weston wheelsman, Chicago; Robert Powers, wheelsman, Detroit; Louis Flordine, watchman Lanse Pa.; Lyal Blasdell, watchman, Detroit; Ansel Peterson, deckhand, Erie Pa. Elmer Rydolph deckhand, Superior Wis. Robert Thort, deckhand, Superior Wisc. William Winger, coal passer, Duluth Frank Casey, coal passer, Chicago; Sylvester Smith chief engineer, Marine City, Mich. Ralph B. Smith second engineer, Marine City Mich., Anthony Ripple, oiler, Marine City; Henry Bollean, oiler, Marine City; Burt Heath, fireman, Marine City,. Ward Heath, Fireman Marine City, Herman Zulger, fireman Hoboken N.J. Harry Martin steward, Harrow Ont., Alf Anderson, second cook, Superior Wisc.

Terrific Gale for Three days

Calumet Mich. May 9.A fifty two mile gale whipped Lake Superior Sunday night and Monday and is driving all the boats in this region to seek shelter. The Calumet wireless station reported all ship safe. Considerable damage was done by the heavy wind in the copper country. Telegraph and telephone communications in many places was disturbed.