Posted by M. Saleh on August 11, 1999 at 20:58:00:
In Reply to: Re: Lady Elgin Wreck posted by M. Saleh on August 11, 1999 at 20:19:25:
: : 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; Edward Spenser was a Divinity Student of the Garrett Biblical Institute at the time of the Lady Elgin Disaster, he was a mnisterial student at the school with the hopes of becoming a minister upon graduation. He was, however, an experienced swimmer from the mississippi River where he had presviously lived. When Edward saw the terrifying situation of the wreck of the Lady Elgin wreck and its surviving passengers, accompanied by the equally heroic Captain Jack Wilson, the Divinity student preceeded to make his rescues of the passengers from the shore. Edward Spenser rescued a total of 17 survivors with his persistent question, "Did I do my best?" to each person he brought to the shore. As the survivors, his class mates and friends cheered him on, the injured and exhausted Edward Spenser finallly collapsed in a deleruium as he continuously cried, "Did I do my Best?" Edward Spenser eventually moved away from the disaster scene and the Garrett Institute to continue his life as an invalid. Though he never became a minister, Edward Spenser lived to write about his experience in the Lady Elgin disaster and was remembered by students and officials of Northwestern University. The Northwestern University Class of 1898 placed a bronze plaque of the wall of their library which commemorated the brave Edward Spenser's courageous lifesaving efforts to rescue Lady Elgin survivors. His question "Did I do my best?" was engraved on the plaque. In the years 1907, 1908, and 1909 Northwestern University officials and students appealed President Theodore Roosevelt and the US Congress to grant Edward Spenser a medal for the services he rendered 38 years before. This appeal for national recognition of Edward Spenser failed since Edward's friends and supporters supposedly waited too long to file such a proposal to the Federal Government. Edward Spenser did his best, though to live until 1917 in Los Angeles, California to the age of 81. The 101 year old plaque that honors Edward Spenser now has it proper place on the wall of Patton Gymnasium at Northwestwestern University, at Evanston, Illinois. Edward's question "Did I do my best?" can still be seen by students today. It is hoped that students and young adults of today can also ask themselve and those lives they serve and save from the problems of modern life, "Did I do my Best?" My resource through which I obtained this information is "History of Milwaukee-City and County" Author:William George Bruce(Ed.) Vol.1 S.J. Clark Publishing Co.1922.