Given Up For Lost

GIVEN UP FOR LOST

BELIEVED STEAMER SILVANUS MACY HAS GONE DOWN.

IF SO, THIRTEEN PERSONS HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES.

SHE ENCOUNTERED TREMENDOUS SEAS ON LAKE ERIE.

THE LOST.

Capt. Myron W. Gotham of Richland City, Wis.

M. A. Gotham, mate, son of Captain Gotham.

Lucius Gotham, watchman, son of Captain Gotham.

Walter F. Gregory, chief engineer, 312 Fort street east, Detroit.

George Webb, second engineer, Marine City.

Wilbur Crouch, wheelsman, Sackett's Harbor, N. Y.

Mrs. ---- Granger, cook.

----- Granger, second cook, son of Mrs. Granger.

Two firemen, names and home unknown.

Two deckhands, names and home unknown.

Watchman, name and home unknown.

Detroit, Mich., Nov. 28.- The propeller Silvanus J. Macy has been given up for lost, with all on board, in Lake Erie.

Her crew consisted of thirteen persons. Nothing whatever has been heard of them or the vessel since early Monday morning.

The Macy left Buffalo. with the barge Mabel Wilson in tow Saturday afternoon and were about thirty miles off Long Point about 10 o'clock Sunday night, when Captain J. E. Gotham, brother of the lost Captain Myron W. Gotham, heard five blasts of the Macys' whistle, and at the same time the steamer whistled that she had dropped the tow line and for the barge to haul it in.

The steamer then began to drift off in a helpless condition, and it was seen that something was wrong, but the wind was blowing a gale and tremendous seas were running, which rendered it impossible for the barge to render aid. The Wilson's anchor was dropped and the crew on her decks watched the steamer slowly drifting away on the huge waves. About 3 o'clock Sunday morning, when the steamer was about three miles away, her lights suddenly disappeared. In the meantime the crew on the barge had heard the Macy's whistle but once except the five blasts when the tow line was dropped.

The Wilson remained at anchor until 2 o'clock Tuesday morning in the hope that nothing serious had happened to the steamer and that she would come along and pick her up. Captain J. E. Gotham then began to fear the worst and hoisted anchor and proceeded up the lake under her own sails. She arrived at Bar Point yesterday morning and cast anchor. She was towed to Amherstburg by a passing steamer later in the day, and the first authentic report was made by her master, which is given in the above paragraphs.  He is of the opinion that the Macy's wheel chains parted. He also said that there was not a ray of hope for the unfortunate crew.

The steamer Silvanus J. Macy was built in Marine City in 1881 and was sailed by Captain Gotham for over sixteen years. She is 165 feet in length, 32 feet beam and 11 feet depth of hold, with a gross tonnage of 752. Her rating was A2.

The steamer and consort are owned by P. J. Ralph & Co. of Detroit, doing business as the Interlake Transportation company. When it was reported that the Wilson was anchored in the lake five miles below Amherstburg yesterday, H. C. Ralph, a member of the firm, left for there immediately, and after interviewing Captain Gotham of the Wilson he gave it as his opinion that there was no hope for the men or ship.

The Macy was bound for Kenosha, Wis., and the Wilson for Racine, Wis.