Posted by M. Saleh on August 11, 1999 at 19:52:03:
In Reply to: Re: Lady Elgin Wreck posted by M. Saleh on August 11, 1999 at 18:43:33:
: : I am working on a speech to give to my Toastmaster's club about a person involved in the 1860 wreck of the Lady Elgin. His name was Edward Spencer and he reportedly rescued 17 people from drowning.
: : I am interested in getting historical information on the wreck, such as the name of the ship that ran into it, possibly the name of the captain and any well-known individuals that may have been on board. Additionally, where did the Lady Elgin come from and where was it going?
: : Is there a web site or another way of getting a good historical breakdown of the wreck or of Edward Spencer?
: : Any information you could give me would be appreciated!
: : Thank you;
I am a Milwaukee resident and I have done much reading about the Lady Elgin disaster in the past year. In my response to your inquiry about Edward Spenser, I would like to provide you with the following information about this young adult hero. Edward Spenser was a ministerial student of the Garrett Biblical Institute at Evanston, Illinois at the time of the Lady Elgin disaster. Prior to his enrollment at the Biblical institute, Edward, though a young man of slight phisical stature, had a good reputation for his good swimming skills near his birthplace on the Mississippi River. When Edward Spenser and some of his classmates observed the catastrophic scene of the wrecked Lady Elgin, her brave Captain Jack Wilson, and many passengers who continued their struggle to survive with their lives to the shore, the courageous students, with Edward Spenser as their leader proceeded to the terrifying and distructive waters of Lake Michigan. Edward Spenser quickly went to work to save the lives of as many passengers as he could. Edward Spenser tied a rope around his waist and dived into the high waves to rescue and render assistance to those survivors who had been unable to arrive at the shore without help. "Did I do my best?" was the question that
Edward Spenser asked each of the 17 Lady Elgin passengers whom he personally rescued. The last two persons saved by Edward Spenser were the heroically inseperable husband and wife, namely John and Mary Eviston of Milwaukee. After this rescue, the brave Edward Spenser finally collapsed and kept repeatingrepetitiously asking deliriously, "Did I do my best?" Edward Spenser never recovered from his injuries that he recieved for his rescue efforts of Lady Elgin Passengers, and went on with his life as a frail invalid who would never become a minister. Edward Spenser could only live the rest of his life writing and speaking of his memories of his sucessful but terrifying adventure to save the lives of others on Sept. 8, 1860. In 1898, the graduating Class of 1898 of Northwestern University placed a bronze plaque in the library to commemorate the rescue efforts of the former student in the Lady Elgin disaster. Edward Spenser was still alive at the turn of the century, but many people at Northwester University, in the years 1907, 1908, and 1909 believed that Edward Spenser deserved personal recognition and even a medal from President Theodore Roosevelt himself. The US Congress considered the honor to Edward, but later, the proposal about honors to Edward Spenser was voided, since it was felt that Northwestern officials and the friends of Edward Spenser had waited too long to file such an appeal to the President and Congress for the nation to give Edward Spenser the honored recognition he so truly deserved. Edward Spenser, however, did his best to live to the age of 81 in 1917 near Los Angeles, California. The 101year old plaque of Northwestern University Class of 1898 to commemorate the deeds of Edward Spenser is now on the wall of the University's Patton Gymnasium, accompanied by an oil painting that depicts Edward Spenser with those he rescued 139 years ago. Edward Spenser's
question "Did I do my best?" can still be seen by students of 1999 on the old bronze plaque, and it is hoped that they and other young adults of today can ask themselves and others with whom they help in any ways of service to human lives, "Did I do my best?"