Posted by M. Saleh on September 16, 1999 at 17:56:38:
In Reply to: Lady Elgin Wreck posted by Ron Falconberry on July 28, 1999 at 22:18:27:
: 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 hope that you have read my messages on Edward Spenser and the first part of the information that I provided for you about Jack Wilson, Captain of the Lady Elgin. By the time Captain Jack Wilson assumed command of the Lady Elgin in 1858, the sidewheel steamship was the largest, best known and most elegant and spectacular ship and attraction on the Great Lakes. The steamship, however, had experienced two accidents that badly damaged sections of the ship and the damages were repaired before 36 year old Captain Wilson was hired in the hope that the highly talented and experienced Celebrity ship Captain could be the only one to be trusted to prevent another disaster to happen to the Lady Elgin. Captain Jack Wilson, as a person, was described by most sources, to be about the only person for this special job because he, himself was very special to everyone who know him. The appearance of the tall athletically strong, handsome, well-dressed Captain Wilson, proved to be a most charmingly friendly and irresistably kind and sympathetic man toward his crewmembers and passegers. By the summer of 1860, Jack Wilson, who, by now had grown a beard and mustache, and wore his long hair combed bake over his head and ears, had a social flaboyance that made even the sight of him to be as magnificent and spectacular as the Lady Elgin itself. Captain Wilson, therefore was familiar to most people of the Lake Superior area, where he had spent most of his career and with the Lady Elgin. Since the owner of the Lady Elgin, Gurdon Hubbard, the Chicago meatpacking tycoon made most of his own money off the Lady Elgin and Jack Wilson faithfully worked for him, the devoted Captain made his temporary residence at the luxurious Richmond House Hotel in Chicago. Jack Wilson,on the contrary was not as well payed with a fair wage for all his work, but he kept the fact that he and his family were in povery more or less his best kept secret. Throughout the 1858-1860 seasons, Captain Jack Wilson now made his sailing rounds not only of Lake Superior, bu also Lake Michigan, with the routine round trips to and from Saut Ste. Marie to Chicago. Captain Wilson also had his wife and children with him whenever they were able to join him on his voyages. On the Lady Elgin voyage of September 7, 1860,however, Captain Wilson had left his wife and children at Sault St. Marie with loving promises that he would return to them if they waited for their husband and father to arrive there in about another week, so the Captain and his family could enjoy the Fall Great Lakes cruise he and promised them, a wonderful plan, unknowingly to Captain Wilson, tragically would never take place. When Captain Jack Wilson departed his family and Sault Ste. Marie, unkowingly for the last time with the Lady Elgin, the Voyage south to Milwaukee and Chicago was the just the usual and enjoyable cruise for Captain
Wilson, his Crew and passengers. When Captain Wilson arrived in Milwaukee harbor to pick up Captain Garret Barry and his 300 to 400 Excursionists for a political rally in Chicago, Captain Jack Wilson was ready for the large number of people who were determined to have the lady Elgin serve their purposes, social and political when they borded the ship in the early morning hours of September 7 with their expectation to return to Milwaukee before midnight on the same day, with all passengers in complete trust of 38 year old Captain Jack Wilson to do his job and unconditionally to maintain the scheduled arrivals and departure times of the Milwaukee Excursionists and other passengers who would continue the voyage to Sault Ste. Marie. I Will return to give you further information of the Heroic deeds of Captain Jack Wilson and his final hours of splendid bravery during the disaster and sinking of the Lady Elgin. My Resources include "True Tale of the Great Lakes". Dwight Boyer. 1971. Dodd, Mead+Co., New York. pp.177-280. "A Question of Lights, Birthdays and a Farm". "The Lady Elgin". "A Report on the 1992 Reconnaisance Survey by Underwater Archeological Society of Chicago. Physical Discription of Captain Jack Wilson: New York Illustrated News, September 22, 1860. Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, September 22, 1860. (composite portraits of Photograph by Alschuler Studio of Chicago.