By Suzette Lopez
On September 8, 1860, the LADY ELGIN became a heartbreaking history.
Built as a wooden steam paddle in 1851 at Buffalo by Bidwell & Banta for Patchin & Appleby of Buffalo, she was named after the wife of the then Governor General of British America, Lord Elgin. She was a fast and favorite excursion boat measuring 252 feet in length and 33.7 feet in beam.
During her first years, she was the mail steamer along the Canadian northern shores. In 1855 she was chartered to run between Chicago, Collingwood, and Green Bay. Hubbard, Spencer & Co., of Chicago, purchased her about 1856. In 1860 she was running between Chicago and Bayfield.
Late night on September 6, 1860, the LADY ELGIN, with Capt. Jack Wilson in command, left Milwaukee with a large group of excursionists many of which were members of the Milwaukee’s Union Guard. They were headed to Chicago to hear a campaign speech by Stephen A. Douglas and planning to return the night of the 7th. In Chicago, the Union Guards marched, everyone went sightseeing, and enjoyed an evening banquet and dancing.
It is said that Capt. Wilson did not want to leave Chicago because he feared bad weather. The departure was delayed. Many left the boat to enjoy more of Chicago. Others came aboard to party on the boat. Finally the passengers wanted to go home and the Captain gave in to their demand.
The LADY ELGIN left Chicago around 11:30 p.m. with a northeast wind blowing. By 2 a.m. on the 8th, it had become a gale and it was raining hard. Some of the passengers had retired to staterooms. Others of the overcrowded boat were sleeping on the floor of the cabin and still others were dancing.
Around 2:30 the LADY ELGIN shook and suddenly heeled over on her port side. Those sleeping on the floor rolled to the other side of the cabin causing much confusion. The lamps broke in the list and left most of her interior in the dark. As she slowly righted, chaos ensued.
She had been hit by the lumber loaded schooner AUGUSTA near the port side paddle box and at nearly a 45 degree angle. The ELGIN kept moving at full speed and the schooner swung alongside her before dislodging in a minute or so. Unfortunately the paddle wheel was torn off and the cabin and hull were cut into. The rushing water put out the fires under the boilers leaving the ELGIN powerless.
The AUGUSTA fell off into the troughs of the sea having her head gear, jib boom, staunches, etc. torn away. She cleared the wreckage and surprisingly found she was not leaking but had very little sail left. She lost sight of the steamer within five minutes.
The ELGIN only had three life boats on board. There were an estimated 500 passengers. The life boats saved 20. Life preservers were passed out. The Captain had everything possible to float cut away to be used as rafts. Within a half hour of being struck, the ELGIN broke up with a tremendous noise, her hull going down.
Capt. Wilson was heard encouraging the passengers that the shore was only a few miles off and if they kept calm they would make land. Most did make it almost to shore but were slammed on the breakers once there and drowned in the surf.
The rescue attempts on shore began about 5 a.m. The life boats made shore and went for help. Word was sent to Winnetka and Evanston. The residents and students from Northwestern University and the Garrett Biblical Institute came to help. The young men tied ropes around their waist and went out in the surf to help the exhausted through the breakers. Wreckage covered three miles of the beach.
Because of the delayed departure and the coming and goings of many on board, the actual number of passengers was never known. Old records show 148 persons were rescued, 116 were from Milwaukee. There were 298 bodies recovered. It is thought most likely over 100 were never found.
Photo at the top of page: Painting of the LADY ELGIN
Photo Credit: Great Lakes Marine Collection of the Milwaukee Public Library and Wisconsin Marine Historical Society
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Suzette Lopez is the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society.
