Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Warsaw Daily Times, Warsaw, Indiana June 18, 1887 A SCORE OF VICTIMS ---------- SACRIFICED IN A HORROR ON LAKE MICHIGAN --------- The Steamer Champlain Destroyed by Fire, and Her Passengers Forced to Jump Overboard - Names of the Dead So Far as Known - The Life Saving Ap- pliances Go Adrift - Other Disasters. Detroit, Mich., June 18 - An Evening Journal special from Charlevoix says: The steamer Champlain, of the Northern Michigan line, bound for Cheboygan from Chicago, burned at midnight Thursday, between Nor- wood and Charlevoix, at the mouth of the Grand Traverse bay. The boat was running ten miles an hour, when flames suddenly shot up from beneath the engine, driving the en- gineer from his post, with his clothes on fire. He ran to the hurricane deck, plunged into a tank and then returned to his work, but was too late to stop his engine or connect the hose. The alarm was given, the sleeping passengers were aroused, and when life pre- servers had been fastened on all they gathered on the forward deck. The life-boats and life- rafts were lowered, but the steamer was run- ning so fast that they got away. In ten minutes from the time the boat caught fire the passengers were all compelled to jump into the lake. The steward informs The Journal correspondent that there were fifty- seven persons on board, including the crew. The lost are as follows: Ella Cooper Smith, Charlevoix; Robert Wilkes, Charlevoix; George Wrisley, Charlevoix; Mrs. M. Kehoe, Chicago; Steward Bean's two children, aged 3 and 5 years repectively, Chicago; Capt. Lucas, Petoskey; Henry Brennan, the clerk, fireman, second cook and cabin boy, Chicago; Mr. Russell, of the Jackson, Mich., Corset company; a gentleman and a boy, from Mil- waukee, bound for Mackinac; one waiter and four Indian deck hands; a lady and daughter, from Frankfort, names unknown. Those saved floated an hour and a half, when they were rescued by a yawl and fish boats from the shore. Several of those saved were badly burned. There are seven not accounted for, the above list of lost comprising only those known to have perished. The boat burned to the hull and has been towed here. It is impossible now to tell the cause of the fire, but it is thought it may have been caused by a lamp explosion. The Champlain was valued at about $30- 000. CHARLEVOIX, Mich., June 18 - In addition to the list of dead already reported from the Champlain disaster, R. M. McKeal, of Charlevoix was drowned. The body was recovered. Caleb Russell, of Jackson, Mich., died after being brought to shore. The shoe and foot of an unknown victim has been recovered from the hull, which was towed ashore.