In the autumn of 1860, with war looming, America was in turmoil. Many Wisconsin residents had journeyed to Chicago for a Stephen A. Douglas rally to consider the issues of the day.
Just before midnight on September 7, a palatial side-wheel steamboat named the Lady Elgin left Chicago bound for Milwaukee with about 400 attendees aboard.
The night looked fair, but a storm caught the ship mid-journey. In spite of this, the passengers continued dancing and drinking the night away.
Then, with little warning, at about 2:30 a.m. a lumber schooner, the Augusta, collided with Lady Elgin’s port side. Thinking little damage was done, the Augusta continued its journey to Chicago, but the steamboat sank within 30 minutes.
The revelries turned to pandemonium, few made it into lifeboats, and most were thrown into the water to cling to pieces of wreckage.
Many made it almost to safety, but the fierce breakers at the shore and the undertow claimed almost 300 lives. It remains the Great Lakes’ greatest open-water disaster.
Around 6:30 a.m. the first of only three lifeboats made it to shore, and the cry was raised for rescuers. Edward Spencer, a seminary student at nearby Northwestern College, quickly made his way to the site.
With a rope tied around his waist, he dove into the crashing surf, broke through, and swam toward the struggling survivors. Then, with a victim in his arms, those on shore would pull them to safety. Without a moment’s rest, he would dive back in, repeating the rescue 17 times before collapsing on the shore. He had been in the water for over six hours.
The extreme exertion left Spencer wheelchair-bound for the rest of his life, though he survived to the age of 81.
Some years later, evangelist R.A. Torrey was telling the story about Edward Spencer’s exploits when he was informed that the hero, now an elderly man, was in the audience.
Talking with him afterwards, Torrey asked what he considered the most significant detail about the rescue.
The rescuer dropped his eyes and in a low voice replied, “Not one said, ‘Thanks’!”
Is there someone still waiting for a “Thank you” from you?
Or perhaps it’s time to practice the daily habit of thanks-living. Christians are commanded, “Encourage one another every day.” (Hebrews 3:13, BLB) That can only mean that, before I go to bed tonight—and every night—I should find a way to encourage another believer.
It’s a tough world out there. And no one will ever overdose on encouragement.
One final thought. Is someone reading this who has never expressed thanks to the Lord Jesus for dying for your sins? With all due respect, you ought to be ashamed. Today’s the day. Embrace the living Christ who gave His life to save you. Or to put it more directly, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.” (John 3:36, BSB)
Article published November 29, 2025 in the Commercial Dispatch.