FILLED UP WITH WATER.
--------
Prop. Duncan Strikes a Rock, Springs a Leak, and is Beached.
--------
The Propeller Maggie Duncan, commanded by Capt. Wilson and laden with Spiegel iron ore, consigned from Buffalo to South Chicago, passed this port about 9 o'clock Saturday morning. A terrific gale was blowing from the west and the big and little craft were hugging the lee shore as closely as they dared. The Duncan came in too close apparently; she was drawing 12 feet of water and when abreast of Sturgeon Point she came down with a terrific thump upon a rock. The blow opened her plates and she at once began to take in water; her captain put her about at once and headed for the Harrisville dock. He ran her nose into the sandy reef about 50 feet south of the Union Dock, where she was safe enough as long as the wind kept in the west. She had six feet of water in her hold.
The tug Frank W. of Alpena was at once wired for; she arrived about 4 p.m. with steam pumps which she set to work at once taking the water out of the Duncan and succeeded in floating her at an early hour. Duncan was floating at an early hour Sunday morning. The leak was plugged up and the Duncan in tow of the Frank W. proceeded up the lake to Alpena, where temporary repairs were to be made to enable her to go on to Chicago.
The Duncan's cargo was a very unusual one. The movement of ores on the Great Lakes is generally down from Lake Superior to the lower lakes. The Duncan's cargo is a product of European mines. It came to New York, up the Hudson and by canal to Buffalo. The metal is different from anything found on this continent and is used as an alloy with native ores, the compound producing a tougher metal.
The Sturgeon Point life saving crew were early on the scene and staid by the Duncan until she took her departure. The captain of the Duncan was loud in this praise of their work. He gives the boys credit for hard, disinterested work and promised not to forget them.